Question

Distinguish between the average speed and the average velocity

Answer 1

Average speed

1. The average speed is the total distance traveled by the object in a particular time interval.
2. The average speed is a scalar quantity. It is represented by the magnitude and does not have direction.

Average Velocity

1. Average velocity is defined as the change in position or displacement (∆x) divided by the time intervals (∆t) in which the displacement occurs.
2. The average velocity can be positive or negative depending upon the sign of the displacement.
3. The SI unit of average velocity is meters per second (m/s or ms-1).

Difference between Average Speed And Average Velocity

Average Speed	Average Velocity
It is the total distance traveled by the total time spent to travel.	It is total displacement covered by an object divided by the total time taken to cover it.
The Average Speed of an object traversing in a circular path can never be zero.	Average Velocity of an object while traversing in a circular path can be zero.
Average Speed does not have a specific direction.	Average Velocity does have a specific direction.
It is a scalar quantity.	It is a vector quantity.
This terminology is used to determine how fast or slow a particular object is traveling.	This terminology that is used to define the rate of change of displacement.