Distance and Displacement, Speed and Velocity – Lesson Summary

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Learning Objective

In this lesson we will learn about the relationship between speed, distance and time.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

  • Distinguish between scalar and vector quantities.
  • Distinguish between distance and displacement.
  • Distinguish between speed and velocity.
  • Distinguish between average speed and instantaneous speed.
  • Use the speed formula to calculate:
  • Average speed
  • Distance travelled
  • Time taken
  • Convert between metres per second and kilometres per hour.

 
distance and displacement speed and velocity lesson contents

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Lesson Topics

1 | Distance and Displacement

2 | Scalar and Vector Quantities

3 | Speed

4 | Calculating Average Speed

5 | Calculating Distance Travelled

6 | Calculating Time Taken

7 | Speed vs Velocity

8 | Summary

Lesson Summary

  • A scalar quantity has a magnitude but no direction.
  • Examples of scalar quantities include distance, speed, time, power and energy.
  • A vector quantity has a magnitude and a direction.
  • Examples of vector quantities include displacement, velocity, acceleration, force and momentum.
  • Distance is a measurement of the actual path travelled by an object.
  • Displacement is a measurement of how far away an object is from its original position.
  • Speed is a measure of how fast something moves.
  • It is measured in units such as metres per second (m/s) and kilometres per hour (km/hr).
  • Average speed is an overall measurement of speed between two points in time.
  • Instantaneous speed is a measure of speed at a particular point in time.
  • Average speed can be calculated using the formula:
  • calculating average speed formula summary
  • Speed can be converted from m/s to km/hr by multiplying by 3.6.
  • Speed can be converted from km/hr to m/s by dividing by 3.6.
  • Distance travelled can be calculated using the formula:
  • calculating distance travelled formula summary
  • Time taken can be calculated using the formula:
  • calculating time taken speed formula summary
  • Velocity is a measure of the rate at which displacement changes.
  • It can be calculated using the formula:
  • velocity formula summary

 
skiing and chairlift

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(Header image: Laurin Rinder, Adobe Stock)