Question

A cyclist moves a distance of 30 m from points A to B in a straught line towards East with a speed of 10 m/s. He then moves a distance of 40 m from points B to C in a straight line towards North with a speed of 20 m/s. Calculate the cyclist's (1) Average Speed, (2) Average Velocity, for the whole journey

Answer 1

Average speed is 14 m/s and average velocity is 10 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The time consumed to travel from A to B = Distance / Speed = 30 / 10 = 3 seconds

The time consumed to travel from B to C = Distance / Speed = 40 / 20 = 2 seconds

Now, we find the average speed by using the below formula.

Average speed = total distance / total time

Average speed = (30 +40) / (3 + 2)

Avergae speed = 70 / 5 = 14 m/s.

Now find the average velocity.

Average velocity = displacement / time

Displacement, distance between A to C = [(30)^2 + (40)^2]^1/2 = 50 m

Average velocity = 50 / (3+2) = 10 m/s