Final answer:
To calculate the Olympic athlete's average speed, divide the total distance (200.0 m) by the total time (21.34 s), which results in an average speed of 9.38 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
An Olympic athlete runs 200.0 m in 21.34 s, and we are asked to calculate her average speed. Average speed is defined as the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. Using the formula for average speed:
Speed = Distance ÷ Time
We can plug in the values provided to find:
Speed = 200.0 m ÷ 21.34 s = 9.38 m/s (rounded to two decimal places)
The runner's average speed is therefore 9.38 meters per second.