2.1 Average speed

• Natuurkunde / Scheikunde
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Movement

Paragraph 2.1

Average speed

Average speed

To calculate the average speed you will use the following formula:

 

average speed = distance

                                        time

For these words we use the following symbols:

v_avg = average speed (from the latin word velocitas)

s = distance (from the latin word spatio)

t = time

 

v​avg=​​​t​​s​​

Average speed

Choose the units that you want to use

option 1: v in m/s; s in m; t in s

option 2: v in km/h; s in km; t in h

Always write your complete calculation with any exercise.

v​avg​​=​t​​s​​

Example

A pedestrian walks in exactly 45 minutes a total distance of 4 km. What is their average speed?

option 1

s = 4 km

t = 45 min = 0,75 h

v = s : t = 4 : 0,75 = 5,3 km/h

option 2

s = 4 km =  4000 m

t = 45 min = 2700 s

v = s : t = 4000 : 2700 = 1, 5 m/s

Remember

A cyclist takes 22 minutes to cycle a distance of 5 kilometer. What is their average speed? Give your entire calculation and answer with a unit.

Hoe groot is de gemiddelde snelheid
van de bal uit figuur 4 in je boek?
Vul je hele berekening in.

Flipping the formula

You can also use the formula to determine the distance travelled or the time spent travelling, you are then going to use a variation of the standard formula. Make sure you can use all three variations. You are allowed to use the formulas in words if preferred

v​avg​​=​t​​s​​

t=​v​avg​​​​s​​

s=v​avg​​⋅t

How long doest it take a car to drive a distance of 175 km if its speed is an average of 80km/h?
Fill in the entire calculation.

An athlete runs a path for 80 minutes long, their average speed was 14 km/h. What is the distance that they covered? Fill in the entire calculation.

Weektask

Finish the exercises of paragraph 2.1