Final answer:
When you divide the total distance traveled on a car trip by the elapsed time of the trip, you are calculating the average speed. Average speed and magnitude of average velocity can be the same when the car is traveling at a constant speed and does not change its direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
A car's odometer shows the total distance traveled on a car trip. If you divide this distance by the elapsed time of the trip, you are calculating the average speed. Average speed is a scalar quantity that measures how fast an object is moving without considering its direction. It is calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the time taken. So, when you divide the total distance traveled on a car trip by the elapsed time of the trip, you are calculating the average speed.
Under certain circumstances, average speed and magnitude of average velocity can be the same. This happens when the car is traveling at a constant speed and does not change its direction. In such cases, the magnitude of the average velocity is equal to the average speed. However, in situations where the car is not moving at a constant speed or changes its direction, the average speed and magnitude of average velocity will be different.