Calculating speed
I can calculate speed.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The greater the speed of an object, the shorter the time it takes to cover a certain distance.
- The greater the speed of an object, the more distance it travels in a certain time.
- Speed = distance / time.
- Speed is measured in m/s or km/h or miles/h.
- m/s is the number of metres travelled each second.
Common misconception
"Constant speed" can be interpreted as "moving all the time", and "steady speed" as "not too fast".
Use the terms with care, qualifying them with examples when they are used, e.g. "a constant speed of 4 m/s" or "a steady speed of 100 m/s".
Keywords
Distance - a length between two points, usually measured in metres (m).
Time - a duration, usually measured in seconds (s).
Speed - the distance it travels each second.
Metres per second (m/s) - the standard unit used to measure speed.
Miles per hour (mph) - the unit often used to measure vehicles’ speeds.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
2 metres each hour
1 metre each second
9 metres each second
60 miles each hour
900 kilometres each hour
Exit quiz
6 Questions
