Answer
(a) The average velocity is 2.3 m/s.
The average speed is 2.3 m/s.
(b) The average velocity is 0.33 m/s.
The average speed is 2.3 m/s.
Work Step by Step
(a) From t = 0 s to t = 2.0 s, the velocity is 2.0 m/s.
The displacement is (2.0 m/s)(2.0 s) which is 4.0 m.
The distance is also 4.0 m.
From t = 2.0 s to t = 3.0 s, the velocity is 3.0 m/s.
The displacement is (3.0 m/s)(1.0 s) which is 3.0 m.
The distance is also 3.0 m.
The total displacement is 7.0 m.
The total distance is also 7.0 m.
The average velocity is $\frac{7.0 ~m}{3.0 ~s} = 2.3 ~m/s$
The average speed is $\frac{7.0 ~m}{3.0 ~s} = 2.3 ~m/s$
(b) From t = 0 s to t = 2.0 s, the velocity is 2.0 m/s.
The displacement is (2.0 m/s)(2.0 s) which is 4.0 m.
The distance is also 4.0 m.
From t = 2.0 s to t = 3.0 s, the velocity is -3.0 m/s.
The displacement is (-3.0 m/s)(1.0 s) which is -3.0 m.
The distance is 3.0 m.
The total displacement is 4.0 m - 3.0 m = 1.0 m.
The total distance is 7.0 m.
The average velocity is $\frac{1.0 ~m}{3.0 ~s} = 0.33 ~m/s$
The average speed is $\frac{7.0 ~m}{3.0 ~s} = 2.3 ~m/s$
