Lesson 3.

Average Velocity and

Instantaneous Velocity

General Physics 11/2

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
The speedometer of the car indicates how fast
the car is moving at a given period of time.

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In an analog
speedometer if the car
moves at a fast rate,
the pointer will point
towards the higher
number stating that
the rate of change of
position of the car is
higher at that specific An analog speedometer displaying
a reading in unit of kilometers per
time.
hour (kph) 3
In real life, objects usually do not travel at a
constant speed. In this lesson, we will be
describing how we can determine the
instantaneous velocity of an object.

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How do we describe the
instantaneous speed (or
velocity) of an object?

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 Learning Competencies
This lesson serves as a prerequisite for the following DepEd competencies:

● Convert a verbal description of a physical

situation involving uniform acceleration
in one dimension into a mathematical
description (STEM_GP12Kin-Ib-12).

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 Learning Competencies
This lesson serves as a prerequisite for the following DepEd competencies:

● Recognize whether or not a physical

situation involves constant velocity or
constant acceleration (STEM_GP12Kin-Ib-
13).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Define average and instantaneous velocity.

● Solve problems involving instantaneous and

average velocity.

● Use calculus in solving instantaneous velocity

from a position as a function of time equations.

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How can we differentiate
average velocity from
instantaneous velocity?

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 Velocity

Average Velocity
It is defined as the total rate of change of position of an
object.

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 Velocity

Average Velocity
The equation for average velocity can be used to determine
which would reach the final point in the shortest amount of
time.

10 kph 15 kph 20 kph

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 Velocity

Average Velocity
However, it is not enough to tell us about how fast and in
what direction an object is moving at any particular time.

Arf arf!

35 kph 12
 Velocity

Instantaneous Velocity
It is defined as the velocity of an object in an instant. It
means that we are getting the rate of change in the position
of an object in a single point of time.

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 Velocity

Instantaneous Velocity

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 Velocity

Instantaneous Velocity
The velocity is the slope in a
position-time graph.

The preciseness increases

with smaller time interval.
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 Velocity

Instantaneous Velocity
In calculus, the instantaneous
velocity can be solved by getting
the derivative of the position-time
equation.

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Remember

A negative value of vins means that x is

decreasing and the motion is in the
negative x-direction. A body can have
positive x and negative vins, or the
reverse. The position (x) only tells us
where the object is relative to the origin
and the vins tells us the direction of the
movement of the object.
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 Let’s Practice!

The position of a particle is given by the equation

below. Determine the instantaneous velocity of the
particle at t = 2s.

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 Let’s Practice!

The position of a particle is given by the equation

below. Determine the instantaneous velocity of the
particle at t = 2s.

Assuming all quantities are expressed in SI units, at

t = 2 s, the particle is moving at 34.8 m/s.
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Try It!

Calculate for the instantaneous

velocity of a car with a position as a
function of time equation of x(t) = 5t3 +
6t4 + 5 at t = 0.25 s. Assume that all
quantities are expressed in SI units.

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 Let’s Practice!

Juan ran as fast as he can in front of a motion

sensor. The motion sensor recorded his x(t)
equation as shown below. How much did his
velocity change from t = 1 s to t = 3 s? Did he slow
down or speed up?

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 Let’s Practice!

Juan ran as fast as he can in front of a motion

sensor. The motion sensor recorded his x(t)
equation as shown below. How much did his
velocity change from t = 1 s to t = 3 s? Did he slow
down or speed up?

The difference between the instantaneous

velocities is ‒49.08 m/s. The negative sign suggests
that Juan is slowing down.
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Try It!

A motion sensor had an output

equation for a flying bird of
x(t) = 2.4t3 + 4.2 + 5.5t2. What
is the difference between the
instantaneous velocities of the bird at
t = 1 and t = 3? Evaluate your answer.
Assume that all quantities are
expressed in SI units.
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 Let’s Practice!

A hypothetical car stops at an intersection. When

the stop light turns green, it then travels along a
straight road and its distance from the intersection
is given by x(t) = at2 + bt3 – c where a = 4.6 m/s2, b =
1.2 m/s3 and c = 17 m. Calculate for the average
velocity of the jeep from t = 2 s to t = 8 s and its
instantaneous velocity at t = 9 s. Do you think this
hypothetical car can be usually seen in our streets?

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 Let’s Practice!

Do you think this hypothetical car can be usually

seen in our streets?

The average velocity of the car from t = 2 s to t = 8 s

is 146.8 m/s and its instantaneous velocity at t = 9 s
is 374.4 m/s. This car is just hypothetical because if
we convert the values into km/h, 146.8 m/s is
approximately equal to 530 km/h and 374.4 m/s is
1347 km/h. We do not see cars of these velocities in
our streets.
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Try It!

A particle has a position as a function of

time equation of x(t) = 2.3t3 + 2t2 + 4t –
2.4. Calculate for the average velocity of
the particle from t = 4 s to t = 6 s and its
instantaneous velocity at t = 3 s.

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Why do we use differential
calculus in solving for the
instantaneous velocity of a
particle?

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 Check Your Understanding

Write T if the statement is correct and F if not.

1. Any object traveling along a straight has a constant

velocity.

1. Average velocity is synonymous with instantaneous

velocity.

1. The slope of a position vs. time graph is velocity.

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 Check Your Understanding

Complete the table below. Assume that the

equations in the first column have homologous
units.
Instantaneous
Equation Time (s)
Velocity (m/s)
t=2
t=9
t=4
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Average velocity is defined as the total rate of

change of position of an object.

● Instantaneous velocity is the velocity of an object

in an instant.

● When an object is traveling along a straight line,

the velocity and speed of an object are equal.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The slope of a position vs. time graph is velocity.

● In order to calculate the instantaneous velocity of

an object, we have to get a small segment of
displacement (Δx) and divide it with its
infinitesimal time (Δt). This is the same as getting
the first derivative of the position as a function of
time equation.
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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this equation to

Average Velocity
calculate the average
where velocity if the total
displacement and the
● is the time elapsed are both
average velocity given.
● is displacement
● t is time

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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use these equations

Instantaneous
to get the
Velocity
where instantaneous
velocity of a particle
● is the with a non-constant
instantaneous velocity. Both of these
velocity equations are
● is the change in synonymous and
position calculus-based.
● is time elapsed
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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use these equations

Instantaneous
to get the
Velocity
where instantaneous
velocity of a particle
● is the with a non-constant
instantaneous velocity. Both of these
velocity equations are
synonymous and
● is the derivative calculus-based.
of the x(t) equation
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Bibliography

Faughn, Jerry S., and Raymond A. Serway. Serway’s College Physics (7th ed). Singapore: Brooks/Cole,
2006.

Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics (11th ed). New York: Pearson Education. 2010.

Homer, David, and Michael Bowen-Jones. Physics Oxford IB Diploma Programme. UK: Oxford University
Press, 2014.

Sang, David, Graham Jones, Gurinder Chadha, and Richard Woodside. Cambridge International AS and
A Level Physics Coursebook. UK: University Printing House. 2014.

Serway, Raymond A., and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics (9th
ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014.

Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics with
Modern Physics (14th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012.

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