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What Are the Key Differences Between Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration in Motion?

Speed, velocity, and acceleration are important ideas when we talk about motion.

Speed is how fast something is going. It's simple because it only tells us the amount. For example, if a car goes 60 km/h, that’s its speed.

Velocity is a bit different. It tells us not only how fast something is moving but also the direction it's going. So, if the same car is moving at 60 km/h to the north, that’s its velocity.

Acceleration is all about how quickly something speeds up or slows down. It shows how velocity changes over time. For example, if a car speeds up from 20 km/h to 60 km/h in 5 seconds, we can find its acceleration using this formula:

a=Δvt=60km/h20km/h5s=8km/h/sa = \frac{\Delta v}{t} = \frac{60 \, \text{km/h} - 20 \, \text{km/h}}{5 \, \text{s}} = 8 \, \text{km/h/s}

This means the car's speed increases by 8 km/h every second.

Knowing these differences can help you understand motion graphs better!

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What Are the Key Differences Between Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration in Motion?

Speed, velocity, and acceleration are important ideas when we talk about motion.

Speed is how fast something is going. It's simple because it only tells us the amount. For example, if a car goes 60 km/h, that’s its speed.

Velocity is a bit different. It tells us not only how fast something is moving but also the direction it's going. So, if the same car is moving at 60 km/h to the north, that’s its velocity.

Acceleration is all about how quickly something speeds up or slows down. It shows how velocity changes over time. For example, if a car speeds up from 20 km/h to 60 km/h in 5 seconds, we can find its acceleration using this formula:

a=Δvt=60km/h20km/h5s=8km/h/sa = \frac{\Delta v}{t} = \frac{60 \, \text{km/h} - 20 \, \text{km/h}}{5 \, \text{s}} = 8 \, \text{km/h/s}

This means the car's speed increases by 8 km/h every second.

Knowing these differences can help you understand motion graphs better!

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