Velocity has units of distance divided by time. In the lab, we will usually measure velocity in units of m/s. Velocity is also measured in km/h (and even in mi/hr).
If a motorcycle travels 20 m in 2 s, then its average velocity is
If an antique car travels 45 km in 3 h, then its average velocity is
Things do not
always move with a constant velocity. The velocity may change. The instantaneous
velocity is the velocity "right now", the velocity at some particular moment.
We usually shorten that and say simply "the velocity".
In common, everyday English, "velocity" and "speed" mean the same thing. In Physics, there is a distinction that is sometimes useful.
Velocity is positive if an object is moving to the right and it is negative if an object is moving to the left.
Speed tells how fast an object is moving without saying anything about its direction. Speed is always positive. Speed is the "absolute value" of the velocity. Speed in the velocity information without the sign or direction information.
We can take the definition of average velocity, turn it around, and
write
where xi = initial position; that is, xi = position at time t = 0
If we only want to know how far something has gone, that's like starting at xi = 0,
If the velocity is constant, then v = vavg and
or
x = xi + vt
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