PhysicsLAB Practice Problems
Description of Motion - Scalar vs Vector Quantities


Directions: On this worksheet you will practice with the basic definitions of introductory motion.

Question 1  A bike messenger traveled 2 blocks North, 5 blocks East, 7 blocks South, and finally 11 blocks West in order to deliver a package in the traffic, congested city. If his trip took 47 minutes, what was the magnitude of his average velocity in blocks/minute?
Question 2  If the messenger in Question #1 could have traveled directly to his destination, what would have been the direction of his net displacement?
Question 3  The magnitude of an object's average velocity can ONLY equal the magnitude of its average speed when the object is
Question 4  A scalar is a quantity that can be completely described by stating its
Question 5  A family taking a vacation traveled 5 hours at 65 mph and then 2 hours at only 48 mph. What was their average speed during this trip?
Question 6  Which quantity is NOT a scalar?
Question 7  Which description of an object's motion is more specific: moving at a constant speed or moving at a constant velocity?
Question 8  A student warming up for practice travels one full circuit, 400 meters, around the track. Initially he jogs 94 meters at 1.5 m/sec, then runs 282 meters at 2.2 m/sec, and finally cools down by finishing the final 24 meters at 1.0 m/sec. What was his average speed?
Question 9  What was the student's average velocity in Question #8?
Question 10  During a 30 minute period of time, one car moves at a constant velocity of 45 mph, N, while a second car moves at a constant velocity of 45 mph, W. During this time interval, the cars would have the same
A. instantaneous speedB. instantaneous velocityC. displacementD. acceleration
Question 11  A moving van completes its journey of 705 kilometers in 11 hours. Approximately how far should it have traveled 8.5 hours after beginning its trip?


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