# What is the average velocity equation?

1. Jun 1, 2006

### Helicobacter

1. When I see the variable v at some place, how do I know as to whether v is being defined as velocity or speed? On Wikipedia both, velocity and speed, are referring to a formula with v.
2. What is the average velocity of the following:
(consider one unit=1s resp. 1m/s and the vector of the velocity is always 0°)? According to my book it must be zero: v[average]=0.5(v[final]+v[initial]). Is the book right?

2. Jun 1, 2006

### Staff: Mentor

The context of the problem will tell you which is meant.

If I'm interpreting that graph correctly, the average velocity (or speed) is certainly not zero! (That formula only makes sense for uniformly accelerated motion, but the motion shown in the graph is not uniformly accelerated: the first half is speeding up, the second half is slowing down.) Did the book really say that the average speed shown in that graph is zero? Or are you applying the formula yourself?

3. Jun 1, 2006

### Helicobacter

I formed the graph without considering uniformly accelerated motion. I understand now - thank you for your feedback.

Last edited: Jun 1, 2006