Introduction

Imagine a magical butterfly traveling from one garden to another. The journey involves flying at different speeds for varying durations. This article aims to explore how to calculate the average speed for such a journey, using a fascinating example to make the concept easier to understand.

The Butterfly's Journey

A butterfly engaged in an interesting journey, flying from one garden to another. The journey can be broken down into two segments:

For the first 2.2 hours, the butterfly flew at a constant speed of 25 km/h. For the next 1.8 hours, the butterfly flew at a constant speed of 40 km/h.

Calculating the Distance Covered in Each Segment

To calculate the distance covered in each segment, we can use the formula:

D r t, where D is the distance, r is the speed, and t is the time.

First Segment

First distance covered:

D1 r1 x t1 D1 25 km/h x 2.2 h D1 55 km

Second Segment

Second distance covered:

D2 r2 x t2 D2 40 km/h x 1.8 h D2 72 km

Total Distance Covered

Total distance covered during the journey:

DTotal D1 D2 DTotal 55 km 72 km DTotal 127 km

Total Time Taken

Total time taken to cover the journey:

TTotal t1 t2 TTotal 2.2 h 1.8 h TTotal 4 h

Calculating the Average Speed

The average speed is calculated by dividing the total distance by the total time:

Average Speed Total Distance / Total Time Average Speed 127 km / 4 h Average Speed 31.75 km/h

Conclusion

This calculation provides the average speed of the butterfly's journey, taking into account the varying speeds and durations of flight. Understanding how to calculate average speed can be applied to various scenarios, from travel planning to scientific observations. By breaking down the journey into segments, we can accurately determine the overall performance of the butterfly during its travel.