Speed and Velocity

Many elite athletes rely on speed to succeed in their sports. From track and field to car racing, we celebrate the need for speed. What does an object’s speed say about its motion, and how do we measure and represent speed?

In this topic, you will define speed and velocity and learn how graphical representations of motion can lead to greater understanding of an object’s position over time.

Essential Questions:

• How is average velocity defined, and how is it calculated?
• How do you use graphs of position versus time to represent motion?