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CIE A-Level Physics Notes

2.1.2 Speed and Velocity

Defining Speed

Speed is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction. It is defined as the rate of change of distance with respect to time. In simpler terms, it answers the question, "how fast is an object moving?" The formula to calculate speed is:

Speed = Distance / Time

This formula implies that speed is directly proportional to the distance travelled and inversely proportional to the time taken. Speed does not take into account the direction of motion, which is why it is categorised as a scalar quantity.

Diagram explaining speed in kinematics

Speed in kinematics

Image Courtesy Collegedunia Web Pvt. Ltd

Defining Velocity

Velocity, in contrast to speed, is a vector quantity. This means it has both magnitude and direction. Velocity measures "the rate at which an object changes its position." It is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time. The formula to calculate velocity is:

Velocity = Displacement / Time

Unlike speed, velocity considers the direction of motion. This means that if an object changes its direction of motion while maintaining a constant speed, its velocity will change.

Diagram explaining the difference between speed and velocity

Speed vs velocity

Image Courtesy GeeksforGeeks

Vector Characteristics of Velocity

As a vector quantity, velocity has both magnitude (speed) and direction. For example, stating a car is moving at 60 km/h provides the speed, but indicating the car is moving at 60 km/h towards the north gives the velocity. The direction is a crucial component in understanding velocity.

Average Speed and Velocity

Average speed is computed by dividing the total distance travelled by the total time taken. It provides a general idea of the speed of an object over an extended journey.

Average velocity, however, is calculated by dividing the total displacement (the shortest distance from the start to the end point) by the total time taken. It offers a general idea of the velocity of an object over a long journey.

Instantaneous Speed and Velocity

Instantaneous speed is the speed of an object at a specific moment in time. It differs from average speed as it does not consider the total journey but a specific point in time.

Diagram showing a comparison between the average and instantaneous speed of a car

Instantaneous and average speed

Image Courtesy MathsIsFun.com

Similarly, instantaneous velocity is the velocity of an object at a specific point in time. It is the rate of change of displacement at a particular instant.

Comparing Speed and Velocity

To understand the difference between speed and velocity, consider a car moving in a circular path. The car may maintain a constant speed throughout the journey, but its direction is continuously changing. Therefore, its velocity is also changing.

Practical Examples

Consider a car travelling a distance of 120 km in 2 hours. The speed of the car is 60 km/h. If the uncertainties in the measurements of distance and time are 5 km and 0.1 hour respectively, the uncertainty in speed can be calculated as follows:

Relative uncertainty in distance = 5/120 = 0.0417

Relative uncertainty in time = 0.1/2 = 0.05

Total relative uncertainty in speed = 0.0417 + 0.05 = 0.0917

Hence, the speed of the car is 60 km/h ± 9.17%.

FAQ

The concepts of speed and velocity are widely applicable in real life. For instance, when driving, the speedometer of a car shows the speed at which the car is moving. The GPS, on the other hand, provides the velocity of the car by showing both the speed and the direction of motion. In sports, the speed of a player can determine how fast they can run, while their velocity can determine their effectiveness in moving towards the goal. In physics and engineering, the concepts of speed and velocity are crucial in designing and analysing the motion of objects.

The direction in velocity is significant because it helps to fully describe the motion of an object. Velocity is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. If an object changes its direction of motion, even while maintaining a constant speed, its velocity will change. This is because the direction of motion is a crucial component of velocity. For instance, if a car is moving at a constant speed in a circular path, its velocity is continuously changing due to the continuous change in direction, even though its speed remains constant.

Considering uncertainties in measurements and calculations in physics is important because it provides a range within which the true value of a measurement is likely to lie. It acknowledges the limitations of measuring instruments and the potential for human error. By considering uncertainties, we can estimate the reliability of our measurements and calculations. For instance, when calculating speed or velocity, the uncertainties in the measurements of distance (or displacement) and time need to be considered. This allows us to provide a more accurate and reliable representation of the speed or velocity, acknowledging the potential for error in our measurements.

No, speed cannot be negative. Speed, being a scalar quantity, only has magnitude and no direction. It is always positive or zero. A negative speed would imply that an object is moving backwards, but in physics, this is represented by a change in direction, not a negative speed. If an object is moving backwards, its velocity would be negative, not its speed. This is because velocity, being a vector quantity, takes into account both the magnitude (speed) and direction of motion.

Scalar quantities are physical quantities that have magnitude only. They are completely described by a numerical value and a unit. Examples of scalar quantities include speed, distance, mass, and temperature. On the other hand, vector quantities are physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction. They are described by a numerical value, a unit, and a direction. Examples of vector quantities include velocity, displacement, force, and acceleration. In the context of speed and velocity, speed is a scalar quantity as it only involves the magnitude (how fast an object is moving), while velocity is a vector quantity as it involves both magnitude (the speed of the object) and direction (the direction in which the object is moving).

Practice Questions

A cyclist travels a distance of 30 km in 2 hours in a straight line towards the north. He then returns to his starting point in 1 hour. Calculate the average speed and average velocity of the cyclist for the entire journey.

The average speed of the cyclist can be calculated by dividing the total distance travelled by the total time taken. The cyclist travelled a total distance of 30 km to the north and 30 km back to the starting point, making a total distance of 60 km. The total time taken was 2 hours to the north and 1 hour back, making a total of 3 hours. Therefore, the average speed is 60 km / 3 hours = 20 km/h.

The average velocity, however, is calculated by dividing the total displacement by the total time taken. Since the cyclist returned to his starting point, his total displacement is zero. Therefore, the average velocity is 0 km / 3 hours = 0 km/h.

A car accelerates from rest to 60 km/h in 10 seconds. It then maintains this speed for 20 seconds before decelerating to rest in 5 seconds. Calculate the average speed and average velocity of the car for the entire journey.

The total distance travelled by the car can be calculated by adding the distances travelled during acceleration, constant speed, and deceleration. The distance travelled during acceleration is (1/2) acceleration time2 = (1/2) (60 km/h / 10 s) (10 s)2 = 30 km. The distance travelled at constant speed is speed time = 60 km/h 20 s = 20 km. The distance travelled during deceleration is similar to that during acceleration, which is 30 km. Therefore, the total distance travelled is 30 km + 20 km + 30 km = 80 km.

The total time taken for the journey is the time for acceleration + time at constant speed + time for deceleration = 10 s + 20 s + 5 s = 35 s. Therefore, the average speed is total distance / total time = 80 km / 35 s = 2.29 km/h.

Since the car returned to rest, its total displacement is zero. Therefore, the average velocity is 0 km / 35 s = 0 km/h.

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