Physics Question... Please help :)

[smileurdentist]

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In reaching her destination, a backpacker walks with an average velocity of 1.01 m/s, due west. This average velocity results, because she hikes for 6.09 km with an average velocity of 2.03 m/s due west, turns around, and hikes with an average velocity of 0.608 m/s due east. How far east did she walk (in kilometers)?

My answer was 4.63 km and it is wrong 🙁


Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[milski]

The furthest point west she made it is 6090 meters and she made it there in 6090/2.03 seconds.

Then she walked back for t seconds which would leave her t * 0.608 m closer to the origin.

The total displacement at that point is 6090-t * 0.608 and the total time is 6090/2.03+t. The average velocity is 1.01 and you can solve (6090 - t*0.608)/(6090/2.03+t), find the time she walked east and from there find the distance, t*0.608.

The major takeaway - the average velocity is the displacement over the time, not the distance walked. For example, when she's back at her origin point, her average velocity will be 0.

btw: the attached picture/link is not working.