Question:  Under what condition(s) is the magnitude of the average velocity of an object equal to its average speed?

 -Shresthi Goyal, Subject Matter Expert at Edumarz

Answer:

First of all, let’s understand what is average speed and average velocity

Average speed = Total Distance Travelled/Total Time Taken

Average Velocity = Total Displacement / Total Time Taken

So, the magnitude of average velocity can be equal to the average speed, when the total distance traveled is equal to total displacement,

And this can be possible, only when the object is moving along a straight line

So, when an object is moving along a straight line magnitude of average velocity becomes equal to the average speed