Average Velocity

va = (v1 + v0) / 2 (equation 1)

where

va = average velocity (m/s)

v0 = initial velocity (m/s)

v1 = final velocity (m/s)

Final Velocity
v1 = v0 + a t (equation 2)

where

a = acceleration (m/s2)

t = time taken (s)

Distance Traveled
s = (v0 + v1) t / 2 (equation 3)

where

s = distance traveled (m)

Alternative:

s = v0 t + 1/2 a t2 (equation 3b)

Acceleration
a = (v1 - v0) / t (equation 4)

Alternative:

a = (v12 - v02) / (2 s) (equation 4b)

Example - Accelerating Motorcycle

A motorcycle starts with an initial velocity 0 km/h (0 m/s) and accelerates to 120
km/h (33.3 m/s) in 5 s.

The average velocity can be calculated with eq. (equation 1) to

va = ((33.3 m/s) - (0 m/s)) / 2

= 16.7 m/s

The distance traveled can be calculated with eq. (equation 3) to

s = ((0 m/s) + (33.3 m/s)) (5 s) / 2

= 83.3 m

The acceleration can be calculated with eq. (equation 4) to

a = ( (33.3 m/s) - (0 m/s)) / (5 s)

 = 6.7 m/s2

compare with acceleration of gravity

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Calculator Use
This Displacement Calculator finds the distance traveled or displacement (s) of an
object using its initial velocity (u), acceleration (a), and time (t) traveled. The
equation used is s = ut + �at2; it is manipulated below to show how to solve for
each individual variable. The calculator can be used to solve for s, u, a or t.

Displacement Equations for these Calculations:

Displacement (s) of an object equals, velocity (u) times time (t), plus � times
acceleration (a) times time squared (t2).

s=ut+12at2
Where:
s = displacement
u = initial velocity
a = acceleration
t = time

Use standard gravity, a = 9.80665 m/s2, for equations involving the Earth's
gravitational force as the acceleration rate of an object.

Different resources use slightly different variables so you might also encounter
this same equation with vi or v0 representing initial velocity (u) such as in the
following form:

s=vit+12at2
Where:
s = displacement
vi = initial velocity
a = acceleration
t = time

Displacement calculations used in calculator:

Solving for the different variables we can use the following formulas:

Given u, t and a calculate s

Given initial velocity, time and acceleration calculate the displacement.
s = ut + �at2: solve for s
Given s, t and a calculate u
Given displacement, time and acceleration calculate the final velocity.
u = s/t - �at : solve for u
Given a, u and s calculate t
Given acceleration, initial velocity and displacement calculate the time.
�at2 + ut - s = 0 : solve for t using the quadratic formula
Given s, t and u calculate a
Given displacement, time and initial velocity calculate the acceleration.
a = 2s/t2 - 2u/t : solve for a

Displacement Problem 1:
A car traveling at 25 m/s begins accelerating at 3 m/s2 for 4 seconds. How far does
the car travel in the 4 seconds it is accelerating?

The three variables needed for distance are given as u (25 m/s), a (3 m/s2), and t
(4 sec).

s = ut + �at2
s = 25 m/s * 4 sec + � * 3 m/s2 * (4 sec)2 = 124 meters

Displacement Problem 2:
It takes a plane, with an initial speed of 20 m/s, 8 seconds to reach the end of
the runway. If the plane accelerates at 10 m/s2, how long is the runway?

s = ut + �at2
s = 20 m/s * 8 sec + � * 10 m/s2 * (8 sec)2 = 600 meters

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Question 1: A car is running at a velocity of 50 miles per hour and the driver
accelerates the car by 10 miles/hr2. How far the car travels from this point in the
next 2 hours, if the acceleration is constant.
Solution:

Let us find the Final velocity of the car after 2 hours time.
v = u + at,
given that u = 50 miles per hour,
a = 10 miles/hr2 and
t = 2 hours.
Hence the final velocity, v = (50 + 10 � 2) miles per hour
= 70 miles per hour.

Now from the equation, v2 � u2 = 2as,

70 � 50 = 2 � 10 � s,
Squaring both sides, we get
4900 � 2500 = 20s
or
2400 = 20s
s = 120m.
Hence the car travels 120 miles in two hours from the given point.

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Question 2: A Stone is dropped freely from a height of 100 feet. With what velocity
will it hit the ground?
(Neglect the air resistance and assume the acceleration due to gravity is 32ft/s2).
Solution:

In the equation, v2 � u2 = 2as,

u = 0,
a = 32ft/s2 and
Here s = the height = 100 ft.
Hence, v2 = 2as = 2 � 32ft/s2 � 100 ft
= 6400 ft2/s2.
or v = 80 ft/s.
The stone will hit the ground with a velocity of 80ft/s.