Speed, Velocity & Acceleration

Speed & Velocity

Speed tells how fast something moves, while velocity adds direction to that motion.

Speed:

• Distance traveled over time (e.g., 60 miles per hour).
• Formula: Speed = Distance ÷ Time
• Units: meters per second (m/s), kilometers per hour (km/h), miles per hour (mph).

Velocity:

• Speed with direction (e.g., 500 km/h north).
• Changes in velocity occur when speed or direction changes.

 

Acceleration

Acceleration is the change in speed or direction of an object over time.

Formula: Acceleration = Change in Velocity ÷ Time

Units: meters per second squared (m/s²).

Types of Acceleration:

• Positive Acceleration: Object is speeding up. Example: A car going from 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds.
• Negative Acceleration (Deceleration): Object is slowing down. Example: A bike braking at a stoplight.
• Directional Acceleration: Object changes direction while moving. Example: A rollercoaster turning sharply.

 

Practical Applications 

Understanding speed, velocity, and acceleration helps us in everyday life and various fields.

Cars and Safety: Speedometers and GPS systems help monitor speed and velocity for safe driving.

Sports: Athletes train to optimize their acceleration and velocity for better performance (e.g., sprinters).

Space Exploration: Rockets need precise calculations of speed and acceleration to launch, orbit, and land safely on other planets.

Technology and Gadgets: Sensors in smartphones, cars, and drones use acceleration data for navigation and stabilization.

 

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting facts about speed, velocity & acceleration:

• The cheetah, the fastest land animal, can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds!
• Earth spins on its axis at about 1,000 mph and travels around the sun at 67,000 mph—talk about speed!
• Acceleration due to gravity on Earth is 9.8 m/s², which means every second an object falls, its velocity increases by 9.8 m/s.
• Formula 1 race cars can accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in under 3 seconds, showcasing extreme acceleration and velocity control.

 

Review

Let’s quickly recap what we learned about speed, velocity & acceleration:

• What is the formula for speed? Distance ÷ Time
• How is velocity different from speed? Direction
• What is the formula for acceleration? Change in Velocity ÷ Time
• What’s an example of acceleration that doesn’t involve speeding up? Changing Direction