# Average Speed Formula

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.

## 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:

$\inline \dpi{100} S_{avg} =$ Total Distance traveled/Total Time taken ………… (1)

${S_{AVG}}=&space;\frac{D_{total}}{T_{total}}\,&space;..........(2)$

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?

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,

$\inline \dpi{100} S_{avg} =$ 1000/90

$\inline \dpi{100} S_{avg} =$ 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?
D1 = 40 * 2 = 80 miles

D2 = 30 * 2 = 60 miles

Total distance D= D1+D2

D = 80 + 60

D = 140 miles

Average speed $\inline \dpi{100} S_{avg} =$ Total Distance travelled/Total Time taken

= 140/4

$\inline \dpi{100} S_{avg} =$  35 m/s

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?

The average speed is a scalar quantity.

### Define average velocity.

Average velocity is defined as the change in position or displacement (∆x) divided by the time intervals (∆t) in which the displacement occurs.

### What is the SI unit of average velocity?

The SI unit of average velocity is meters per second.