Calculating Average Speed and Velocity for a Commuting Student

AI Thread Summary
The commuting student drives to school at an average speed of 42.0 km/h but returns home after 22.0 minutes when she realizes she forgot her homework. The total distance covered includes the trip to school and back home, plus the final trip to school, totaling 42 km. The average speed for the entire trip is calculated by dividing the total distance by the total time, which includes the time spent driving and searching for the homework. Average velocity, however, only considers the net displacement, which remains 42 km since she returns to her starting point. The discussion emphasizes the distinction between speed as a scalar quantity and velocity as a vector quantity.
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Homework Statement



A commuting student leaves home and drives to school at an average speed of 42.0 km/h. After 22.0 min she realizes that she has forgotten her homework and returns home to get it at the same average speed. It takes 8.0 min to find the report, after which the trip to school 42.0 km away to the east is resumed at the same speed as before.
What is the average speed for the entire trip ? What is the average velocity for the entire trip?

Homework Equations



speed av= total distance/delta t (change in t)
v av (average velocity)=delta x/delta t (change in x, change in t)

The Attempt at a Solution



I've tried numerous things with no success. Please help!
 
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Remember that speed is scalar and velocity is vector. If you wall 10 meters forward and then turn back and return to your original spot then you will have traveled a total distance of 20 meters. But your total displacement is 0. Speed is associated with distance and velocity is associated with displacement.
 
ok so for her total dispacement she basically only went 42 km since she had to turn around the first time correct? but I am having trouble with the time would her total time be 30 mins since she had to turn around and then look for the report?
 
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