Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session
moderate
Q3.11: NCERT Physics - Part 1 MOTION IN A PLANE 3.11 Solution: A passenger arriving in a new town wishes to go from the…
⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls
Students frequently calculate average velocity by dividing the total path length by time, as they do for speed, overlooking that average velocity uses the straight‑line displacement (a vector) not the travelled distance. Always use the displacement magnitude (here 10 km) for average velocity and keep time units consistent.
A passenger arriving in a new town wishes to go from the station to a hotel located 10 km away on a straight road from the station. A dishonest cabman takes him along a circuitous path 23 km long and reaches the hotel in 28 min. What is (a) the average speed of the taxi, (b) the magnitude of average velocity? Are the two equal?
Step-by-Step Verified Solution
**Answer:** (a) 49.3 km/h. (b) 21.4 km/h. No, they are not equal.
**Step-by-Step Explanation:**
(a) Average speed = total path / time = 23/(28/60) = 49.3 km/h.
(b) Average velocity magnitude = displacement / time = 10/(28/60) = 21.4 km/h.
They are not equal because path length � displacement magnitude.
All Questions in this Chapter
Related Learning Resources & Exam Preparation
Chapter Practice Bank
Practice all topic-wise questions from MOTION IN A PLANE
Reference Textbook Solutions
Explore complete chapter exercises for NCERT Physics - Part 1
Competitive PYQ Question Bank
Browse year-wise authentic previous years' questions with solutions
Authentic CBT Mock Tests
Simulate official exam environment with live timer and percentile scoring