How to Find the Final Velocity of any Object

While initial velocity provides information about how fast an object is traveling when gravity first applies force on the object, the final velocity is a vector quantity that measures the direction and speed of a moving object after it has reached maximum acceleration. Whether you are applying the result in the classroom or for a practical application, finding the final velocity is simple with a few calculations and basic conceptual physics knowledge.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator

Instructions

1. Find the object's original velocity by dividing the time it took for the object to travel a certain distance by the total distance. In the equation V= d/t, V is the velocity, d is the distance and t is the time. For example, an object that travels 6 meters in 2 seconds has an original velocity of 3 meters per second (m/s).

2. Determine the object's acceleration by dividing the object's mass by the force and then multiplying the answer by the time it took to accelerate. For example, if the object weighs 30 kg, has a force of 15 Newtons and is applied for 2 seconds, the acceleration would be 4 m/s -- 30 / 15 = 2 and 2 x 2 = 4 m/s.

3. Add the amount from Step 1 and Step 2 to obtain the final velocity. For example, if your initial velocity was 3 m/s and your object acceleration is 4 m/s, your final velocity is 7 m/s (3 + 4 = 7).

References

• ThinkQuest: Final Velocity
• ZonaLand Education: Introduction to the Velocity and Acceleration Equation
• George State University: Description of Motion in One Dimension

Resources

• Physics Forums: Calculating Final Velocity