Physics Speed and Velocity

Speed=

How quickly an object travels

Average speed formula

distance travelled over time taken

Average speed

Is the measure of how fast something moves from one point to another within a given time.

Instantaneous speed

How fast you are travelling at a specific time

Acceleration

The measure of change in velocity. When an object is increasing or decreasing in velocity.

Average acceleration formula

SI unit (standard international unit) m/s ² or ms-² = change in velocity/ time taken.

Velocity

Is a measure of how fast something travels. BUT it requires a direction. It measures the change in displacement of an object after a period of time. It’s common units are m/s or km/h.

Formula

Average velocity= displacement/ time taken

Completing units velocity

m/s x usually 3.6 to km/h. or km/h to m/s is usuallu divided by 3.6

Distance

• Is the total length that an object travels.

• It is a scalar quantity.

• Only magnitude is important.

Displacement

• Is the change in position of an object in a straight line from the starting point to the finishing point.

• It needs a magnitude (length) and direction.

Vector quantity

(the quantity (magnitude) + direction.

Distance

is just a number. It can never be 0.

Displacement

can be 0