At the Indianapolis 500 time trials, each car makes four consecutive laps, with its overall or average speed determining that car’s place on race day. Each lap covers 2.5 mi (exact). During a practice run, cautiously and gradually taking his car faster and faster, a driver records the following average speeds for each successive lap: 160 mi/h, 180 mi/h, 200 mi/h, and 220 mi/h.
(a) Will his average speed be (1) exactly the average of these speeds (190 mi/h), (2) greater than 180 mi/h, or (3) less than 180 mi/h? Explain.
(b) To corroborate your conceptual reasoning, calculate the car’s average speed.