Understanding Average Velocity | Definition, Formula, and Calculation Example

average velocity

Average velocity is a measure of the rate of change of an object’s position over a specific time interval

Average velocity is a measure of the rate of change of an object’s position over a specific time interval. It is calculated by dividing the change in position (displacement) by the time interval.

The formula for average velocity is:
Average Velocity = (Change in Position) / (Change in Time)

To better understand average velocity, let’s consider an example. Suppose a car travels from point A to point B, which are 100 kilometers apart, in 2 hours. The change in position is 100 kilometers, and the change in time is 2 hours. By applying the formula, we can calculate the average velocity of the car during this trip:

Average Velocity = (Change in Position) / (Change in Time)
= 100 km / 2 hours
= 50 km/hour

So, the average velocity of the car is 50 kilometers per hour. This means that, on average, the car traveled 50 kilometers for every hour during the journey.

It is important to note that average velocity takes both the magnitude and direction of the displacement into account. If the car had returned from point B to point A, then the change in position would be zero, resulting in an average velocity of 0 km/hour, indicating that there was no overall displacement over the time interval.

Average velocity provides a measure of how quickly an object is changing its position, taking into account both the distance traveled and the time taken. It is widely used in physics and other sciences to describe the motion of objects.

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