Constant velocity is a term that denotes motion at a fixed speed in a straight line. Unlike average velocity, constant velocity doesn't involve any changes over the time period considered. This can be described by a few points:
- The speed does not change, so the object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time.
- The direction of motion remains the same.
In the exercise, while it specifies average velocity, if that velocity were constant, it would mean the car maintains a steady speed of 6.25 m/s in the +x-direction. Constant velocity scenarios allow us to use straightforward calculations to determine things like distance traveled, using:\[d = vt\]where \(v\) is the constant velocity and \(t\) is the time. Constant velocity simplifies the calculation process, as you don’t have to account for any accelerations or decelerations.