Motion in 1 D: Velocity vs. Speed
1D Kinematics: Average Velocity vs. Average Speed
Drag the particle to record motion
t = 0.00 s
Click & drag the particle to start — max 10 s
Time t
0.00 s
Position x
0.00 m
Displacement Δx
0.00 m
Distance d
0.00 m
Avg. Velocity
— m/s
x₂ − x₁
t₂ − t₁
Avg. Speed
— m/s
d
Δt
Physics Insights
Average Velocity depends only on the start and end positions — it is displacement ÷ time. The slope of the secant line on the x(t) graph gives exactly this value.
Average Speed uses the total path length — distance ÷ time. Try moving back and forth: displacement shrinks while distance keeps growing. Average speed ≥ |Average velocity|, always.
Turning points are where velocity changes sign — marked with a violet dot and drop-line on the graph. At that instant the object momentarily stops before reversing direction.
v̄ = Δx / Δt | s̄ = d / Δt | slope of secant = avg velocity
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