Calculating Speed

Question 1

What do you need to know in order to calculate an object’s speed?

Answer 1

• The distance it has traveled

- The time it took to travel that distance

Question 2

What formula is used to calculate speed?

Answer 2

Speed (m/s) = Distance traveled (m)
——————————–
Time taken (s)

Question 3

What does this formula calculate?

Answer 3

The average speed over the total distance, even if the speed of an object isn’t constant

Question 4

What is instantaneous speed?

Answer 4

The speed of an object at a particular point in time

Question 5

Give an example

Answer 5

A car travels 10 metres in 5 seconds. What is the average speed?

10m / 5s = 2m/s