Average Speed and Average Velocity - Overview, Structure, Properties & Uses

Average Speed and Average Velocity - Definition, Formula, Example, FAQs

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on May 23, 2022 10:37 AM IST

Define Average Velocity.

Average speed definition: We must first understand the distinction between distance and displacement before learning about average speed and average velocity.
The term "distance" refers to a scalar quantity that indicates how much ground an object has covered. Displacement, on the other hand, is a vector quantity that represents the shortest distance between two points.
For example, if a particle moves in a circle, the distance after one revolution equals the circle's perimeter, but the displacement equals zero.

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This Story also Contains

Define Average Velocity.
Speed and Velocity
What is Average Speed
Average Velocity
Common Mistakes and Misconnects

Let's have a look at what speed and velocity are.

NCERT Physics Notes :

Speed and Velocity

Speed is a scalar quantity, meaning it does not have a direction. It expresses how quickly an object is going. If the particle's speed is high, the particle is travelling quickly, and if it is low, the particle is moving slowly.

Velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both a magnitude and a direction. It indicates how quickly an object is moving or changing position. The velocity vector's direction is simple to determine. It moves in the same direction as the moving object. Even if the item is slowing down and the magnitude of velocity is decreasing, the object's direction will remain the same.

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What is Average Speed

The distance traversed by a body in a given time interval divided by time is the average speed of that body in that time interval. So, if a particle travels a specific distance s in time t1–t2, the body's average speed is: Vav = s/(t2–t1)

Example of Average Speed

Rahul rode his motorcycle from Pune to Nagpur for two hours at 60 kmph and three hours at 70 kmph.

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ANS- We already know that distance equals speed times time.

So, in two hours, distance travelled = 2*60 = 120 km, and in three hours, distance travelled = 3*70 = 210 km.

120 + 210 = 330 km total distance travelled

2 + 3 = 5 hr total time

Avg. Speed = Total distance travelled divided by time spent

330/5 = 66 kmph is the average speed.

Also read :

Average Velocity

The displacement of a body in a particular time interval divided by time gives the average velocity of a body in that time frame. So, if a particle moves AB in time t1 to t2, the average velocity of the particle is

Vav =AB /(t2–t1).

The formula is: Average velocity= Total Displacement in general/Time allotted

The examples below will help you understand the idea of average velocity.

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Example of Velocity

1) On the x-axis, what is the average velocity of a person moving 7 metres in 4 seconds and 18 metres in 6 seconds?

ANS- The person's initial distance travelled, xi = 7 m,

xf = 18 m is the final distance travelled.

ti = 4 sec is the first time interval.

tf = 6 sec, final time interval

Vav = (xi – xf)/(tf – ti)=18 – 76 - 4=112 = 5.5 m/sec is the average velocity.

Common Mistakes and Misconnects

The average velocity does not have to be the same magnitude as the average speed. People may believe that average speed and average velocity are the same thing, but average speed is determined by distance, while average velocity is determined by displacement. If an object reverses direction throughout its travel, its average speed will be greater than the average velocity's magnitude.

Average velocity is a vector, and speed is a scalar. When the displacement is in the negative direction, the average velocity can be represented as a negative integer. The average speed has no meaning in terms of direction and can only be positive or negative.

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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. What's the relationship between average velocity and average speed?

Because displacement is always less than or equal to the distance travelled, the magnitude of average velocity is always less than or equal to the average speed. The formula V = D/t is used to calculate average velocity, where V equals average velocity, D equals total displacement, and t equals total time.

2. What is the average velocity formula?

The formula V = D/t is used to calculate average velocity, where V equals average velocity, D equals total displacement, and t equals total time.

3. What is the definition of beginning velocity?

Anything will accelerate as a result of forces acting on it. The object's velocity changes as a result of this acceleration. As a result, the initial velocity is the object's velocity before acceleration, which produces the change.

4. What is the International System of Units (SI) for velocity?

Velocity is a physical vector quantity that requires both magnitude and direction to define. Speed is a coherent derived unit whose quantity is measured in the SI (metric system) as meter per second (m/s or ms^-1).

5. What do you mean when you say "average speed"?

For example, we might say that a car travels at 25 miles per hour on average. Due east, its average velocity could be 25 miles per hour. The rate of change in distance with respect to time can be thought of as average speed.