Q6DQ

Question

Under what conditions does the magnitude of the average velocity equal the average speed?

Step-by-Step Solution

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Answer

The magnitude of average velocity is equal to average speed when the distance traveled by the object is equal to the displacement.

1Step 1: Average Velocity and Average Speed

Average Velocity

Average velocity refers to the ratio of the rate of change of displacement to time. Also, it is a vector quantity.

Average Speed

Average speed refers to the ratio of the total distance traveled by the object to the total time taken. Also, it is a scalar quantity.

2Step 2: Explanation

The conditions for which the average velocity and average speed are equal are:

(a) The displacement of an object is equal in magnitude to the total distance moved by that object.

(b) The object must have a motion along a straight line.

Thus, the only condition for which average velocity and average speed have the same magnitudes is when the distance traveled and displacement are equal.

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