Straight-line motion 1
A cart moves along a straight track. At \(t=4\,\text{s}\), its velocity is \(-7\,\text{m/s}\).
State the cart's velocity, speed, and direction of motion at that instant.
Hints
- Velocity includes a sign; speed does not.
- Speed is the magnitude of velocity.
- Use the sign of velocity to determine direction.
Solution
1. The velocity is already given as \(-7\,\text{m/s}\).
2. Speed is the magnitude of velocity, so the speed is \(|-7|=7\,\text{m/s}\).
3. The negative velocity means the cart is moving in the negative direction along the track.
Answer
Velocity: \(-7\,\text{m/s}\); speed: \(7\,\text{m/s}\); direction: negative direction along the track.
