Question

Tiah runs at an average rate of ________ meters per second.

Option 1: 4.5
Option 2: 2.8
Option 3: 5.2
Option 4: 3.2

Answer 1

Without additional information on distance and time, it is impossible to determine Tiah's average speed from the given options. The concept of average speed does not include direction and varies throughout a race due to changing speeds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to determining Tiah's average running speed in meters per second. To solve the problem accurately, we would require additional information such as the distance Tiah ran and the time it took. Without this, we cannot determine which of the options (4.5, 2.8, 5.2, 3.2 m/s) represents Tiah's average speed.

It is evident from the reference provided that speeds can vary throughout a race. For example, a sprinter's average rate during a race might be 9.09 m/s, but their top speed would be higher to account for a slower start. The concept of average speed is a scalar quantity which does not take direction into account and can be considered reasonable if it approximates an estimate of distance divided by time.

For understanding average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and average acceleration, one could refer to a velocity vs. time graph for a runner which illustrates these concepts over the course of a race.