Finding average speed & distance traveled?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the average speed and distance traveled by Sally during her car journey. Sally drives for three segments: 30 minutes at 52.0 km/h, 35 minutes at 48.0 km/h, and 23 minutes at 50.0 km/h, totaling 88 minutes of travel time. To find the average speed, one must first calculate the total distance using the formula d = vt for each segment, then apply the average speed formula: avg. speed = total distance / total time.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts such as speed, distance, and time.
  • Familiarity with the formula d = vt (distance = velocity × time).
  • Ability to perform unit conversions, particularly between minutes and hours.
  • Basic arithmetic skills for calculating averages and totals.
NEXT STEPS
  • Calculate total distance traveled using the formula d = vt for each segment of the trip.
  • Learn how to convert time from minutes to hours for accurate speed calculations.
  • Explore the concept of weighted averages to understand how different speeds affect overall average speed.
  • Practice similar problems involving average speed and distance to reinforce understanding.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics or mathematics, educators teaching motion concepts, and anyone interested in solving real-world problems involving average speed and distance calculations.

Luxurious
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Homework Statement



Sally travels by car from one city to another. She drives for 30.0 min at 52.0 km/h, 35.0 min at 48.0 km/h, and 23.0 min at 50.0 km/h, and she spends 10.0 min eating lunch and buying gas.


Homework Equations



avg. speed= distance traveled / time of travel



The Attempt at a Solution



first, I added all three speeds (52+48+50) and divided by 3. I got 50 as the average speed, but the website says I'm incorrect.

How can I find the average speed without the distance traveled?

avg. speed = distance traveled / (30+35+23)
avg. speed = distance traveled / 88
 
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I don't think you can find the average speed without first finding the distance!
It shouldn't be hard to work out the distances - just use d = vt for each. Get the total distance and the total time, then use the "relevant equation".
 

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