A runner travels 100 m north in 20 s, then 100 m south in 20 s. What is the average velocity over the 40 s?

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Multiple Choice

A runner travels 100 m north in 20 s, then 100 m south in 20 s. What is the average velocity over the 40 s?

Explanation:
Average velocity is found from total displacement divided by total time. Displacement is where you end up relative to where you started, not how far you traveled. After going 100 m north and then 100 m south, you finish at your starting point, so the net displacement is zero. With a total time of 40 seconds, the average velocity is 0 m/s. Since the magnitude is zero, the direction doesn’t matter. (Note: average speed would be different—total distance 200 m over 40 s gives 5 m/s.)

Average velocity is found from total displacement divided by total time. Displacement is where you end up relative to where you started, not how far you traveled. After going 100 m north and then 100 m south, you finish at your starting point, so the net displacement is zero. With a total time of 40 seconds, the average velocity is 0 m/s. Since the magnitude is zero, the direction doesn’t matter. (Note: average speed would be different—total distance 200 m over 40 s gives 5 m/s.)

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