Set 1 Problem number 7


Problem

Problem: What is the average speed of an object that moves 28 meters in 7 seconds?

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Solution

Solution: Average speed is average number of meters in a second. 28 meters in 7 seconds is 4 meters in 1 second. So the result is 4 meters per second.

Generalized Solution

Generalized Response: Average speed is average distance per unit of time. If distance is `dist and the time interval is `dt, then `dist / `dt is the average distance per time unit.

Thus vAve = `dist / `dt.

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Explanation in terms of Figure(s), Extension

Figure description:

We can again use the triangular diagram to depict the relationship among `ds, `dt and vAve. In this case we can use vAve = `ds / `dt. To be more precise we should say

vAve = `ds / `dt.

This in fact is usually taken as the definition of average velocity.

Figure(s)

the_v_ds_dt_triangle.gif (3046 bytes)