What was the average velocity and speed of the car?

In summary, the conversation is about questions regarding motion, specifically the average velocity and speed of a car traveling 250km in 12 hours. The questioner is also seeking clarification on the difference between speed and velocity. The helper provides hints and conversions for calculating the average velocity and speed in m/s. The helper encourages the questioner to try the calculations themselves.
  • #1
wogdogg
2
0
Hi, i have a few questions about motion. any help would be much appreciated.

Q1. If a car was driven 250km from home to town, and back again in 12 hours:
a) what was the average velocity?
b) what was the average speed?
c) what was the average speed in m/s?
(show working out)


thats it for now...thanks to any helpers, incase i don't reply. :smile:
 
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  • #2
Do you know the difference between speed and velocity?

Because that concept is pretty germane to these questions.
 
  • #3
Hints:
a) There is no overall displacement.
b) The total distance traversed is 250 km x 2 = 500 km
c) 1 km = 1000 m. 1 hour = 3600 seconds. For example, if you want to convert 100 km/h to m/s, you would proceed as follows:

100 km = 100,000m
1 hour = 3600 seconds. So,
100 km/h = 100,000m/3600 s = 27.78 m/s
 
  • #4
a) average velocity=total displacement/time
b) average speed=total distance/time
c) 1km=1000m, 1h=3600s
1km/h=1000/3600 m/s

I thinks these hints are pretty straight forward...try it yourself... :smile:
 

What was the average velocity and speed of the car?

The average velocity and speed of a car can be calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken. Velocity is a vector quantity that takes into account both speed and direction, while speed is a scalar quantity that only considers the magnitude of an object's motion.

How is average velocity and speed different?

As mentioned earlier, velocity takes into account the direction of an object's motion, while speed only considers the magnitude. This means that two objects can have the same speed but different velocities if they are moving in different directions.

What units are used to measure velocity and speed?

Velocity is typically measured in meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h), while speed is usually measured in the same units. However, speed can also be measured in other units such as miles per hour (mph) or feet per second (ft/s).

Can velocity or speed be negative?

Yes, both velocity and speed can be negative. This occurs when an object is moving in the opposite direction of its initial position. For example, if a car starts at a position of 10 meters and then moves back to a position of 5 meters, its velocity and speed would be negative.

How is average velocity and speed calculated for complex motion?

For complex motion, such as a car moving in a curved path, the average velocity and speed can be calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken. However, in this case, the direction of motion may also need to be taken into account, making the calculations more complex.

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