Physics
Physics
Problem
A cyclist travels in , rests for , and then rides another in . Determine the cyclist’s average speed for the whole trip.Intuitive explanation
Average speed is total distance divided by total time—not the average of the speeds during each segment. The key is to include the rest period in your total time, even though no distance is covered then. This is why average speed often differs from what you'd expect if you just averaged the individual speeds.
Intuitive explanation
Average speed is total distance divided by total time—not the average of the speeds during each segment. The key is to include the rest period in your total time, even though no distance is covered then. This is why average speed often differs from what you'd expect if you just averaged the individual speeds.