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High school physics

Course: High school physics > Unit 1

Lesson 3: Average velocity and average speed
Science
High school physics
One-dimensional motion
Average velocity and average speed
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Average velocity and speed with direction changes: word problems

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Problem

As shown in the figure below, Luis rushes 40, start text, m, end text toward his truck. He notices he forgot his shoes and returns back to his house. His total travel time is 60, start text, s, end text.
The bottom of the diagram is green. To the left side is a blue house with a red roof. To the right side is a blue truck. Between the house and the truck is a black stick figure. A grey dashed arrow labeled "40 m" points leftward from the truck to the house. A second grey dashed arrow labeled "40 m" points rightward from the house to the truck.
What is Luis’s average velocity over the 60, start text, s, end text period?
  • Your answer should be
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
start fraction, start text, m, end text, divided by, start text, s, end text, end fraction
What is Luis’s average speed over the 60, start text, s, end text period?
  • Your answer should be
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
start fraction, start text, m, end text, divided by, start text, s, end text, end fraction
Answer using a coordinate system where rightward is positive.
Round answer to two significant digits.
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