Find the average velocity for the time period [1, 3]?

Question

The table shows the position of a cyclist.

t (seconds) 0 1 2 3 4 5

s (meters) 0 1.5 4.6 10.1 17.1 25.2

Find the average velocity for the time period [1, 3]

Find the average velocity for the time period [2, 3]

ect.

ok having problems with velocity questions im not sure how to solve for them im aware velocity = distance / time, but im still drawing a blank on these questions if somebody can help.

PS:

Please explain how i would solve for these i have about 10 questions similar to these and dont want to just receive the answer i want to work them out myself, please dont just provide an answer actually teach me how to solve them by showing some form of work. Thank you i appreciate it.

Answer 1

To find the average velocity over a time period simply use the following formula:

average velocity = total distance / total time

where total distance is the total distance travelled in that time period and total time is the time taken in that time period.

ps: velocity = distance/time only works out the exact quantities if the velocity is constant. If the velocity is not constant is works out the average velocity which is what you want in this case.

For the first questions the time period is (1,3) so the ttoal time = 2seconds (3 - 1) and the total distance = 8.6meters (10.1 - 1.5).

so if you put this into the equation:

ave velocity = 8.6 / 2 = 4.3m/s

Answer 2

Hi, please check my comment on a question you asked about the TI-83 -