An airplane travels 300 mi/h south for 2.0 hour and then at 250 mi/h north of 750 miles. What is the average speed for the trip?

1 Answer
Jun 14, 2017

#270# mi/hr

Explanation:

Average speed = total distance / total time taken.

To south,
Velocity, #v_1 = 300#, time, #t_1 =2 #hrs

Distance, #D_1 = v_1 * t_1 = 300 * 2 = 600# miles

To north,
Velocity, #v_2 = 250#, distance, #D2 =750# miles

Time, #t_2 = D_2/V_2 = 750/250 = 3# hrs

Average speed #= (D_1 + D_2) /(t_1 + t_2)#.

#= (600 + 750)/(2 + 3) = 1350/5 = 270# mi/hr