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

1 Answer
Mar 14, 2018

Total distance travelled by the object is 5*2 +1*2=12 m

And,net displacement of the object is 1*2 - 5*2=-8m

negative sign means direction of displacement is towards North.

Now,average speed =Total distance covered/total time taken=(12/4)=3 ms^-1

And,average velocity =Total displacement/Total time taken =-8/4=-2ms^-1 and its direction is towards North.

Remember average speed is a scalar quantity wheras average velocity is a vector quantity