Average and instantaneous velocity

[physicsernaw]

Homework Statement

Given the following formula for distance, find the average velocity on the interval [1,3]
S(t) = t/(1+t^2)

Homework Equations

Vavg = (S(t0) - S(t1)) / (t0 - t1)

or

Vavg = (V0 + V1)/2

The Attempt at a Solution

I get two different answers and I need help understand why.

Vavg = (S(1) - S(3)) / (1-3)

Vavg = (1/2 - 3/10) / -2

Vavg = -2/20 = -1/10

Now using a different method, getting the instantaneous velocity at t = 1 and t = 3 by taking derivative of S(t) -> S'(t) = (1-t^2)/(1+t^2)^2

Vavg = (S'(1) + S'(3))/2

Vavg = (-8/100)/2 = (-2/25)/2 = -1/25

Why am I getting different averages here?? I don't understand what I'm doing wrong.

 

[Dick]

Homework Statement

Given the following formula for distance, find the average velocity on the interval [1,3]
S(t) = t/(1+t)^2

Homework Equations

Vavg = (S(t0) - S(t1)) / (t0 - t1)

or

Vavg = (V0 + V1)/2

The Attempt at a Solution

I get two different answers and I need help understand why.

Vavg = (S(1) - S(3)) / (1-3)

Vavg = (1/2 - 3/10) / -2

Vavg = -2/20 = -1/10

Now using a different method, getting the instantaneous velocity at t = 1 and t = 3 by taking derivative of S(t) -> S'(t) = (1-t^2)/(1+t^2)^2

Vavg = (S'(1) + S'(3))/2

Vavg = (-8/100)/2 = (-2/25)/2 = -1/25

Why am I getting different averages here?? I don't understand what I'm doing wrong.

Judging by your work, I'm guessing you meant S(t)=t/(1+t^2), not S(t)=t/(1+t)^2. And you can't average instantaneous velocities to get average velocities. The first one is right, the second one isn't.

 

[physicsernaw]

Judging by your work, I'm guessing you meant S(t)=t/(1+t^2), not S(t)=t/(1+t)^2. And you can't average instantaneous velocities to get average velocities. The first one is right, the second one isn't.

Yes I'm sorry that's what I meant. But I don't understand, why can't you do what I did? If (v0 + v) / 2 = average velocity, and v0 and v are velocities at an instant in time, I don't understand how the second method doesn't work?

 

[Dick]

Yes I'm sorry that's what I meant. But I don't understand, why can't you do what I did? If (v0 + v) / 2 = average velocity, and v0 and v are velocities at an instant in time, I don't understand how the second method doesn't work?

Because they are two totally different notions of average velocity. If I start at rest in city A and drive to city B and park, then my beginning and ending velocities are zero. My average velocity, in the sense you want, isn't zero.

 

[physicsernaw]

Because they are two totally different notions of average velocity. If I start at rest in city A and drive to city B and park, then my beginning and ending velocities are zero. My average velocity, in the sense you want, isn't zero.

Got it, thank you!