Question

Question: -If you know the position vectors of a particle at two points along its path and also know the time interval during which it moved from one point to the other, can you determine the particle’s instantaneous velocity? Its average velocity? Explain.

Short answer

We can calculate the average velocity, but cannot calculate the instantaneous velocity.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of position vector

A position vector represents the relative position of the object with respect to a reference frame such as the origin . The direction of a position vector always points from the vector's origin to a certain point.

The partilcle’s instantaneous velocity and average velocity

Because the position vectors of a particle is known at two places along its path, its instantaneous velocity can't be computed. To find the tangent to the position graph and determine the instantaneous velocity, the particle's position should be known as a function of time. The average velocity of a particle can be calculated using the definition of average velocity, which is the change in position divided by the time period.

The particle’s instantaneous velocity cannot be determined but the average velocity can be calculated by the change in position divided by the time period.