Basics of Motion: Speed and Velocity

Basics of Motion

Speed and Velocity

by Lucas Galán

​First, let's review what we learned yesterday about distance and displacement...

​

​You can do all this on page 1 and 2

of your notebooks (both sides are ok).

Multiple Choice

A boat sails 100 miles down a stream, then takes a break for a while and sails 50 miles back, to a service port. What is the displacement of the boat? What total distance has it covered?

• ∆x = 50 miles downstream

  distance = 150 miles

• ∆x = 150 miles

  distance = 50 miles downstream

• ∆x = 0 miles

  distance = 150 miles

• ∆x = 150 miles

  distance = 0 miles

Now, let's begin today's lesson.

​Speed

• ​Speed is a measure of how much distance you cover in a small amount of time.

• ​Speed is a scalar, it is just a number.

• ​Measured in meters per second

Multiple Choice

A car travels 80 meters in 20 seconds. What is its speed?

• 4 m/s

• 1600 m/s

• 60 m/s

• 0.25 m/s

Velocity

• ​Velocity tells us how our displacement changes over time.

• ​Velocity is also measured in meters per second.

• ​Velocity is a vector, it can be positive or negative depending on our direction of travel.

Multiple Choice

An ant travels some distance away from its hill, a total of 6 m westward in 30 seconds. What is its velocity?

• 0.2 m/s westward

• 180 m/s westward

• 0.2 m/s

• 180 m/s

Let's review...​

​

Multiple Choice

The straight line between your starting point and your final point is called ___________.

• distance.

• displacement.

• speed

• velocity

Multiple Choice

The measure of how much distance is covered in a short amount of time is called _________.

• distance.

• displacement.

• speed

• velocity

Multiple Choice

A measure of the path actually traveled, by an object is called its _____________.

• distance.

• displacement.

• speed

• velocity

Multiple Choice

∆x / t gives you an object's _________.

• distance.

• displacement.

• speed

• velocity

You are done!​

Thanks for working hard on this one.​