An athlete leaves one end of a pool of length L at t 5 0 and arrives at the other end at time t1. She swims back and arrives at the starting position at time t2. If she is swimming initially in the positive x direction, determine her average velocities symbolically in (a) the first half of the swim, (b) the second half of the swim, and (c) the round

a) v = L / (t1 - t0)

b) v = - L / (t2 - t1)

c) v = 0

Explanation:

The average velocity is calculated using the following equation:

v = (final position - initial position) / (final time - initial time)

a) For the first half of the swim:

final position = L

initial position = 0

initial time = t0

final time = t1

Then, the velocity will be:

v = (L - 0) / (t1 - t0) = L / (t1 - t0)

b) For the second half of the swim:

Final position = 0

initial position = L

final time = t2

initial time = t1

The velocity will be:

v = (0 - L) / (t2 - t1) = - L / (t2 - t1)

c) For the round:

Final position = L

Initial position = L

initial time = t0

final time = t2

Velocity:

v = (L - L) / (t2 - t0) = 0