Video Transcript
Two aircraft fly along the path
shown, each flying for the same amount of time. Which color arrow shows the path of
the aircraft with greater speed? (A) The blue arrow, (B) the green
arrow, (C) the speeds are the same.
In our diagram, we see these two
moving aircraft. The one following the blue arrows
moves like this, and the aircraft following the green arrow like this. To determine which aircraft has the
greater speed, let’s recall that, in general, the speed of an object equals the
distance that object travels divided by the time taken to cover that distance. In our question, we’re told that
each of these aircraft flies for the same amount of time. This means the aircraft with the
greater speed will be the one that travels the greater overall distance.
Our diagram shows us that each
aircraft moves up and to the right the same amount. This means we can take this green
arrow and slide it on top of the blue arrows, and it will look like this. It now becomes clear which arrow
involves the greater distance between the initial and final positions. The distance covered by the green
arrow is less than the distance covered by the two blue arrows. Since the blue arrow distance is
greater, so is the speed of the plane following this arrow. We choose answer (A). The blue arrow shows the path of
the aircraft with greater speed.
