1. Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration
Clarifying Misconceptions

2. Objectives Differentiate between speed, velocity, and acceleration
Calculate speed, distance or time, using the speed equation

3. Speed
Speed is a measurement that describes the distance a moving object travels per unit of time
Speed is the rate at which an object moves
To calculate speed you need a distance and a unit of time

4. Instantaneous speed and average speed
Instantaneous speed is the speed an object is moving at a specific instant of time
Average speed is the overall rate at which an object moves

5. Velocity
Velocity describes an objects speed and the direction of its motion
Velocity is speed in a given direction and includes “a straight line”

6. Graphing motion
You can use a line graph that plots distance vs. time to describe an object’s motion
The slope of the line represents the objects speed

7. Who is Mr Slopeface? Remember slope is rise over run
The steeper the slope the faster the movement
A horizontal line means no change in distance - stopped

8. Acceleration Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes
Remember velocity is speed with direction
You can have an increase, or decrease in speed, or even a simple change in direction
Slowing down is a negative acceleration

9. What is m/s2 The object is already traveling at _m/s
Acceleration is the change in speed, per unit of time…
Meters per second per second