What is the formula for calculating average speed?

The formula for calculating average speed is derived from the basic definition of speed, which is the distance traveled over a specific time period. To find the average speed, you take the total distance covered during a journey and divide it by the total time taken to cover that distance. This relationship shows how fast an object is moving on average, taking into account any variations in speed that may occur during the entirety of the journey.

In this case, choosing to divide total distance by total time provides a clear and precise measurement of average speed, which is a fundamental concept in physics as it relates to motion. This formula is applicable in various contexts, whether it's analyzing the speed of vehicles, the flow of fluids, or any scenario involving movement over time.

This understanding of average speed is distinct from the other choices presented; for instance, the option involving total distance divided by total mass would not yield a measure of speed but rather a different type of relationship, likely relating mass to distance in some way that isn't practical for speed calculations. Similarly, dividing total time by total distance reverses the necessary relationship for finding speed, and dividing total speed by the number of objects does not relate to calculating average speed at all. Thus, the correct answer reinforces the fundamental understanding of how