Final answer:
The average speed of the train is calculated by dividing the distance traveled, 120 km, by the time taken, which is 2.5 hours. This results in an average speed of 48 km/h (Option A).
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks for the average speed of a train that covers 120 km heading South in 2 hours and 30 minutes. To find this, we apply the formula for average speed which is:
Vavg = distance / time
The given distance is 120 km, and the time needs to be expressed in hours, so 2 hours and 30 minutes is 2.5 hours. Plugging these values into the formula yields:
Vavg = 120 km / 2.5 h = 48 km/h
Therefore, the average speed of the train is 48 km/h, which corresponds to option A).