During a non-zero time interval, average speed is equal to the magnitude of average velocity. Which conclusion is necessarily correct?
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During a non-zero time interval, average speed is equal to the magnitude of average velocity. Which conclusion is necessarily correct?

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Average speed = distance/time and |average velocity| = |displacement|/time. Equality requires distance = |displacement|. That is possible only if the particle does not retrace any part of the path during the interval. Its speed may still vary and it may even momentarily stop, but it cannot reverse direction.