What is the relationship between the instantaneous and average velocity of an object
Answers
The instantaneous velocity of an object at a particular time is equal to the slope of its position vs. time graph at that time. On the other hand, the average velocity between two times is equal to the slope of the line joining the two points on the position vs. time graph. Run the applet to the right to make sure that you understand these two concepts -- both their similarities and differences. If you have trouble relating position vs. time graphs to actual motion, review the comparison between motion diagrams and graphs.
For a given journey, the instantaneous velocity is a function of time, but the average velocity is constant. The vector of the average velocity is always in the direction of the displacement. Therefore, the average velocity is path independent, but the instantaneous velocity vector depends on the path taken.