Average Speed vs. Arithmetic Mean – Rankers Physics
Topic: Kinematics
Subtopic: Average Speed and Velocity

Average Speed vs. Arithmetic Mean

Assertion (A): The average speed of an object may be equal to arithmetic mean of individual speeds.
Reason (R): The average speed is equal to total distance travelled per total time taken.
 
(1) Both (A) \& (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
(2) Both (A) \& (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(3) (A) is true but (R) is false
(4) Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution:

Average speed is defined as total distance divided by total time, making reason (R) true.

Assertion (A) is also true, as average speed can be equal to the arithmetic mean of individual speeds if the time intervals for those speeds are equal. However, reason (R) only defines average speed, it does not explain the condition under which it equals the arithmetic mean.

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