How can you tell the similarity between displacement and average velocity?

Question

It is for a part of a science problem. The lesson did not tell me how to do this.

I have been stuck on that problem for a while. I also had my sister help me, and I looked things up for the problem.

I really do not know how to tell similarities between the two.

Please help, and I will appreciate it.

:)

Answer 1

average velocity vector= displacement vector/time

average speed scalar = distance traveled scalar/time

a scalar only has magnitude, like miles or miles/hour
a vector has BOTH speed and direction.

for speed and distance you only need a speedometer and and odometer.

for velocity and displacement you need speedometer AND COMPASS or best a GPS

if you go north five miles in half an hour, then south five miles in the next half hour
then
your distance traveled = 10 miles
your displacement = 0 miles
your average speed = 10 miles/hour
your average velocity = 0 miles/hour

Answer 2

Thank you Damon! Your post helped a lot. I think I figured out the answer for the problem from the post. Thanks again! :)

Answer 3

You are welcome :)