Question

Maggie participated in a race. She ran 100 meters west and then turned back and ran to the starting line to complete the race. Maggie covered this entire distance in 40 seconds. What are her average speed and average velocity?

Answer 1

Her total distance was 200 meters, since she ran 100 meters west and the same 100 meters back. This gives an average speed of 200 m / 40 s = 5 m/s.

However, her displacement was 0, since she ended at the same place she began, therefore, her average velocity is 0 / 40 s = 0.