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Average speed and average velocity - problems and solutions

1. A car travels along a straight road to the east for 100 meters in 4 seconds, then go the
west for 50 meters in 1 second. Determine average speed and average velocity.
Solution
Distance = 100 meters + 50 meters = 150 meters
Displacement = 100 meters – 50 meters = 50 meters, to east.
Time elapsed = 4 seconds + 1 second = 5 seconds.
Average speed = Distance / time elapsed = 150 meters / 5 seconds = 30 meters/second.
Average velocity = Displacement / time elapsed = 50 meters / 5 seconds = 10
meters/second.

2. A person walks 4 meters east in 1 second, then walks 3 meters north in 1 second.
Determine average speed and average velocity.
Solution

Distance = 4 meters + 3 meters = 7 meters

Displacement = = meters, to northeast.
Time elapsed = 1 second + 1 second = 2 seconds.
Average speed = distance / time elapsed = 7 meters / 2 seconds = 3.5 meters/second
Average velocity = displacement / time elapsed = 5 meters / 2 seconds = 2.5
meters/second

3. A runner travels around rectangle track with length = 50 meters and width = 20
meters. After travels around rectangle track two times, runner back to starting point. If
time elapsed = 100 seconds, determine average speed and average velocity.
Solution
Circumference of rectangle = 2(50 meters) + 2(20 meters) = 100 meters + 40 meters =
140 meters.
Travels around rectangle 2 times = 2(140 meters) = 280 meters.
Distance = 280 meter.
Displacement = 0 meter. (runner back to start point)
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Average speed = distance / time elapsed = 280 meters / 100 seconds = 2.8
meters/second.
Average velocity = displacement / time elapsed = 0 / 100 seconds = 0.