Answer to Question #290874 in Physics for pogring

Question

If you divide the total distance traveled on a car trip (as determined by the

odometer) by the time for the trip, (a) are you calculating the average speed or the

magnitude of the average velocity? (b) Under what circumstances are these two

quantities the same?

Answer 1

(a) Average speed because it is the total distance divided by the total time.

(b) They are the same when the car moves in a straight line and does not go backward.