Finding average velocity

Question

A polar bear starts at the North Pole. It travels 1 km South, then 1 km East, then 1 km North to return to its starting point. This trip takes 0.5 h.

What was the bear’s average velocity? Answer in units of km/h.

Answer 1

Velocity is a vector quantity defined as the change of displacement divided by the time it takes. Since the bear returned to its point of origin, its displacement is zero, and so is the velocity.

If on the other hand, you are asking for average speed, then it would be 3 km / 0.5 hours or 6 km/hour.