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Velocity

Part of the Mechanics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 27 of 97.

Average velocity is the displacement divided by the time:

v=ΔxΔtv = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}

Its sign gives the direction. Speed is its size, without the sign.

On an x-t graph the velocity is the slope. A flat line means at rest; a line sloping down means a negative velocity.

A position-time graph: a straight line rising from 10 metres at t = 0 to 40 metres at t = 5 seconds, with the run of 5 seconds and the rise of 30 metres marked

The slope is Δx\Delta x / Δt\Delta t = 30 m30\ \mathrm{m} / 5 s5\ \mathrm{s} = 6 m/s6\ \mathrm{m/s}.

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Challenge

A bus drives along a straight road from x0=40 mx_0 = 40\ \mathrm{m} to x=160 mx = 160\ \mathrm{m} with an average velocity of 8 m/s8\ \mathrm{m/s}. Find how long the trip takes: the time tt.

Try it yourself

Physics diagram: cart; arrows v = 8 m/s

Solve for tt

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