Calculating Average Speed
Directions: Use the following equations to answer the following speed questions.
Average Speed = distance/displacementtime
Distance/displacement = time ×average speed Time = distance/displacementspeed
If Mark throws the football 50 meters in 3 seconds, what is the average speed of the football?
If it takes Shelby 3 seconds to run from the batter’s box to first base at an average speed of 6.5 meters per second, what is the distance she covers in that time?
AJ ran 5000 meters in a race with an average speed of 6 meters/second before he crossed the finish line. How long did he run?
If Justin races his Ferrari down Interstate 85 for 2560 meters in 60 seconds, what is his average speed?
Skylar rides his motorcycle at an average speed of 20 meters/second for 500 seconds, how far did he ride?
Kristina backstrokes at an average speed of 8 meters per second, how long will it take her to complete a race of 200 meters length?
Mrs. Hart’s SUV was detected exceeding the posted speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour. How many kilometers per hour would she have been traveling over the limit if she had covered the distance of 10 kilometers in 5 minutes?
Melissa’s calculations of the tarantula found that the spider was able to cover 20 centimeters in 5 seconds, what was the average speed of the spider?
1. Average speed = distance/time
Distance = 50 meters
Time = 3 seconds
Average speed = 50 meters / 3 seconds = 16.67 meters/second
2. Distance = time x average speed
Time = 3 seconds
Average speed = 6.5 meters/second
Distance = 3 seconds x 6.5 meters/second = 19.5 meters
3. Time = distance/average speed
Distance = 5000 meters
Average speed = 6 meters/second
Time = 5000 meters / 6 meters/second = 833.33 seconds
4. Average speed = distance/time
Distance = 2560 meters
Time = 60 seconds
Average speed = 2560 meters / 60 seconds = 42.67 meters/second
5. Distance = average speed x time
Average speed = 20 meters/second
Time = 500 seconds
Distance = 20 meters/second x 500 seconds = 10000 meters
6. Time = distance/average speed
Distance = 200 meters
Average speed = 8 meters/second
Time = 200 meters / 8 meters/second = 25 seconds
7. Speed over the limit = (distance / time) - speed limit
Distance = 10 kilometers
Time = 5 minutes = 5 minutes x 60 seconds/minute = 300 seconds
Speed limit = 60 kilometers per hour
Speed over the limit = (10 kilometers / 300 seconds) - 60 kilometers per hour = 20 kilometers per hour
8. Average speed = distance / time
Distance = 20 centimeters
Time = 5 seconds
Average speed = 20 centimeters / 5 seconds = 4 centimeters/second