Fundamental Concepts
Average Speed
Average speed is calculated as follows:
average speed = total distance travelled ÷ total time
Average Velocity
Average velocity is calculated as follows:
average velocity = total displacement ÷ total time
Application to Exercise
- The total distance travelled is 7 kilometers. The total time travelled is 3 hours.
average speed = 7km ÷ 3 hours
average speed = 2.33 km/hr
- The total distance travelled is 9.5 kilometers. The total time travelled is 3 hours.
average speed = 9.5 km ÷ 3 hours
average speed = 3.17 km/hr
- The total distance travelled is 500 meters. However, since you came back to the point where you started, your total displacement is 0. The total time travelled is 600 seconds.
average velocity = 0 meters÷ 600 seconds
average velocity = 0 m/s