Question

How can you calculate average speed from a distance time graph

Answer 1

Average speed is the magnitude of the slope of the distance time graph.

Step-by-step explanation:

Average speed of an object is the rate at which its position is changing with time.

So, in a graph of distance versus time, the average speed between any time interval is equal to the change in the distance over the time interval.

Suppose, the time interval is from
`t_1\ to\ t_2`. The distance traveled by the object is
`d_1\ at\ t_1` and
`d_2\ at\ t_2`. The average speed is given as:

`Speed=|(d_2-d_1)/(t_2-t_1)|`

This is nothing but the slope of the graph between two points on it.

Thus, average speed is the magnitude of the slope of the distance time graph.