1. What is the Average Speed Formula?

The average speed formula for a round trip where you travel equal distances at two different speeds is a special case in physics. It accounts for the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the average speed formula:

Where:

• \( v_1 \) — First speed (m/s)
• \( v_2 \) — Second speed (m/s)

Explanation: The formula gives the harmonic mean of the two speeds, which is appropriate when equal distances are traveled at each speed.

3. Importance of Average Speed Calculation

Details: Calculating average speed correctly is crucial in physics problems, especially when dealing with motion where speeds change over equal distances rather than equal time intervals.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both speeds in meters per second (m/s). Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the average speed for the entire trip.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why isn't the average speed just (v1 + v2)/2?
A: The arithmetic mean is appropriate when equal time is spent at each speed. For equal distances, we need the harmonic mean.

Q2: What are typical units for speed?
A: While we use m/s here, you can use any consistent units (km/h, mph, etc.) as long as both speeds are in the same units.

Q3: Does this work for more than two speeds?
A: For n different speeds over equal distances, the formula generalizes to \( \frac{n}{\sum_{i=1}^n \frac{1}{v_i}} \).

Q4: When is this formula not applicable?
A: When the distances traveled at each speed are not equal, you must calculate total distance divided by total time.

Q5: How does this relate to average velocity?
A: Average speed is a scalar quantity (distance/time), while average velocity is a vector quantity (displacement/time).