Physics Equations

The speed of an object tells you how fast or slow it is moving. You can find the average speed of an object if you know:

• The distance travelled
• The time taken to travel that distance

This equation shows the relationship between average speed, distance and time:

Average speed = distance ÷ time

For example, what is the average speed of a runner who covers 100 m in 10 s?

Average speed = 100 ÷ 10 = 10 m/s

In science, average speed is usually given in metres per second, m/s. If you are given the distance in km, multiply it by 1000 to get the distance in m.