Average Speed Presentation

How to Calculate

Average Speed

For example

Look at these two cars. They both are going to travel a certain distance.

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What distance are both cars going to travel?

Different average speeds

Both cars are going to travel a total distance of 4 miles but they both may not reach the destination at the same time.

Open Ended

What are some reasons why both cars might not reach the destination at the same time?

Different Speeds

One driver may drive slower or faster than the other driver.

Different speeds during journey

The drivers may not drive at the same speed throughout the entire 4 miles. Maybe one went 40 miles per hour for the first two miles then went 60 miles per hour for the last 2 miles.

Average Speed

A measurement of the average speed an object traveled takes into account all the variations in speed that may happen during a journey.

Average Speed

The higher an average speed number is, the faster that object completed its journey.

Calculating Average Speed

To calculate the average speed of an object you need to use the avearge speed formula.

Average Speed Formula

The S stands for Average speed

The D stands for Distance

The T stands for Time

Multiple Choice

What does the S stand for in the average speed formula?

• Average Speed

• Distance

• Time

Multiple Choice

What does the D stand for in the average speed formula?

• Average Speed

• Distance

• Time

Multiple Choice

What does the T stand for in the average speed formula?

• Average Speed

• Distance

• Time

Using the avearge speed formula

To calculate the average speed of an object you need to DIVIDE the distance an object traveled by the time. The distance number goes in the calulator first.

Multiple Choice

What number do you put into the calculator first when calculating average speed?

• Speed

• Distance

• Time

Multiple Choice

What do you have to do to the distance and time numbers?

• Divide them

• Multiply them

• Subtract them

• Add them

Lets practice calculating average speed

Use a calculator to help you! You need to score a 70 or above on this assignment to earn credit. You can take it as many times as you need to.

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A cat ran 500 yards in 4 minutes. What is the cat's average speed? Enter numbers for your answer only.

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A cat ran 50 yards in 2 seconds. What is the cat's average speed? Enter numbers for your answer only.

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A car drove 1800 miles in 8 hours. What is the car's average speed?

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A car drove 40 miles in 20 minutes. What is the car's average speed?

Calculating average speed using a graph

To calculate average speed you need to divide the distance by the time. You can get those numbers by looking at a graph.

Finding the distance

Look at the graph and notice that distance numbers are found on the left side of the graph. The highest distance number is 70.

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What is the highest distance number shown on the graph?

Finding the time

Look at the graph and notice that time numbers are found on the bottom of the graph. The highest time number is 7 seconds.

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What is the highest time number shown on the graph?

Calculating average speed for the red line

Notice the red line went all the way up to 60 meters for distance. Put your finger at the top of the red line and move it over to the left and see that it lines up with 60 for distance.

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What distance did the red line reach?

Calculating average speed for the red line

Notice the red line went out to 6 seconds. for time. Put your finger at the top of the red line and move it down and see that it lines up with 6 for time.

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How many seconds did it take the red line to go a distance of 60 meters?

Calculating average speed for the red line

So the distance is: 60

The time is: 6

What is the average speed of the red line?

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What is the average speed of the red line?

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What is the average speed of the green line? Add only the first two digits after the decimal point.

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What is the average speed of the blue line? Add only the first two digits after the decimal point.

You should have scored at least a 70% on this assignment. If you did not go back and try it again. Use your science journal to help you.