a car travels a certain distance with a speed of 40m/s and returns with a speed 'u'. If the average speed for the whole journey is 48m/sec what is the value of'u'?

Assuming the acceleration is constant;

Remember that:

Average\ Speed = \frac{Total\ Distance}{Total\ time}

or

V = \frac{s}{t}

And use: v^2 = u^2 + 2as

and

v = u+at

Post what you come up with :)

You’ll have a difficult time using the previous equation, since you’re not given time or acceleration. A much simpler approach is to us the formula:

avg. v = (v+u)/2
Therefore,

u = 2(avg v) - v
so...

u = (2)(48) – 40 = 58 m/s

I usually don't use this formula, that's why I posted the 'long way round'. But at least, I'm sure what I'm doing. If you have got a shorter, easier alternate answer, that's fine too :)

avg. v = (v+u)/2


Sorry - but this is not right! The average speed to cover the distance out and back is not equal to the arithmetic average of the two speeds, but rather is equal to the total distance traveled divided by the total time it takes. Let d = the distance out, so that the total distance traveled is 2d, and the times for the drive out and the drive back back are t_1 and t_2 respectively:


v_{avg}= \frac {Total \ Distance} {Total \ Time} = \frac {2d} {t_1 + t_2}


The times for each leg of the trip are

t_1 = \frac d {v} \\
t_2 = \frac d {u}
.

Thus:


t_1 + t_2 = \frac d {v} + \frac d {u}


Put this back into the first equation:


v_{avg}= \frac {2d} {\frac d {v} + \frac d {u}} \\
v_{avg}= \frac {2 v u} {v + u}


Rearrange and you get


u = \frac {v_{avg}v} {2v-v_{avg}} = \frac {48 \times 40} {2 \times 40 - 48} = 60 m/s


To check that this is correct, try using a value for d that makes the math easy: let's assue d = 12000 m. The total time to make the trip out and back is 12000m/(40m/s) + 12000m/(60m/s) = 500 seconds. The total distance covered is 24000m, so the average speed is 24000m/500s = 48 m/s. So it checks.

Sorry - but this is not right! The average speed to cover the distance out and back is not equal to the arithmetic average of the two speeds, but rather is equal to the total distance traveled divided by the total time it takes. Let d = the distance out, so that the total distance traveled is 2d, and the times for the drive out and the drive back back are t_1 and t_2 respectively:


v_{avg}= \frac {Total \ Distance} {Total \ Time} = \frac {2d} {t_1 + t_2}


The times for each leg of the trip are

t_1 = \frac d {v} \\
t_2 = \frac d {u}
.

Thus:


t_1 + t_2 = \frac d {v} + \frac d {u}


Put this back into the first equation:


v_{avg}= \frac {2d} {\frac d {v} + \frac d {u}} \\
v_{avg}= \frac {2 v u} {v + u}


Rearrange and you get


u = \frac {v_{avg}v} {2v-v_{avg}} = \frac {48 \times 40} {2 \times 40 - 48} = 60 m/s


To check that this is correct, try using a value for d that makes the math easy: let's assue d = 12000 m. The total time to make the trip out and back is 12000m/(40m/s) + 12000m/(60m/s) = 500 seconds. The total distance covered is 24000m, so the average speed is 24000m/500s = 48 m/s. So it checks.
thanks. That was really helpful.