Average Speed Formula
Average Speed Formula – The average speed is the overall distance traveled by an object over a certain period. It is a scalar quantity. It is expressed by magnitude and has no direction.
A formula for average speed is needed because the speed of moving bodies is not constant but changes over time. Students can use the total time and total distance travelled values even though the speeds are different, and use the Average Speed Formula to find a single value that represents the entire trip. Average speed is important for understanding the speed at which movement is occurring. The speed may change from time to time while driving. In this case, it becomes important to find the average speed in order to get an estimate of how fast the trip will be completed. Here are some special cases and shortcuts that can find the average speed in less than a minute. In this article we have discussed the average speed, the average speed formula, and use this formula to solve some examples from the website of Extramarks.
Average Speed Formula
The speed of an object is calculated by dividing the distance it travels by the time it takes to cover that distance. If ‘D’ is the distance travelled in some period ‘T’, then the speed (S) of the object for this trip,
Total Distance traveled/Total Time taken ………… (1)
We will learn about the average speed formula, including how to compute it and how to determine the time or distance given the average speed.
What Is The Average Speed Formula?
Average speed is an important factor in determining how long a trip will take. Average speed is basically a mechanism that helps calculate the ratio of travel time to distance. It is evident that the speed of the vehicle is constantly changing while driving, which makes finding the average speed even more important. There are several ways to find the average speed of an object or vehicle. Here are the most commonly used average speed finders. This is one of the most used and easiest of all average speed finders. It is best if the speed at which the object moves is the same throughout the journey, i.e. neither increasing nor decreasing. A way to find the average speed is to use division. Dividing the distance travelled by the vehicle by the time travelled by the vehicle gives the answer.
Simply, The average speed of an object can be defined as the total distance travelled over a specific time interval. It can be calculated by dividing the total distance travelled by the total time taken. If an object travels different distances at different velocities, the average speed of an object is the single speed value that, given the uniform motion of the object, travels the same distance in the same time interval. The average speed of an object is equal to the total distance travelled divided by the total time taken. The formula for average speed is-
Average Speed = Total distance covered ÷ Total time taken
Average Speed Formula With Three Speeds
The average speed formula for two speeds may be computed by summing the entire distance and dividing it by the total time taken to cover it.
- We must now determine the two distances if two speeds and the time it takes for them are provided.
- The formula for calculating distance covered is distance = speed × time.
- Next, we sum the two distances and divide them by the total time.
For example, Moving a distance “a” at time t1, a distance “b” at time t2, a distance “c” at time t3, and so on, the average speed of an object is given by the relationship:
Average speed Formula = (a + b + c + …)/ (t1 + t2 + t3 + …)
Average Speed Formula Special Cases
The table below summarizes the special Cases of Average Speed Formula-
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Average Speed Formula Special Cases |
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| Special Cases | Average Speed Formula |
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For a body or object traveling with a speed of s1 for time t1, and the speed of s2 for time t2 , The formula for average speed is given here. The product of s1×t1, and s2×t2 gives the distances covered in time intervals t1, and t2 respectively. |
$$Savg = \frac{s_1 \times t_1 + s_2 \times t_2}{t_1 + t_2}$$ |
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Similarly, when ‘n’ different speeds, s1, s2, s3….sn are given for ‘n’ respective individual time intervals, t1, t2, t3.…tnrespectively, the average speed formula is given as: |
$$Savg = \frac{s_1 t_1 + s_2 t_2 + … + s_n t_n}{t_1 + t_2 +…+ t_n}$$ |
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Average speed when different distances, d1, d2, d3.…dn, are covered for different intervals of time, t1, t2, t3.…tn respectively is given as: |
$$Savg = \frac{d_1 + d_2 + d_3 +…+ d_n} {\dfrac{d_1}{s_1} + \dfrac{d_2}{s_2} + \dfrac{d_3}{s_3} +….+ \dfrac{d_n}{s_n}}$$ |
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Average speed when different speeds, s1, s2, s3….sn, are given for different distances, d1, d2, d3.…dn respectively is given as: |
$$Savg = \frac{d_1 + d_2 + d_3 +…+ d_n} {\dfrac{d_1}{s_1} + \dfrac{d_2}{s_2} + \dfrac{d_3}{s_3} +….+ \dfrac{d_n}{s_n}}$$ |
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Average speed formula when two or more speeds are given (s1, s2, s3….sn) such that those speeds were traveled for same amount of time (t1= t2 = t3 = ….tn=t) is given as: |
$$Savg= \frac{s_{1} t + s_{2} t +…+ s_{n} t} {t\times n} = \frac{s_{1} + s_{2} +…+ s_{n}} {n}$$ |
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Average speed when different speeds given (s1, s2, s3….sn) for same distance (d1= d2 = d3 = ….dn = d) is given as: |
$$Savg= \frac{ n \times d} { d \times \left[ \dfrac{1}{s_1} + \dfrac{1}{s_2} + \dfrac{1}{s_3} +….+ \dfrac{1}{s_n}\right]} = \frac{ n} {\left[ \dfrac{1}{s_1} + \dfrac{1}{s_2} + \dfrac{1}{s_3} +….+ \dfrac{1}{s_n}\right]}$$ |
Note – To find the average speed, never use the average formula, just find the total distance travelled and the total time taken. Let’s take a look at some more examples of where a journey completes in its three stages.
