Question

A person walks north for 50 m at 0.5 m/s, stand still for 60 seconds and then walks south back 50 m to the starting point at 2 m/s. Find a) the total distance traveled, b) the total displacement, c) the average speed and d) the average velocity.

Answer 1

a). total distance traveled = (50m + 50m) = 100 meters

b). total displacement = (distance between start- and end-points) = zero

c). average speed = (distance)/(time) = 100m/185s = 0.54 m/s

d). average velocity = displacement/time = zero