If a car travels 80 miles between 2 and 4 pm, then its velocity is close to 40 mph at 2 pm.

true or false?

Question

If a car travels 80 miles between 2 and 4 pm, then its velocity is close to 40 mph at 2 pm.

true or false?

anonymous · Answer

can't be said...because  car may not have constant velocity over the whole period of journey...

anonymous · Answer

Another thing to consider is that velocity is a vector. In other words, the car could have been going 40mph in the other direction for the first hour before turning around and hauling...so 40mph in what direction?

anonymous · Answer

cars average velocity is 40 mph.

anonymous · Answer

If average velocity is defined as $$v_{avg}=\frac{v_i + v_f} {2}$$ then the average velocity could be *zero* in the case where the driver heads west 40 miles for the first hour, and then returns to their starting point in the same amount of time. 

Their average *speed* would be 40 mph, but that's a scalar quantity, velocity is a vector.

anonymous · Answer

so is false ?

anonymous · Answer

its posible but not necessary?

anonymous · Answer

There's not enough information to assert an average speed without the direction.

anonymous · Answer

I meant to say velocity. Not enough info for velocity.