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A: Click on Physics.
B: Click on Speed & Acceleration
C: Click on Before You Start.

Wise-Up: A Review of the Terms Speed and Acceleration

1. The formula for speed is:

= ___________

The units for speed are: _________

2. The formula for acceleration is:

= ___________

The units for acceleration are: __________

3. If an object is experiencing a positive acceleration it is

____________________ or _____________________.

4. If and object is experiencing a negative acceleration it is

_______________________ or ____________________.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Next.

Example Questions: On Average Speed, Instantaneous Speed and

Acceleration
1. An aircraft on a test flight travels at a steady speed of mach 2 (twice the
speed of sound). It travels a measured distance of 1.02 km in 1.5 s during its
test flight.
(i) Calculate the average speed of the aircraft in metres per second.
You must first convert 1.02 km to metres by multiplying 1.02 by 1000.

(ii) What is the instantaneous speed of the aircraft at all times during
the test flight? This question does not require you to do a calculation.
Simply think about what is meant by the term steady speed and apply
this knowledge when answering the question.

(iii) Calculate the speed of sound using the information given in the
question. When answering this question create a formula that you can use
to plug numbers into.

2. A car starts from rest and reaches a speed of 20 m/s in a time of 4 s.

(i) What is the initial speed of the car? (Think: What does it mean when
we say that a car is at rest?)

(ii) What is the change in speed of the car during the 4 s period? Create
a formula that you can use when answering this question.

(iii) What is the acceleration of the car during this time? (Use the
formula for acceleration that you found on page one of this activity
booklet.)

Click on Test Bite.

Speed and Acceleration

You may wish to print a hard copy for your reference.
1. A hiker covers a distance of 1500 m in 20 minutes. What is the average speed of the
hiker?

m/s

2. How many seconds would it take a lorry travelling at a constant speed of 20 m/s to cover
a distance of 30 km?

3. How many metres does a cyclist travel in 5 minutes when cycling at a steady speed of 6
m/s?

4. A car has an average speed of 30 m/s for a motorway journey of 51 km. A speed of 1 m/s
corresponds to a speed of 2.2 miles per hour.
(i). What is the average speed of the car in miles per hour?
(ii). How many seconds did it take the car to complete its journey?

mi/h
s

(iii). Did the car exceed the speed limit of 70 miles per hour at any time during its journey?
Yes.
No.
Perhaps.
5. A car is travelling at a speed of 30 m/s. The driver then applies the brakes so that the car
decelerates steadily for 3 s until the speed of the car reaches 15 m/s. Calculate the
deceleration of the car.

m/s2

6. A cyclist is cycling at a constant speed of 3 m/s . The cyclist then accelerates uniformly at
0.8 m/s2 for 10 s. What speed is reached by the cyclist in this time.

m/s