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Understanding Speed and Velocity Calculations

The document explains the concept of speed, defined as the change in distance divided by the change in time (v = Δd/Δt), with units typically in meters per second or kilometers per hour. It provides examples of calculating speed for various scenarios and includes practice questions for different distances and times. Additionally, it briefly touches on acceleration as the change in speed over time.

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lucbell
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4 views11 pages

Understanding Speed and Velocity Calculations

The document explains the concept of speed, defined as the change in distance divided by the change in time (v = Δd/Δt), with units typically in meters per second or kilometers per hour. It provides examples of calculating speed for various scenarios and includes practice questions for different distances and times. Additionally, it briefly touches on acceleration as the change in speed over time.

Uploaded by

lucbell
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Speed

speed = change in distance ÷ change in time


• This is written using symbols as:
• v = Δd/ Δt
• v is the symbol for speed as another word for speed is velocity.
• Δ means ‘change in’. This always means final minus initial.
• The units for speed are usually
• metres per second m s-1 or kilometres per hour km hr-1
Example
• Usain Bolt jogs 200 metres in 20 seconds. What is his speed?
• Answer: v = ?, Δd = 200 m, Δt = 20 s
• v = Δd/ Δt
• = 200/20
• = 10 m s-1
• Phileas Fogg checks his odometer. It reads 20 km. The next time he check
his odometer, it reads 100 km and 2 hours have passed. What is his speed?
• Answer: v = ?, Δd = 100 – 20 = 80 km, Δt = 2 hr
• v = Δd/ Δt
• = 80/2
• = 40 km hr-1
Questions for whiteboard
•What is the speed if:
•A man runs 80 metres in 10 seconds
Questions for whiteboard
•What is the speed if:
•A woman walks 60 metres in 20 seconds
Questions for whiteboard
•What is the speed if:
•A cat runs 45 metres in 15 seconds
Questions for whiteboard
•What is the speed if:
•A baby crawls 2 metres in 2 seconds
Questions for whiteboard
•What is the speed if:
•A tuatara scampers 2 metres in 4
seconds
Calculate the speed of
a) A car that travels 12 m in 3 seconds.
b) A Year 11 that runs 20 m in 5 seconds.
c) A fish that swims 30 m in 80 seconds.
d) A 4000 m cycle ride that takes 1600 seconds.
e) A 2000 m horse trek that takes 2500 seconds.
f) A woman that runs 100 m in 12 seconds.
g) A cat that runs 50 m in 8 seconds.
h) A man that runs 400 m in 160 seconds.
i) A kiwi that runs 5 m in 20 seconds.
j) A baby that crawls 4 m in 20 seconds.

Show working, give units


Hurdles [Link]
Distance / m Time elapsed / s Time taken for that 10 m / s Average speed / m s-1
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
acceleration= change in speed/change in
time
Average speed at 5 m is the average speed between 0 m and 10 m
You need to estimate the time taken after 5 m, 15 m, 25 m etc.

Distance / m Average speed / m s-1 Time elapsed / s Time taken for that 10 acceleration /
(from slide previous) m/s m s-2
5
15
25
35
45
55
65
75

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