The Speed types The most outstanding are constant speed, variable speed, instantaneous speed, terminal and average.
Speed is a widely used term in the physical . It is used to describe the movement of objects. The speed measures the movement of objects according to their speed and direction.
It is important to know the Difference between speed and speed To understand the following concepts. The speed of an object measures the distance that it travels during a specific period of time.
Speed is a scalar measure, since it only defines the magnitude of the movement. Velocity, on the other hand, is a vectorial quantity since it describes both the speed and direction of movement.
The main types of speed
1- Constant speed
An object with a constant velocity does not change in speed or direction. The only objects that qualify as moving at a constant speed are those that move in a straight line at a rate that is kept constant.
An object outside a solar system, in interstellar space, which is not under the influence of external forces could be described as an object moving with a constant velocity.
A perfect example would be an asteroid or a comet, as long as it is quite far from the effects of Earth's gravity.
Also, if someone is driving down a road and realizes that equal time intervals are required to travel from one light pole to another, this would be an indication that he is traveling at constant speed.
The formula for determining the constant velocity is equal to the division of the displacement by time:
- V - speed in m / s, km / h, etc.
- D - displacement in m, km, etc.
- D - time intervals in s, or h
It can be observed that, since the displacement is a positive or negative value, the velocity will have the same directional notation. The similarity in the sign for velocity and displacement occurs because the time interval is always positive.
2- Variable speed
Objects with changing speed exhibit changes in speed or direction over a period of time. Changes in object velocity are measured with acceleration.
Objects with a constant speed and a changing direction are also accelerating. Comets and asteroids within the solar system are examples of objects with changing velocity, since their speed or direction is influenced by gravity.
Since this type of speed is the change of speed or direction, it is also considered as acceleration.
Mathematically, the acceleration is equal to the speed change divided by a specific amount of time. A car that increases its speed at 10 miles per hour every two seconds is accelerating to 5 miles per hour every second.
Changes in the direction of an object also constitute acceleration and are usually shown using a graph. Acceleration is not always the result of changes in speed. There may be acceleration even if the velocity is constant.
This type of acceleration is experienced, for example, when riding a bicycle around a curve. Although you can have a constant speed, the change of direction means that it is accelerating.
3- Instant speed
Instantaneous velocity is a method for determining how quickly an object is changing its speed or direction at any given time.
The instantaneous velocity is determined by reducing the period of time used to measure the acceleration to such a small amount that the object does not accelerate during the given time period.
This method of measuring speed is useful for producing graphs that measure a number of changes in speed. It is defined as a change of direction and velocity at a particular point in time. Changes occur at specific points in a chart.
4- Terminal speed
Terminal velocity is a term used to describe the movement of an object that falls freely through the atmosphere . Objects that fall to the ground in a vacuum will constantly accelerate to the ground.
An object that falls through the atmosphere, however, will eventually cease to accelerate due to increasing amounts of air resistance.
The point at which air resistance is equal to the acceleration caused by gravity - or any force acting on the object - is known as terminal velocity.
Put another way, it is used to define objects that fall through the atmosphere, which as said are affected by changes in air resistance, so that gravity takes over and causes the object to accelerate towards the floor.
5- Average speed
The mean velocity defines the intermediate velocity that an object attains through a change of position with respect to time.
Therefore, the average speed depends only on the initial position and the final position of the object and does not depend on the path taken by the object to reach the final position from its initial position.
According to the trajectory that an object travels, the velocity can be of two types: linear velocity and angular velocity.
- Linear speed : Defines the movement of the object on a line.
When driving in a straight line is presented a type of linear velocity Picture retrieved from: 8000vueltas.com.
- Angular velocity : Defines the movement of the object in the circular direction.
Each gear moves with an angular velocity, in opposite directions with respect to the other.
Image via solorobotica.blogspot.com.
The linear velocity is denoted by"v"and the angular velocity is denoted by"ω", then the ratio of both velocities is:
V = ωr [rad / sec]
Each of the elements of the formula means the following:
- V = linear velocity of the object.
- Ω = angular velocity of the object.
- R = radius of curvature along which the object moves.
References
- Thompson, D. (2017). "The Types of Velocity". Retrieved from sciencing.com.
- Grant, C. (2012). "What are the different types of velocities? About velocity". Recovered from enotes.com.
- Gaddy, K. (2013). "What are the three types of changes in velocity?" Retrieved from prezi.com.
- Team editor of Tutor Vista. (2017). "Velocity." Retrieved from physics.tutorvista.com.
- Elert, G. (2015). "Speed & Velocity". Retrieved from physics.info.
- Moe, A. (2015). "Various types of velocity cubes". Retrieved from geocap.atlassian.net.
- Resnick, R and Walker, J. (2004). "Fundamentals of Physics, Wiley"; 7th sub-edition.