How does time mean speed differ from space mean speed?

How does time mean speed differ from space mean speed?

• A. Time mean speed averages all speeds over time
• B. Time mean speed is based on a specific point, while space mean speed is based on a section of highway
• C. Space mean speed reflects average speeds of all vehicles
• D. Time mean speed is affected by traffic lights, space mean speed is not

Answer: (B)

The concept of time mean speed and space mean speed is essential in transportation engineering, particularly in traffic flow studies. Time mean speed refers to the average speed of vehicles as they pass a specific point over a period of time. It captures the speed of vehicles individually and takes into consideration the different times at which each vehicle passes the point. This means that if you were to measure the speed of cars at a particular location continuously, you would obtain a varied set of speeds, and time mean speed represents the average of these speeds over that interval. On the other hand, space mean speed is calculated based on the average speed of vehicles over a specific distance or section of road. It considers the distance traveled by all vehicles within that section during a given period and divides it by the total travel time. This metric is beneficial for analyzing how traffic flows along a stretch rather than at a singular point. Understanding these definitions helps clarify why the assertion about time mean speed being based on a specific point while space mean speed is based on a section of highway effectively captures the distinction between the two measures. It highlights the contexts in which each speed metric is used and how they reflect different aspects of traffic flow.

The concept of time mean speed and space mean speed is essential in transportation engineering, particularly in traffic flow studies. Time mean speed refers to the average speed of vehicles as they pass a specific point over a period of time. It captures the speed of vehicles individually and takes into consideration the different times at which each vehicle passes the point. This means that if you were to measure the speed of cars at a particular location continuously, you would obtain a varied set of speeds, and time mean speed represents the average of these speeds over that interval.

On the other hand, space mean speed is calculated based on the average speed of vehicles over a specific distance or section of road. It considers the distance traveled by all vehicles within that section during a given period and divides it by the total travel time. This metric is beneficial for analyzing how traffic flows along a stretch rather than at a singular point.

Understanding these definitions helps clarify why the assertion about time mean speed being based on a specific point while space mean speed is based on a section of highway effectively captures the distinction between the two measures. It highlights the contexts in which each speed metric is used and how they reflect different aspects of traffic flow.