Final answer:
The soccer player's average speed during the game is 3.33 m/s, calculated by dividing the total distance traveled, which is 40.0 m (16 m north plus 24 m south), by the time taken, which is 12 s.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the soccer player's average speed, we must first understand that speed is the total distance traveled divided by the time taken to travel that distance, irrespective of the direction. In this case, the soccer player runs 16.0 m north and then 24.0 m south, for a total distance of 16.0 m + 24.0 m = 40.0 m.
Now, we calculate the average speed using the formula:
Average Speed = Total Distance ∕ Total Time
Substitute the given values into the formula:
Average Speed = 40.0 m ∕ 12 s = 3.33 m/s
Thus, the soccer player's average speed during the game was 3.33 meters per second.