Question

Milwaukee is 121 mi (air miles) due west of Grand Rapids. Maria drives 255 mi in 4.75 h from Grand Rapids to Milwaukee around Lake Michigan. Find:

a. Her average driving speed
b. Her average travel velocity

Answer 1

a).
Average speed = (distance driven) / (time to drive the distance)

= (255 miles) / (4.75 hours)

= (255/4.75) (mile/hour) = 53.7 miles per hour .


b).
Average velocity =

(displacement) / (time for the trip)

= (distance and direction from
start-point to end-point,
regardless of the route) / (time for the trip)

= (121 miles west) / (4.75 hours)

= (121 / 4.75) (miles per hour west)

= 25.5 miles per hour west .