• The?speed?of an object is the distance it travels every second
• Speed is a?scalar?quantity
  • This is because it only contains a magnitude (without a direction)

   

A hiker might have an average speed of 2.0 m/s, whereas a particularly excited bumble bee can have average speeds of up to 4.5 m/s

• The equation for calculating the?average speed?of a moving object is:

• The formula for?average speed?can be rearranged with the help of the formula triangle below:

How to Use Formula Triangles

• Formula triangles are really useful for knowing how to rearrange physics equations
• To use them:

1. Cover up the quantity to be calculated, this is known as the 'subject' of the equation
2. Look at the position of the other two quantities
   • If they are on the same line, this means they are?multiplied
   • If one quantity is above the other, this means they are?divided?- make sure to keep the order of which is on the top and bottom of the fraction!

    

• In the example below, to calculate speed, cover-up 'speed' and only distance and time are left
  • This means it is equal to distance (on the top) ÷ time (on the bottom)

   

Step 1: List the known quantities

• • Average speed = 250 m/s
  • Time taken = 2 hours

   

Step 2: Write the relevant equation

Step 3: Rearrange for the distance moved

distance moved = average speed × time taken

Step 4: Convert any units

• • The time given in the question is not in standard units
  • Convert 2 hours into seconds:

   

2 hours = 2 × 60 × 60 = 7200 s

Step 5: Substitute the values for average speed and time taken

distance moved = 250 × 7200 =?1 800 000 m

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