The problem involves calculating the average speed of a car that travels a distance at two different speeds: 40 km/h and 60 km/h. The original poster expresses difficulty in arriving at the correct average speed, repeatedly obtaining 50 km/h, and notes the lack of time or distance information.
The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem and offering guidance on how to approach it using variables. There is no explicit consensus on a solution, and some participants emphasize the forum's guidelines against providing complete solutions.
Participants note the importance of working with variables when certain information is missing, and there are reminders about the forum's rules regarding homework help.
But you know that it goes the same distance for each part of the trip.Ehsan Abedian said:Homework Statement
A car is moving in a road and its average speed is 40 km/h. Then it moves back in that road by 60 km/h speed. What is the average speed of this car? ( The answer is not 50 km/h )
Homework Equations
Average speed= d/tThe Attempt at a Solution
I can't solve this. I get 50 km/h every time. I do this: (60+40)/2
Because I don't have time or distance.
Mark44 said:But you know that it goes the same distance for each part of the trip.
Let D = the distance for each leg of the trip.
Calculate the time it takes for the first leg at 40 km/hr.
Calculate the time it takes for the second leg at 60 km/hr.
You now have enough information to calculate the average speed for both legs.
BTW, in future threads, try to come up with a better thread title. "I can't solve this problem" is NOT a good thread title. I changed the title for you to something more informative.
When there is something in a problem that you don't know but think you need, try replacing it with a variable (i.e. an "unknown"). Then proceed to work out what you want using that variable in place of the unknown quantity. If it turns out that you didn't need it after all, it will cancel out (disappear) along the way to your solution. Working with variables and applying the rules of algebra to solve problems is an important skill to master.Ehsan Abedian said:But I can't calculate the time. Maybe I don't have enough knowledge.
For each leg of the trip you have the distance (D) and the rate (40 km/hr for the first leg and 60 km/hr for the second leg). That's enough information to get an expression for the time of each leg.Ehsan Abedian said:But I can't calculate the time. Maybe I don't have enough knowledge.
No, that's not how it works here. The rules of this forum don't allow us to work a problem for you. See https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/physics-forums-global-guidelines.414380/ (under Homework Guidelines).Ehsan Abedian said:Can you show me the solution?