Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A cyclist rides round a circular track of radius at a steady speed. She goes from the east end of the track to the north end, a quarter of a lap, in .
Average speed uses the length of the path. Average velocity uses the displacement, the straight arrow from the start to the end. Average acceleration is .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Path and displacement. The path is . The displacement goes from to : its size is .
Step 2. The averages. Average speed: . Average velocity: , towards the north-west.
Step 3. The two velocities. Her speed is all the way. At the east end she moves north, and at the north end she moves west.
Step 4. Average acceleration. is west minus north. Its size is , so .
Answer: (a) and . (b) and . (c) .
Check. The average speed is more than the average velocity, because the path is curved. And she accelerates although her speed never changes.
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