Examples On Average Speed Formula
Students should look at some examples to better understand the Average Speed Formula.
Example 1 : A truck travels from Haryana to Bangalore at an average speed of 60 km/h. It takes 30 hours. The same road from Bangalore back to Haryana with an average speed of 40 km/h. What is the average speed of the truck on the outbound and inbound trips?
A) 50 km/h
B) 55 km/h
C) 48 km/h
D) 52 km/h
Solution : Students may be tempted to add the velocities and divide by 2 to calculate the average speed. This is incorrect because the average speed is the total distance divided by the total time. First, let’s look at the distance from Haryana to Bangalore. This can be done like this:
Distance = (speed) x (time).
So, Distance = 60 × 30 = 1800 kilometres.
Now students need to find the travel time from Bangalore to Haryana. Students can write:
Average speed = (total distance)/(total time)
Average speed = (1800 + 1800)/(30 + 45)
Average speed = 3600/75
Average speed = 48 km/h.
Answer: The correct option here is C) 48 km/h.
Example 2: Using the Average Speed Formula, find the average speed of Sam travelling the first 120 miles in 4 hours and the second 100 miles in another 4 hours.
Solution: To find the average speed, students need the total distance and the total time. Sam’s total mileage = 200 km + 160 km = 360 km
Total time for Sam = 4 hours + 4 hours = 8 hours
Average speed = total distance that is travelled ÷ total time taken
Average speed = 360 ÷ 8 = 45 km/h
Answer: Sam’s average speed is 45 km/h.
Example 3: A train travels at 80 mph for the first 4 hours and 110 mph for the next 3 hours, then finds the average speed of the train using the Average Speed Formula.
Solution: The train is believed to be travelling at a speed of 80 miles per hour for the first four hours. Here
S.1 = 80 and T.1 = 4
The train then travels at a speed of 110 miles per hour for the next 3 hours. As a result,
S.2 = 110 and T.2 = 3
Average Speed Formula = (80 × 4 + 110 × 3) ÷ (4 + 3)
Average Speed Formula = (650) ÷ (7)
Average Speed Formula = 92.86 miles per hour
Answer: The average train speed is 92.86 miles per hour.
Example 3: The car is 45 km/h, and he drives for 5 hours, then decides to slow down to 40 km/h for the next 2 hours then calculates the average speed using the Average Speed Formula.
Solution:
Distance I = 45 × 5 = 225 miles
distance II = 40 × 2 = 80 miles
Total Distance = Distance 1 + Distance 2
D = 225 + 80 = 305 miles
Using the Average Speed Formula, total distance travelled ÷ total travel time
Average speed = 305 ÷ 7 = 43.57 m/s.
Answer: The average speed of a car is 43.57 m/s.
I hope this post helped you understand the definition, formula, and process of calculating average speed using solved examples. Stay tuned to Extramark for additional information. Solved examples and practice problems and solutions on the Average Speed Formula can be accessed from the Extramarks website or mobile application.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. How to calculate distance using the Average Speed Formula?
The general formula for average speed is [average speed = distance travelled ÷ total time].
To calculate distance, the Average Speed Formula can be constructed as follows: [distance = average speed * time].
2. How do students calculate time using the Average Speed Formula?
The general Average Speed Formula will be given by [Average speed = Distance ÷ Time].
To calculate time, the Average Speed Formula is formed as follows: [time = distance travelled ÷ average speed].
3. How to use the formula for average speed?
To understand how to use the Average Speed Formula, consider an example. Example: A runner completes his 100 m lap in 40 seconds. After completing the first lap, return to the starting point. Calculate the runner’s average speed. Solution: total distance travelled by the runner = 100 meters
Total time = 40 seconds
So students apply the general formula for average speed
students have,
Average speed = distance ÷ time
The runner’s average speed will be 2.5 m/s.
4. What is the general Average Speed Formula for an object?
The general Average Speed Formula for an object is [average speed = total distance travelled ÷ total time taken]. The SI unit for average speed will always be m/s.
5. What is the Formula of Average Speed?
The formula for average speed is expressed as follows. Average speed = Total distance ÷ Total Time.
