Understanding the Concepts
* Velocity: Velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction.
* Circular Motion: In circular motion, the object's speed might be constant, but its direction is constantly changing. This means its velocity is constantly changing.
Calculation
1. Initial Velocity: Assume the object starts moving in the positive x-direction. Its initial velocity is 300 m/s to the right (let's represent this as +300 m/s).
2. Final Velocity: After traveling half a circle, the object is now moving in the negative x-direction. Its final velocity is 300 m/s to the left (represented as -300 m/s).
3. Change in Velocity: The change in velocity is the difference between the final velocity and the initial velocity:
Change in Velocity = Final Velocity - Initial Velocity
Change in Velocity = (-300 m/s) - (+300 m/s) = -600 m/s
Important Note: The negative sign indicates that the change in velocity is in the opposite direction of the initial velocity. In other words, the object's velocity has changed by 600 m/s in the direction of the negative x-axis.
Visual Representation:
Imagine drawing a circle. If the object starts at the top of the circle and moves clockwise, its initial velocity is upward. After moving half a circle, its velocity is downward. The change in velocity is the difference between these two vectors, which would be a vector pointing directly downward.
