Question

A bicycle racer rides from a starting marker to a turnaround marker at 10 m/s. She then rides back along the same route from the turnaround marker to the starting marker at 25 m/s. What is her average speed for the whole race?

Answer 1

Given :

A bicycle racer rides from a starting marker to a turnaround marker at 10 m/s.

She then rides back along the same route from the turnaround marker to the starting marker at 25 m/s.

To Find :

Her average speed for the whole race.

Solution :

We know, average velocity is given by :

$Average \ Velocity = \dfrac{v_1 + v_2}{2}\\\\Average\ Velocity = \dfrac{10 + 25}{2}\\\\Average \ Velocity = \dfrac{35}{2}\\\\Average \ Velocity = 17.5 \ m/s$

Therefore, average speed for the whole race is given by 17.5 m/s.