Velocity and Speed: Problems with Solutions

Practice problems with detailed solutions on velocity and speed of moving objects.

Problem 1

A man walks \(7 \, \text{km}\) in \(2 \, \text{hours}\) and \(2 \, \text{km}\) in \(1 \, \text{hour}\) in the same direction.

a) What is the man's average speed for the whole journey?

b) What is the man's average velocity for the whole journey?

Solution to Problem 1

Problem 2

A man walks \(7 \, \text{km}\) East in \(2 \, \text{hours}\) and then \(2.5 \, \text{km}\) West in \(1 \, \text{hour}\).

a) What is the man's average speed for the whole journey?

b) What is the man's average velocity for the whole journey?

Solution to Problem 2

Problem 3

You start walking from a point on a circular field of radius \(0.5 \, \text{km}\) and \(1 \, \text{hour}\) later you are at the same point.

a) What is your average speed for the whole journey?

b) What is your average velocity for the whole journey?

Solution to Problem 3

Problem 4

John drove South \(120 \, \text{km}\) at \(60 \, \text{km/h}\) and then East \(150 \, \text{km}\) at \(50 \, \text{km/h}\). Determine

a) the average speed for the whole journey?

b) the magnitude of the average velocity for the whole journey?

Solution to Problem 4

Problem 5

If I can walk at an average speed of \(5 \, \text{km/h}\), how many miles can I walk in two hours?

Solution to Problem 5

Problem 6

A train travels along a straight line at a constant speed of \(60 \, \text{mi/h}\) for a distance \(d\) and then another distance equal to \(2d\) in the same direction at a constant speed of \(80 \, \text{mi/h}\).

a) What is the average speed of the train for the whole journey?

Solution to Problem 6

Problem 7

A car travels \(22 \, \text{km}\) south, \(12 \, \text{km}\) west, and \(14 \, \text{km}\) north in half an hour.

a) What is the average speed of the car?

b) What is the final displacement of the car?

c) What is the average velocity of the car?

Solution to Problem 7

Problem 8

A man walked from point A to F following the route in the grid below in \(3250 \, \text{seconds}\). Determine

Grid movement problem

a) the average speed, in \(\text{m/s}\), for the whole journey.

b) the magnitude of the displacement.

c) the magnitude of the average velocity, in \(\text{m/s}\), for the whole journey.

Solution to Problem 8

More References and Links