Q: A runner completes a 400-meter lap around a track and returns to the starting point. What is the runner's displacement and total distance traveled?

Displacement: $$0\ \text{m}$$, Distance: $$400\ \text{m}$$

Q: A car travels 60 km north, then 40 km east. What is the car's total distance traveled and its displacement?

Distance: $$100\ \text{km}$$, Displacement: $$\sqrt{60^2$ + 40^2$}\ \text{km}$$

Q: Which of the following is a correct formula for average speed?

$$\text{Average speed} = \frac{\text{total distance}}{\text{total time}}$$

Question 1

A runner completes a 400-meter lap around a track and returns to the starting point. What is the runner's displacement and total distance traveled?

Accepted Answer

Displacement: $$0\ 	ext{m}$$, Distance: $$400\ 	ext{m}$$

Question 2

A car travels 60 km north, then 40 km east. What is the car's total distance traveled and its displacement?

Accepted Answer

Distance: $$100\ 	ext{km}$$, Displacement: $$\sqrt{60^2$ + 40^2$}\ 	ext{km}$$

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the difference between average speed and instantaneous speed?

Accepted Answer

Average speed is the total distance divided by total time, while instantaneous speed is the speed at a specific instant.

Question 4

A marathon runner covers 26.2 miles in 3 hours. What is the minimum average speed required to finish the race in this time?

Accepted Answer

$$8.7\ 	ext{miles/hour}$$

Question 5

If a cheetah runs at $$25\ 	ext{m/s}$$, how long will it take to run a $$100\ 	ext{m}$$ dash?

Accepted Answer

$$4\ 	ext{s}$$

Question 6

A man travels 10 miles east, 10 miles north, 10 miles west, and 5 miles south. What is his displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$5\ 	ext{miles}$$ north

Question 7

Which step in the scientific method involves making a prediction that can be tested?

Accepted Answer

Construct a hypothesis

Question 8

In simple harmonic motion, what does the amplitude represent?

Accepted Answer

The maximum displacement from equilibrium

Question 9

Does the period $$T of a $$mass-spring system in simple harmonic motion depend on the amplitude $$A$$?

Accepted Answer

No, the period is independent of amplitude

Question 10

A car travels due north 50 km, turns around, and returns to the starting place. What is the car's displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$0\ 	ext{km}$$

Question 11

Pat and Chris both travel from Los Angeles to New York along the same route and arrive at the same time, but Chris spends a week in Salt Lake City. Compare their average speeds.

Accepted Answer

Both have the same average speed

Question 12

A mass on a spring oscillates with a period $$T. If $$the mass is doubled, what happens to the period?

Accepted Answer

The period increases

Question 13

Which of the following is a correct formula for average speed?

Accepted Answer

$$	ext{Average speed} = \frac{	ext{total distance}}{	ext{total time}}$$

Question 14

A marathoner covers the first 20 miles of a race in 4 hours. Can you determine how fast he was running when he passed the 10-mile marker?

Accepted Answer

No, because we only know the average speed over 20 miles

Question 15

In a strobe photograph, one puck's images are spaced farther apart than another's. What does this indicate about their motion?

Accepted Answer

The puck with farther spacing is moving faster

Question 16

Which of the following best describes displacement?

Accepted Answer

The shortest directed distance from initial to final position

Question 17

A mass oscillates on a spring with amplitude $$A$$ and period $$T. If $$the amplitude is doubled, what happens to the period?

Accepted Answer

The period remains the same

Question 18

Which step of the scientific method involves analyzing data and drawing a conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Analyze your data and draw a conclusion

Question 19

A student measures the width of a desk using both subjective and objective methods. Why might the results differ?

Accepted Answer

Subjective methods rely on estimation, while objective methods use precise tools

Question 20

A mass on a spring is released from rest and oscillates. What is the equilibrium position?

Accepted Answer

The position where the mass is at rest and the net force is zero

Physics Study Guide: Describing Motion, Speed, and Simple Harmonic Motion

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