# Clarification between average velocity and average speed

## Main Question or Discussion Point

To find average velocity, you do total displacement over total time
To find average speed, you add up the speeds / total speeds there are? (Eg. (10+20)/2)

Am I correct?

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jtbell
Mentor
To find average velocity, you do total displacement over total time
Correct.

To find average speed, you add up the speeds / total speeds there are? (Eg. (10+20)/2)
No, you take the total distance along the path traveled, over the total time. For "total distance", imagine tracing out the path with a string, then straightening the string and measuring its length with a ruler.

thanks for your reply! but when do you use v1 + v2 /2 ? or did i remember this wrong?

thanks for your reply! but when do you use v1 + v2 /2 ? or did i remember this wrong?
You can use (v1+v2)/2 for the average speed if you first moved with speed v1 and then with speed v2 for the same amount of time. (not for the same amount of distance).

For constant acceleration in a straight line, the average speed (and velocity as well) is $\frac {v_i + v_f}{2}$. the average of initial and final speed.

NascentOxygen
Staff Emeritus