Motions And Forces

Question 1

What is distance?

Answer 1

How far an object moves. It does not include an associated direction, so distance is a scalar quantity.

Question 2

What is speed?

Answer 2

The rate of change of distance – it is the distance travelled per unit of time. Like distance, speed also does not have an associated direction, so it is a scalar quantity.

Question 3

What is the typical speed for walking?

Answer 3

1.5 m/s

Question 4

What is the typical speed for running?

Answer 4

3 m/s

Question 5

What is the typical speed for cycling?

Answer 5

6 m/s

Question 6

What is the typical speed for a car?

Answer 6

13 - 30 m/s

Question 7

What is the typical speed for a train?

Answer 7

50 m/s

Question 8

What is the typical speed for an aeroplane?

Answer 8

250 m/s

Question 9

Is it only moving objects that varying speed?

Answer 9

No, it is not only moving objects that have varying speed. The speed of the wind and the speed of sound also vary. A typical value for the speed of sound in air is about 330 m/s. A light breeze moves at perhaps 3 m/s, but a gale would be more than 20 m/s.

Question 10

What is the equation for measuring (average) speed?

Answer 10

(Average) speed = distance travelled / time taken

V = x / t

Question 11

What is the equation for distance travelled?

Answer 11

Distance travelled = average speed × time taken

X = vt

Question 12

What is distance travelled (x) measured in?

Answer 12

Metres (m)

Question 13

What is time taken (t) measured in?

Answer 13

Seconds (s)

Question 14

What is speed (v) measured in?

Answer 14

Metres per second (m/s)