Final answer:
The average speed approximates the instantaneous speed when calculated over a very short time span, since there is less opportunity for speed fluctuations to impact the average. Instantaneous speed is a scalar showing speed at a specific moment, while average speed is total distance over total time. Option a is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average speed would be close to the instantaneous speed if the average speed is calculated over a very short time period. This is because over such short intervals, there is less chance for speed variations that could affect the average.
Instantaneous speed, which is the speed at a specific instant, is typically what we see on a speedometer and does not have a direction associated with it, making it a scalar quantity. The average speed, on the other hand, is calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total elapsed time, regardless of the direction of travel.
Average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the elapsed time. Instantaneous speed, on the other hand, is the speed at a specific instant in time. The average speed would be close to the instantaneous speed if the average speed is calculated over a very short time period, option a.