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ERIC Number: EJ860645
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-May
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0143-0807
EISSN: N/A
The Average Velocity in a Queue
Frette, Vidar
European Journal of Physics, v30 n3 p497-514 May 2009
A number of cars drive along a narrow road that does not allow overtaking. Each driver has a certain maximum speed at which he or she will drive if alone on the road. As a result of slower cars ahead, many cars are forced to drive at speeds lower than their maximum ones. The average velocity in the queue offers a non-trivial example of a mean value calculation. Approximate and exact results are obtained using sampling, enumeration and calculations. The geometrical nature of the problem as well as the separate levels of averaging involved are emphasized. Further problems suitable for exploration in student projects are outlined. (Contains 3 tables and 5 figures.)
Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/EJP
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A