Average velocity vs speed

1. Continue to move the car through the rest of the path. Note that the distance travelled by the car increases the whole way. The second section, 10 s to 16 s, is also 5 m long. The third, 10 m long, section can be broken into two 5 m long sections (16s to 22s and 22s to 28s). Use the app to confirm those two distances.

2. Note the average speed calculation. It uses the total distance travelled and the total elapsed time. What do you notice about the speed during 10 s to 16 s compared to the first 10s?

3. Without moving the slider, calculate the average speed after 16 s, 22 s and 28s. Use the applet to confirm your answers afterward.

4. Moving the time from 0 s to 10 s, what do you notice about the distance and the magnitude of the displacement? What happens once the time increases past 10 s?

5. Move the time to 22 s. What do you notice about the displacement?

6. What do you notice about the time used in the average distance and the time in the average velocity calculations?

7. Move the slider to 16 s. Use your vector skills to calculate the displacement magnitude and direction from the graph.

8. If the car completes his whole motion and then travels 14.6 m all the way back to the start in another 20 s as shown below, what would be the average speed?

9. If the car completes his whole motion and then travels 14.6 m all the way back to the start in another 20 s as shown above, what would be the average velocity?