Question

Under what conditions does the magnitude of the average velocity equal the average speed?

Short answer

The magnitude of average velocity is equal to average speed when the distance traveled by the object is equal to the displacement in the same direction.

Step-by-step solution

 The average velocity and  the average speed

Average velocity refers to the ratio of the rate of change of displacement to time and it is a vector quantity.

Average speed refers to the ratio of total distance traveled by the object to the total time taken, and it is a scalar quantity.

Explanation

The conditions at which the average velocity and average speed are equal:

(a) The displacement of an object is equal in magnitude to the total distance moved by that object.

(b) The object must have a motion along a single straight line and in the same direction as well.

Thus, the magnitude of average velocity is equal to average speed when the distance traveled by the object is equal to the displacement.