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Differences between speed and Velocity with table and examples

We explain the differences between speed and Velocity with table and examples. The differences between speed and Velocity exist, although both are related physical quantities. In common language one term or the other is used interchangeably as if they were synonyms, but in Physics it is necessary to distinguish between them. speed and Velocity

This article defines both concepts, points out the differences, and explains, using examples, how and when one or the other is applied. To simplify we consider a particle in motion and from there we will review the concepts of Speed and Velocity.

Speed

Velocity

Definition

It is the distance traveled per unit of time.

It is the displacement (or change of position) in each unit of time.

Notation

V

v

Mathematical object type

Climb/Scalar.

Vector.

Formula (for a finite period of time) *

V = Δs / Δt

 

v = Δd/Δt

or

v = Δr / Δt

Formula (for a given instant of time) **

v = Δs / Δt = s’ (t)

v = Δd / Δt = d ‘(t)

or

v = Δr / Δt = r ‘(t)

Explanation of the formula

* Length of the path traveled divided by the period of time used to travel it.

** In instantaneous speed, the period of time tends to zero.

** The mathematical operation is the derivative of the path arc as a function of time with respect to the instant t of time.

* Vector displacement divided by the time span in which the displacement occurred.

** At instantaneous velocity the time lapse tends to zero.

** The mathematical operation is the derivative of the position function with respect to time.

Characteristics

To express it, only a positive real number is required, regardless of the spatial dimensions in which the movement occurs.

** Instantaneous speed is the absolute value of instantaneous speed.

It may take more than one real number (positive or negative) to express it, depending on the spatial dimensions in which the movement occurs.

** The modulus of instantaneous velocity is instantaneous speed.

Examples with uniform speed on straight sections

Speed ​​and velocity of a particle moving in a curve.
Speed ​​and velocity of a particle moving in a curve.

Various aspects of speed and Velocity were summarized in the table above. And then, to complement, several examples are considered that illustrate the concepts involved and their relationships:

Example 1

Suppose a red ant moves along a straight line and in the direction indicated in the figure below. speed and Velocity

An ant on a straight path.
An ant on a straight path.

In addition, the ant moves uniformly so that it travels a distance of 30 millimeters in a period of time of 0.25 seconds.

Determine the speed and velocity of the ant.

Solution 

The speed of the ant is calculated by dividing the distance Δs traveled by the time lapse Δt .

v = Δs / Δt = (30 mm) / (0.25s) = 120 mm / s = 12 cm / s

The speed of the ant is calculated by dividing the displacement Δ d by the time period in which the displacement was made.

The displacement was 30 mm in the 30º direction with respect to the X axis, or in compact form:

Δ d = (30 mm ¦ 30º)

It can be noted that the displacement consists of a magnitude and a direction, since it is a vector quantity. Alternatively, the displacement can be expressed according to its Cartesian components X and Y, in this way:

Δ d = (30 mm * cos (30º); 30 mm * sin (30º)) = (25.98 mm; 15.00 mm)

The speed of the ant is calculated by dividing the displacement by the period of time in which it was made:

= Δ d / Δt (25.98 mm / 0.25 s; 15.00 mm / 0.25 s) = (103.92; 60.00) mm / s

This velocity in Cartesian components X and Y and in units of cm / s is:

v = (10.392; 6.000) cm / s .

Alternatively the velocity vector can be expressed in its polar form (modulus ¦ direction) as shown:

v = (12 cm / s ¦ 30º) .

Note : in this example, since the speed is constant, the average speed and the instantaneous speed coincide. The modulus of the instantaneous velocity is found to be the instantaneous speed.

Example 2 speed and Velocity

The same ant in the previous example goes from A to B, then from B to C and finally from C to A, following the triangular path shown in the following figure.

Triangular path of an ant.
Triangular path of an ant.

Section AB covers it in 0.2s; and l BC it runs in 0.1s and finally  CA it runs in 0.3s. Find the mean speed of the trip ABCA and the mean speed of the trip ABCA.

Solution speed and Velocity

To calculate the average speed of the ant, we begin by determining the total distance traveled:

Δs = 5 cm + 4 cm + 3 cm = 12 cm.

The time span used for the entire journey is:

Δt = 0.2s + 0.1s + 0.3s = 0.6 s.

So, the average speed of the ant is:

v = Δs / Δt = (12 cm) / (0.6s) = 20 cm / s.

Next, the average speed of the ant in the ABCA route is calculated. In this case, the displacement made by the ant is:

Δ d = (0 cm; 0 cm)

This is because the offset is the difference between the end position minus the start position. Since both positions are the same, then their difference is zero, resulting in a null displacement.

This null displacement was made in a period of time of 0.6s, so the average speed of the ant was:

v = (0 cm; 0 cm) / 0.6s = (0; 0) cm / s .

Conclusion : average speed 20 cm / s, but the average speed is zero in the ABCA path.

Examples with uniform speed on curved sections speed and Velocity

Example 3

An insect moves on a circle with a radius of 0.2m with uniform speed, such that, starting from A and arriving at B, it travels ¼ of a circumference in 0.25 s.

Insect in circular section.
Insect in circular section.

Determine the speed and velocity of the insect in section AB.

Solution

speed and Velocity

The length of the arc of circumference between A and B is:

Δs = 2πR / 4 = 2π (0.2m) / 4 = 0.32 m .

Applying the definition of average speed we have:

v = Δs / Δt = 0.32 m / 0.25 s = 1.28 m / s .

To calculate the average velocity, it is necessary to calculate the displacement vector between the initial position A and the final position B:

Δ d = (0, R) – (R, 0) = (-R, R) = (-0.2, 0.2) m

Applying the definition of average speed, we obtain:

= Δ d / Δt = (-0.2, 0.2) m / 0.25s = (-0.8, 0.8) m / s .

The previous expression is the average speed between A and B expressed in Cartesian form. Alternatively, the average speed can be expressed in polar form, that is, modulus and direction:

v | = ((-0.8) ^ 2 + 0.8 ^ 2) ^ (½) = 1.13 m / s

Direction = arctan (0.8 / (-0.8)) = arctan (-1) = -45º + 180º = 135º with respect to the X axis.

Finally, the mean velocity vector in polar form is:  v = (1.13 m / s ¦ 135º) .

Example 4

Assuming that the starting time of the insect in the previous example is 0s from point A, its position vector at any instant t is given by:

d (t) = [R cos ((π / 2) t); R sin ((π / 2) t)] .

Determine the velocity and instantaneous speed for any time t.

Solution speed and Velocity

The instantaneous velocity is the derivative with respect to time of the position function:

(t) = Δd / Δt = [-R (π / 2) sin ((π / 2) t); R (π / 2) cos ((π / 2) t)]

The instantaneous speed is the modulus of the instantaneous velocity vector:

v (t) = | (t) | = π R / 2 ^ ½

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