DESCRIBING MOTION

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(Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration) Pull
After knowing the difference between distance and displacement, it is also important to
know the rate of a moving body. There are three ways to describe motion. It can be through speed,
velocity, and acceleration. But then again, these terms do not mean the same.
Speed is a scalar quantity that refers to “how fast an object is moving.” Speed can be
thought of as the rate at which an object covers distance. A fast-moving object has a high speed
and covers a relatively large distance in a short amount of time. Contrast this to a slow-moving
object that has a low speed; it covers a relatively small amount of distance in the same amount of
time.
In describing motion of an object. We do not just describe how fast the object moves.
We also consider the direction to where it is going. Speed with direction is referred to as velocity.
Velocity is speed and direction. It is a vector quantity.
An object’s motion is constantly changing. It cannot achieve a uniform velocity as it
travels. You change your speed as you travel from a smooth highway to a rough road in a barrio.
Sometimes, you even change direction. Whenever there’s a change in speed, a change in direction,
or a change in both, there is a change in velocity. This change in velocity describes acceleration.
Acceleration is the rate of change in velocity of an object with respect to time. It is a vector
quantity (in that they have magnitude and direction).
Can be expressed mathematically as:
Acceleration= change in velocity / time

Speed and Velocity

Speed is the distance covered per unit time. The velocity is the distance travelled

Speed= distance / time per unit time in a given direction.

velocity= displacement / time

This car speed is 60 km/hr.

This car has a velocity of 60 km/hr to the west.

Guide Questions
1. How do you describe speed?
2. How do you calculate speed? What are the possible units of speed?
3. How do you describe velocity? What is the formula to solve for velocity?