An object travels North at # 5 m/s# for #1 s# and then travels South at # 3 m/s# for # 2 s#. What are the object's average speed and velocity?

1 Answer
Jul 6, 2017

The average speed is #=3.67ms^-1#
The average velocity is #=0.33ms^-1#

Explanation:

The total distance travelled is #d=5*1+3*2=11m#

The total time is #t=1+2=3s#

The average speed is

#barv=d/t=11/3=3.67ms^-1#

The displacement is

#Deltax=3*2-5*1=1m#

The average velocity is

#=(Deltax)/t=1/3=0.33ms^-1#