Average speed and instantaneous, displacement and distance, speed and velocity

[xoxmiu]

Homework Statement

What is the definition of average speed? How is average speed different from instantaneous speed? Explain.

Homework Equations

none

The Attempt at a Solution

Average speed is covering an equal amount of distance in an equal amount of time. Instantaneous speed, however, is speed at a specific time or given moment. While average speed is gradual over a period of time, instantaneous is just at one time.1. What is the difference between distance and displacement? Speed and velocity?

Homework Equations

none

The Attempt at a Solution

Distance is a physical length, while displacement is from start to finish in one only one direction, and straight. Speed is the rate in which an object travel distance, whilst velocity the rate of change of position.

((I want to work on this; i am sketchy on this and my textbook is strangely very vague.))

 

[alphysicist]

Hi xoxmiu,

Homework Statement

What is the definition of average speed? How is average speed different from instantaneous speed? Explain.

Homework Equations

none

The Attempt at a Solution

Average speed is covering an equal amount of distance in an equal amount of time.

I'm not sure what you mean, but this does not sound right to me.

Instantaneous speed, however, is speed at a specific time or given moment.

This is true; the instantaneous value is the value at a specific time.

While average speed is gradual over a period of time,

Average speed is calculated over an interval of time. So you might say the instantaneous speed at t=2 seconds is 5m/s, for example; on the other hand if you were talking about average speed you might say the average speed is 5m/s between t=2seconds and t=3seconds.

You determine the average speed by dividing the distance traveled (along the path) by the time interval that it took to travel that distance.

 

[baba89]

Distance refers to the total path an object has traveled, regardless of direction. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude. On the other hand, displacement is the change in position of an object from its initial position to its final position. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. For example, if an object moves 5 meters north and then 3 meters east, its distance traveled is 8 meters, but its displacement is 5 meters northeast.

Similarly, speed is a scalar quantity that measures how fast an object is moving, regardless of direction. It is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time taken. Velocity, on the other hand, is a vector quantity that measures the rate of change of an object's displacement. It is calculated by dividing the displacement by the time taken. For example, if a car travels at a speed of 60 km/h for 2 hours, its average speed is 60 km/h. However, if it travels 100 km north in 2 hours, its velocity is 50 km/h north.

In summary, distance and speed are scalar quantities that only consider the magnitude of an object's motion, while displacement and velocity are vector quantities that take into account both magnitude and direction.