Can the average speed of a moving body be zero?

Yes, the average speed of a moving body can be zero. Average speed is defined as the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. If a body moves and then returns to its starting point, the total distance traveled is the sum of the outward and return distances, but the displacement (the straight-line distance from the starting point to the end point) is zero.

In this case, the average speed is calculated as:

\[ \text{Average Speed} = \frac{\text{Total Distance}}{\text{Total Time}} \]

However, if the displacement is zero (the body returns to its starting point), the total distance traveled can be zero or the distance in both directions might cancel out in some definitions. In practical terms, a body that moves and returns to its original position can have an average speed of zero if the total distance covered is zero relative to the starting position.