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is it possible for the magnitude of an object\'s average velocity to be greater

ID: 1337583 • Letter: I

Question

is it possible for the magnitude of an object's average velocity to be greater than its average speed? how about average speed being greater than the magnitude of the average velocity? please explain !! is it possible for the magnitude of an object's average velocity to be greater than its average speed? how about average speed being greater than the magnitude of the average velocity? please explain !! is it possible for the magnitude of an object's average velocity to be greater than its average speed? how about average speed being greater than the magnitude of the average velocity? please explain !!

Explanation / Answer

definition of the two quantities are:

average velocity=total displacement/total time

it is a vector quantity.

average speed=total distance/total time

it is a scalar quantity.

if the object's direction of motion does not change. then magnitude of displacement=distance

in that case, magnitude of average veloicty=average speed

but if direction of motion changes,

then magnitude of displacement < distance

hence magnitude of average veloicty < average speed

hence it is possible for average speed to be greater than magnitude of average veloicty.

but it is not possible for magnitude of average veloicty to be greater than average speed.