How to Calculate Velocity

Three Parts:Speed and VelocityAverage VelocityFinal VelocityQuestions and Answers

Velocity is a vector quantity that shows the change in distance, time and direction. Depending upon your physics problem, you may know several variables and
need to calculate final velocity or average velocity. Choose 1 of the formulas below to calculate velocity.

Part 1 Speed and Velocity

1 Understand the difference between calculating speed and velocity.

o Speed is solved when you divide distance by time. The speed is simply a measure of the movement over time, rather than a direction.
o Velocity is figured when you take the displacement of an object, with its direction divided by a change in time. It requires a direction. For
this reason, an object that returns to its original position does not have a velocity.

Part 2 Average Velocity

2 Write the formula. To find average velocity, you will write Velocity=Displacement/Time. It may also be written "v=s/t."

o Keep in mind that all of the variables in this formula are written with a right hand arrow above the letter to indicate a change in that
variable, rather than a constant.

2.

Find the displacement of the object. This is the distance and direction of the movement.

o For example, if a bike goes 50 miles (80 km) to the west, this is the displacement measurement.

3.

Find the change in time between when the object started in motion and when it stopped.

4. For example, it took our biker 4 hours to ride 50 miles (80 km) to the west.
 Plug displacement and time into the equation. Solve the equation.

o For example, Velocity=50m west/4 hours. In this problem, the average velocity of the biker is 12.5 mph (20.1 km/h) to the west.
o If you know the initial velocity and the final velocity, you can calculate average velocity in another manner. Add them together and divide
by 2 to get the average velocity.

Part 3 Final Velocity

Write down the known variables in your velocity problem. If you need to know the final velocity of an object, you will use a different formula.

Write down the formula for final velocity. It is Final Velocity= Initial Velocity + Acceleration x Time. It can also be written vf = vi + a t.

1.

3 Find the initial velocity. This may be given to you. Pay attention to the direction that is given.

4 Find the acceleration. Make sure that you know the how it is calculated, for example meters/s squared.

5 Find the time. This is the time the object is in motion. It should be measured in a similar unit as acceleration.

o For example, if acceleration is meters per second squared, then time should be in seconds. If it is not, convert the unit before continuing.

2.

6 Plug your numbers into your formula. Simplify and solve the equation.

o For example, if we know that the initial velocity was 10 m/s to the west, the acceleration was -2 m/s squared (slowing down) and the time
was 15 seconds, then we would write Final Velocity = 10 m/s + -2m/s x 15. We would first find Final Velocity = 10 m/s + -30m/s. Final
Velocity = -20 m/s.