Average Speed and Average Power confusion

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Understanding average speed and average power involves recognizing that average speed is calculated as total distance divided by total time, while average power is defined over a specific time interval. The discussion highlights the mathematical foundation of these concepts, emphasizing the importance of time-weighted averages. Integrals are presented as a method to calculate these averages, illustrating how they can be interpreted in discrete terms. The relationship between average speed and velocity is clarified through integrals, showing that average speed is a time-weighted average of speed. Overall, the thread seeks to demystify the mathematical principles underlying average speed and power calculations.
LLT71
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I found it somehow tricky to understand average speed and average power in mathematical fashion.
I suppose general idea of taking average of some quantity is: sum of all values/number of values.
how that idea fit's into idea of average speed=distance traveled/time traveled

similarly, average signal power:
signal_power.PNG

why is it over T?
 
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LLT71 said:
I found it somehow tricky to understand average speed and average power in mathematical fashion.
I suppose general idea of taking average of some quantity is: sum of all values/number of values.
how that idea fit's into idea of average speed=distance traveled/time traveled

similarly, average signal power:
signal_power.PNG

why is it over T?

Do you understand integrals in discrete terms?

https://betterexplained.com/articles/a-calculus-analogy-integrals-as-multiplication/
 
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time-weighted average of Q(t)=##\displaystyle\frac{\int_0^T Q(t)\ dt}{ \int_0^T \ dt }=\frac{\int_0^T Q(t)\ dt}{ T } ##
(For example, the average-velocity is a time-weighted average of velocity:
##\displaystyle\frac{\int_{t_1}^{t_2} v(t) \ dt}{ \int_{t_1}^{t_2} \ dt }=\frac{\int_{t_1}^{t_2} \frac{dx(t)}{dt} \ dt}{ \int_{t_1}^{t_2} \ dt }=\frac{x(t_2)-x(t_1)}{ t_2-t_1}=\frac{\Delta x}{ \Delta t} ##.

the average-speed is a time-weighted average of speed:
##\displaystyle\frac{\int_{t_1}^{t_2} |v(t)| \ dt}{ \int_{t_1}^{t_2} \ dt }=\frac{\int_{t_1}^{t_2} |\frac{dx(t)}{dt}| \ dt}{ \int_{t_1}^{t_2} \ dt }=\frac{d}{ t_2-t_1}=\frac{d}{ \Delta t} ##.
)z-weighted average of Q(z)=##\displaystyle\frac{\int_0^Z Q(z)\ dz}{ \int_0^Z \ dz }=\frac{\int_0^Z Q(z)\ dz}{ Z }##
(For example, the center of mass is a mass-weighted average of position:
##\displaystyle\frac{m_1x_1+m_2x_2+m_3x_3 }{m_1+m_2+m_3}=\frac{m_1x_1+m_2x_2+m_3x_3 }{M}##.
If all of the "masses" are equal (so each item has equal "weight" in the average),
then the mass-weighted average reduces to
the count-weighted (ordinary, "straight") average:
##\displaystyle\frac{(1)x_1+(1)x_2+(1)x_3 }{(1)+(1)+(1)}=\frac{x_1+x_2+x_3 }{3}##.
)
 
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thanks guys!
 
For simple comparison, I think the same thought process can be followed as a block slides down a hill, - for block down hill, simple starting PE of mgh to final max KE 0.5mv^2 - comparing PE1 to max KE2 would result in finding the work friction did through the process. efficiency is just 100*KE2/PE1. If a mousetrap car travels along a flat surface, a starting PE of 0.5 k th^2 can be measured and maximum velocity of the car can also be measured. If energy efficiency is defined by...

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