Answer to Question #99134 in Calculus for nicol

Question

You are driving on a country road when the road curves gently to the right. You are
able to drive 40km/h around the curve. Which statement is correct? Defend your
choice and explain why the others are incorrect.
a) You are driving at a velocity of 40 km/h.
b) Your speed is constantly changing as you go around the curve.
c) Your velocity is constantly changing as you go around the curve.

Answer 1

Part (a) is incorrect because when you are driving around the curve, your direction is constantly changing. And since Velocity is a vector quantity, it involves both magnitude and direction. So, when the direction is Changing constantly, means velocity is also changing. So, you cannot say you are driving at a velocity of 40km/hr.

Part (b) is also incorrect because, here it is mentioned that you are able to drive at 40km/hr around the curve and since speed is a scalar quantity which only depends on magnitude, we can say that speed is constant while going around the curve at 40km/hr.

Part (c) is correct because as discussed above in part (a), velocity is constantly changing while you are going around the curve because the direction is constantly changing.