Velocity
Learning Objectives
- Students will understand velocity as a vector quantity
- Students will calculate average velocity from displacement and time
- Students will understand instantaneous velocity and its direction
Core Concepts
- Velocity: displacement per unit time (vector)
- Velocity includes both magnitude and direction
- Average velocity: change in position / change in time
Formulas
$$\vec{v}_{avg} = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$$
Change in position divided by time interval
$$v = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$$
Standard notation for velocity calculation
Units
| meter per second | m/s |
Interesting Fact
Velocity vectors can be broken into components (east-west and north-south, for example)
Key Scientist
Pierre de Fermat
Developed methods for analyzing instantaneous rates of change
Philosophy
Velocity unifies quantity (speed) with direction, showing how complete physical description requires both magnitude and orientation.
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