How Is Average Speed Calculated for a Round Trip with a Lunch Break?

In summary, average speed is the measure of how fast an object is moving, calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken. It is different from instantaneous speed, which is the speed at a specific moment in time. Average speed can be negative if the object is moving in the opposite direction of the positive direction used in the calculation. The most commonly used units for average speed are meters per second (m/s) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Changing the time interval does not affect the calculated average speed, as long as the total distance traveled remains the same.
  • #1
black_hole
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Homework Statement



Calculate the average speed of a complete round trip in which the first 148.6 km is covered at 84.6 km/hr, followed by a 1.2-hour lunch and the final 148.6 km is covered at 50.6 km/hr.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



148.6+148.6/.569+1.2+.341 = wrong
 
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  • #2
Hi black_hole! :smile:

erm :redface:

speed = distance/time, so time = distance/speed. :wink:
 
  • #3


The average speed for this round trip can be calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken. In this case, the total distance is 297.2 km (148.6 km + 148.6 km) and the total time is 1.2 hours (0.569 hours + 1.2 hours + 0.341 hours). Therefore, the average speed is 297.2 km/2.11 hours, which equals approximately 140.76 km/hr.

It is important to note that this is the average speed for the entire round trip, not just the second leg of the trip. This takes into account the time spent on the lunch break.
 

1. What is average speed and how is it calculated?

Average speed is the measure of how fast an object is moving, taking into account the distance traveled and the time it took to travel that distance. It is calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken.

2. Is average speed the same as instantaneous speed?

No, average speed and instantaneous speed are different concepts. Average speed is the overall speed of an object over a period of time, while instantaneous speed is the speed of an object at a specific moment in time.

3. Can average speed be negative?

Yes, average speed can be negative if the object is moving in the opposite direction of the positive direction used in the calculation. For example, if an object travels 10 meters north and then 5 meters south, its average speed would be -5 meters per second.

4. What units are used to measure average speed?

The most commonly used units for average speed are meters per second (m/s) and kilometers per hour (km/h). However, other units such as miles per hour (mph) and feet per second (ft/s) can also be used depending on the situation.

5. How does changing the time interval affect the calculated average speed?

Changing the time interval does not affect the calculated average speed, as long as the total distance traveled remains the same. This is because average speed is a measure of the overall speed of an object, not the speed at a specific moment in time.

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