An object travels North at # 3 m/s# for #1 s# and then travels South at # 2 m/s# for # 7 s#. What are the object's average speed and velocity?

1 Answer
Jun 9, 2017

The average speed is #=2.125ms^-1#
The average velocity is #=-1.375ms^-1#

Explanation:

The average speed is #=# total distance#/#time,

The total distance is #d=(3*1)+(2*7)=17m#

The total time is #t=1+7=8s#

The average speed is #=d/t=17/8=2.125ms^-1#

The average velocity is

#barv=(Deltax)/(Deltat)=(3*1-2*7)/(1+7)=-11/8=-1.375ms^-1#