Demystifying - Average speed

Drills

Total distance divided by total time, not an average of the two speeds.

Author note — to cover

Cover average speed as total distance over total time across multi-stage journeys including stops, why averaging two speeds fails even over equal distances, and finding a missing stage from a stated overall average. Distance-time graph versions are speed-from-a-distance-time-graph; velocity, acceleration and kinematics formulas are A level mechanics. Both tiers. (R11)

  • Fluency — direct questions on average speed, limited to this lesson's stated scope (4 questions).
  • Application — use the same skill in unfamiliar or contextual questions without introducing a later method (4 questions).
  • Check — questions built around the exclusions and likely misconceptions named in the lesson brief (4 questions).

The test

—coming soon—

Where to go next

The method this drill practises is taught on Average speed.