Calculating Average Speed of a Road Trip

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SUMMARY

The average speed of a road trip can be calculated using the formula: average speed = total distance / total time. In this discussion, the traveler drove for 15 minutes at 65 km/h, 20 minutes at 75 km/h, and 60 minutes at 40 km/h, totaling 110 minutes of travel time. The total distance covered during the trip is calculated by converting travel times into hours and multiplying by respective speeds, resulting in a total distance of 70 km. The average speed for the entire trip, including a 15-minute break, is approximately 38.18 km/h.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic speed, distance, and time relationships
  • Ability to convert minutes to hours for speed calculations
  • Familiarity with average speed calculations
  • Knowledge of basic arithmetic operations
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to calculate total distance using varying speeds
  • Explore the concept of average speed in physics
  • Study the impact of breaks on average speed calculations
  • Investigate real-world applications of average speed in travel planning
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students studying physics, travelers planning road trips, and anyone interested in understanding speed calculations in practical scenarios.

toothpick09
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A person travels by car from one city to another with different constant speeds between pairs of cities. She drives for 15.0 min at 65.0 km/h, 20.0 min at 75.0 km/h and 60.0 min at 40.0 km/h, and spends 15.0 min eating lunch and buying gas.

Determine the average speed for the trip.

I know average speed is total distance/total time but I am confused as to how to get the total distance. For the total time I added 15+20+60+15 and got 110 minutes. Would displacement play a part in this problem?
 
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