How to Calculate Velocity and Pressure

Simple and straightforward formulas are used to determine velocity and pressure.

Velocity and pressure are two concepts in scientific measurement regarding the effects that various stimuli have on an object. Velocity is the measure of the rate of change that an object has over a period of time. Simplified, this means that velocity is how fast an object is moving. Pressure, meanwhile, is the amount of force applied to an object.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator
• Force (for pressure)
• Area (for pressure)
• Distance (for velocity)
• Time (for velocity)

Instructions

Velocity

1. Find the distance that the object has traveled. For our example, an object will have traveled 4 miles.

2. Find the length of time that the object has been traveling. For our example, the object will have been traveling for 2 minutes.

3. Divide the distance by the length of time. In our example, that means 4 miles divided by 2 minutes. Which means it has a velocity of 2 miles per minute. Converted to the more popular unit of per hour (which is possible by multiplying 2 miles per minute by 60 minutes per hour), the object has a velocity of 120 miles per hour.

Pressure

1. Find the force that is applied to the object. In our example, the force will be a measure of 50 pounds.

2. Find the area of the object. In our example, the area of the object will be 4 square inches.

3. Divide the force applied to the object by the area of the object. In our example, that is 50 pounds divided by 4 square inches, which means the object has a pressure of 12.5 pounds per square inch.

References

• Integrated Publishing: Calculating Pressure
• 1728.com: Velocity Time & Distance