How to Calculate Velocity
What is Velocity?
Velocity is a vector quantity — it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. Average velocity = displacement / time. Instantaneous velocity = rate of change of position at a moment. Unlike speed, velocity can be negative (opposite direction).
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Average velocity: v = Δx / Δt (displacement / time)
- 2Acceleration: a = Δv / Δt
- 3Velocity with acceleration: v = v₀ + at
- 4Displacement: x = v₀t + ½at²
Worked Examples
Input
Start at rest, accelerate at 3 m/s² for 10s
Result
Final velocity = 30 m/s (108 km/h)
v = 0 + 3×10 = 30 m/s
Input
Travel 100m in 10s
Result
Average velocity = 10 m/s = 36 km/h
100/10 = 10 m/s
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