Final answer:
The statement given is false because the average speed can be higher than the average velocity if the path taken is not a straight line, as average speed takes the entire path into account while average velocity only considers displacement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question, 'True or False: The average speed of the ball will be less than the average velocity of the ball,' refers to the concepts of average speed and average velocity in physics. In order to determine whether the statement is true or false, it's essential to understand the definition of these terms. Average speed is a scalar quantity and is defined as the total distance traveled divided by the total time of travel, while average velocity is a vector quantity that includes direction and is defined as the total displacement divided by the total time of travel. If the motion of the ball is along a straight line and in one direction, the magnitudes of the average speed and velocity will be the same. However, if the ball's path is not straight (such as in the case of the ball being pitched and then returning to the pitcher), the average speed can be higher than the average velocity since displacement is a straight line distance from the initial to the final position and ignores the path taken.