How to Find the Average Velocity

Average velocity is simple math.

Some people might think that "average speed" and "average velocity" are interchangeable terms. The fact is they are not. Average speed is calculated by measuring the total distance traveled and the time it took to travel that distance. Average velocity is not affected by total distance traveled. Average velocity is calculated using the difference between the starting and ending point, which is not necessarily the same as the distance traveled.

Instructions

1. Measure the time it takes to travel from point A to point B.

2. Measure the distance between point A and point B known as the "displacement." This may or may not be the same as the distance traveled. For example, if someone traveled in a straight line, then the distance traveled is the same as the displacement. If someone traveled in a circle, and did not return to point A, then the displacement is the straight line distance between A and B. If someone traveled in a circle and returned to the starting point, then the displacement, the difference between point A and point B, is zero.

3. Calculate average velocity as the displacement divided by the total time. For example, suppose someone walks a square where each side is 5 meters. They walk only 3 sides, a total of 15 meters. They stop at point B, 5 meters straight line measurement from where they began, point A. If the total time was 10 seconds then the average velocity = 5 meters/10 seconds = .5 m/sec.

References

• Worsley School