OAR Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test

Average velocity is defined as the total displacement divided by the total time taken for that displacement. Displacement refers to the overall change in position from the starting point to the final position, which includes direction. This makes it a vector quantity, as it considers both magnitude and direction.

The formula for average velocity thus reflects this relationship accurately by using displacement in the numerator. Consequently, when you divide the net displacement by the total time, you obtain the average velocity, encapsulating not just the distance traveled but also the direction of the travel.

In contrast, average speed would be represented as distance/time, emphasizing the total path length traveled without regard to direction. Therefore, the distinction between average velocity and average speed is crucial, as average velocity specifically incorporates displacement, which is why the correct representation is based on displacement over time.