The average speed is the total distance traveled by the object in a particular time interval. The average speed is a scalar quantity. It is represented by the magnitude and does not have direction. Let us know how to calculate average speed, the average speed formula, and solved examples on average speed.
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Formula of Average Speed
The formula for average speed is found by calculating the ratio of the total distance traveled by the body to the time taken to cover that distance.
The average speed equation is articulated as:
 Total Distance traveled/Total Time taken ………… (1)
Equation (2) is the formula for an average speed of an object moving at a varying speed.
Average Speed Solved Examples
Problem 1: A runner sprints at a track meet. He completes a 1000-meter lap in 1 minute 30 sec. After the finish, he is at the starting point. Calculate the average speed of the runner during this lap?
Answer:
Given:
Total distance covered by the runner = 1000 meters
Total time taken =1minute 30 sec
= 90 sec
So, applying the formula for the average speed
we have,
1000/90
 11.1 m/s
Problem 2: A car travels at a speed of 40 km/hr for 2 hours and then decides to slow down to 30 km/hr for the next 2 hours. What is the average speed?
Answer:
D1 = 40 * 2 = 80 miles
D2 = 30 * 2 = 60 miles
Total distance D= D1+D2
D = 80 + 60
D = 140 miles
Average speed  Total Distance travelled/Total Time taken
= 140/4
 35 m/s
Read more: Average velocity
See the video below, to have a clear idea about average speed, average speed formula, and average velocity.
Hope you learned the average speed definition, average speed formula, how to calculate average speed along with examples. Stay tuned with BYJU’S to know more.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What is average speed?
The average speed is the total distance traveled by the object in a particular time interval.
Write the average speed formula?
Average speed = Total Distance traveled/Total Time taken
Is Average speed a scalar or vector quantity?
Define average velocity.
What is the SI unit of average velocity?
The SI unit of average velocity is meters per second.
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