Question

Show that the average speed of a body cannot be zero but the average velocity can be zero.

Answer 1

1. Average velocity is calculated by dividing the change in position or displacement by the time span over which the displacement happens.
2. Depending on the sign of displacement, the average velocity might be positive or negative or zero.
3. $Averagevelocity=\frac{Totaldisplacement}{Totaltime}.$

Average speed:

1. The entire distance traveled by an object in a given time interval is known as its average speed.
2. It is a scalar quantity.
3. $Averagespeed=\frac{Totaldis\tan cetraveled}{Totaltimetaken.}$

For example;

1. When a body moves from a point and returns to that same spot after a period of time, the displacement is zero.
2. As a result, the average velocity will be zero, but the average speed will not be zero because the total distance traversed by the body will not be zero.

Hence, the average speed can not be zero but the average velocity can be zero.