Question

Q.) An object travels 16m in 14 s and then another 16m in 2 s. What is the average speed of the object ?

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Answer 1

In case of determining average speed ( in terms of Physics ) , it is given by total distance travelled by the moving object divided by total time taken to travel the total distance ( as Speed = Distance ÷ Time )

Now in the above case :-

Total Distance Covered = 16 + 16 = 32 m

Total Time Taken to Travel 32m = 4 + 2 = 6 s

Thus The Average Speed of the Moving Object = 32 ÷ 6 = 5.33 m/s

This is different from the Mathematical Average of Speeds

Speed of the object in first case = 16 ÷4 = 4 m / s

Speed of the object in second case = 16 ÷ 2 = 8 m / s .

Mathematical Average of Speeds = ( 4 + 8 ) ÷ 2 = 12 / 2 = 6 m / s .

Now if you are said to determine AVERAGE OF SPEEDS , then you have to calculate the Mathematical Average . But if you are told to determine the Average Speed ( as told to you in this problem ) of the moving object , you have to apply the formula of Average Speed as Total Distance Travelled by the Moving Object divided by the Total Time Taken to Travel The Total Distance . Your answer in this case will be 5. 33 m/:s and not 6 m / s ..

Answer 2

➻The average speed of the object is 5.33 m/s.