Velocity Notes

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Watch the animation below.
A curveball has more than
one measurable motion.

Velocity is speed in a particular direction. How many velocities does a curveball have?
(ignore spin)

| Flash |

3 Motions
Forward,
Left (or Right),
Down

Velocity - Speed in a particular direction

How many velocities does this boat have?

| Flash |

Video Instruction

showmethephysics.com

Enduring Understanding

1. Velocity is the speed in a particular direction

2. Velocity is the change in displacement per unit time

+ is up, right, east and forward.

3. An object can have one speed but 3 velocities. Curve Ball

Fill in the Blanks Notes

C. Velocity - speed in a particular direction

Velocity & Direction

[ HTML5 ]
St. Mary's H.S.

Focus on the man walking across this page.
Identify his 2 velocities. Which is the greater of the two?

| Flash |

The answer depends on your coordinate system. The man is moving to the north (or up, forward, y) and the east (or across, to the right, x). Since his easterly displacement is greater, he has a greater easterly velocity

Ex) Joe drove 13 meters North East in 2.0 seconds

What was Joes ...

Northeast displacement?
displacement east?
displacement north?

Northeast displacement? 13 m NE
displacement east? 12 m E
displacement north? 5.0 m N

Ex) Joe drove 13 meters North East in 2.0 seconds

We can say that Joe has 3 velocities

V = 6.5 m/s N.E.

V = 5 m N/2 seconds =

2.5 m/s North

V = 12 m East/2seconds

= 6 m/s East

1. Velocity is always written with direction

Examples

• 5.0 m/s east

• +5.0 m/s

• 100 m/s downward

• -100 m/s

2. Equation:

V = ∆d/∆t

For straight line motion:

V = distance/time and direction

Acceleration

Honors Extension

FrameRef_WallMoves.mov