Lesson 3: Speeding Through Motion

<H1> Essential Questions

 What are the differences between average speed and instantaneous speed?

 What data are required to calculate each of these parameters?

<H1> Big Idea

Recall from previous lessons the difference between speed and velocity. Speed tells us how fast an object
is moving, but not the direction of motion. Velocity, on the other hand, describes both how fast an object
is moving and the direction in which it is moving. Every moving object, whether large or small, has an
average speed (or average velocity) during its motion. Average speed is the total distance traveled divided
by the total time taken. Average velocity is the total displacement divided by the total time. These
averages help us understand how fast an object moved during an entire journey. However, in most real-
life situations, objects do not move at a constant speed; they often speed up or slow down at different
points in their motion. Average speed or velocity does not show these variations. To understand how fast
an object is moving at a specific moment in time, we use instantaneous speed or instantaneous velocity.
This tells us the object’s speed or velocity at a certain moment.

<H1> Curiosity Corner: The Black Box

Using information from the flight log of airplanes, determine its average speed throughout the flight and
on specific portions of the flight. What reasons might have led to the speed change? Use the instantaneous
speed equation to determine the speed of an airplane at landing and takeoff. What are the differences
between instantaneous speed and average speed? Why are they important for flight operations?

<H1> Key Vocabulary

 average speed
 displacement
 instantaneous speed
 position
  slope
 speed

<H1> SMART Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
 explain the difference between average speed and instantaneous speed.
 calculate the average and instantaneous speed for an object under given conditions.

<H1> Ignite: Exploring the Speed Story of an Airplane

Commercial airplanes are designed to cover
long distances quickly while ensuring a safe
and comfortable journey for passengers. Do
you think the speed is constant throughout the
flight? Is the plane traveling faster during
takeoff than when it is cruising?

When objects move, they experience two types

of speed: average and instantaneous. For
example, imagine riding a bicycle from point A
to point B, which are 40 kilometers apart. If it
takes you 2 hours to reach point B, your
average speed would be 20 kilometers per hour.
This gives you an overall sense of how fast you
traveled during the ride. However, your speed
was probably not constant the entire time. An airplane pilot examining the controls
When you started pedaling, your speed was [GD: Airplane Pilot On Board Leaving Airport Stock Photo
zero and gradually increased. If there were any 1486500659 | Shutterstock]
uphill sections, your speed probably decreased,
and then increased again as you went downhill. Your speed at each exact moment during the ride is
represented by your instantaneous speed. If you installed a speedometer on your bicycle to display the
constant changes in speed, that would show your instantaneous speed.
Which parameter do you think is more important? In which situations is average speed more useful, and
in which is instantaneous speed required?

<H1> DIRECT INSTRUCTION: Even a Second Matters!

To better understand how average and instantaneous speeds differ, it helps to observe real motion in a
controlled setup. In the following activity, you will use simple materials to explore how an object’s
velocity changes over time and see the difference between average and instantaneous velocity in action.
Just like tracking a bicycle ride or monitoring a plane during take-off, this experiment will show how
speed can vary from moment to moment. You might even be surprised at how much motion can change in
just a few seconds!

<H1> PATHFINDER: Roll It and Record It

Objective: Explain the difference between average velocity and instantaneous velocity of a moving
object.
Materials:
 a rolling object such as a tennis ball
 adhesive tape
 pieces of cardboard
 measuring tape
 video recording device, such as a smartphone, preferably with a slow-motion recording feature
 stopwatch
Procedure:
1. Using the measuring tape, measure a straight distance of at least 1.5 meters on a flat surface such
as the floor or a desk. Use the cardboard pieces to build a track so the object can roll in a straight
line.
2. Place a piece of adhesive tape every 10 centimeters along the entire length of the track. These
will serve as markers to identify the position of the object.
3. Set up the recording device such that the whole track and the stopwatch are visible.
4. Roll the object along the track and start the stopwatch at the same time.
5. With help from the video, write down the time it takes the object to reach each of the markers on
the track.
6. Using the information from step 5, draw a position vs. time graph.
7. Repeat steps 3 to 6 at least two more times.
Calculate the speed of the object by dividing the total distance of the track by the total time it took the
object to reach the end of the track. Then, use the graphs and the tables to calculate the speed of the object
at each marker (adhesive tape pieces).
Compare the speed over the entire track with the speed at each marker. Explain what each calculation
represents. Using the velocity at each marker, draw a velocity vs. time graph and compare it with the
position vs. time graph. What do you notice about the velocity of the object as it moves down the track?

<H1> LIGHT BULB

<H1> Unraveling Average and Instantaneous Speed
 A typical car journey involves both
fast highway driving and slow city
traffic. At different points during
the trip, you will notice varying
values on the speedometer, which
indicate the instantaneous speed.
However, if you take the total
distance traveled and divide it by
the total travel time, you will get a
different value: the average speed.
Now, we will explain how to
accurately calculate each of
these parameters.

Speedometer of a car showing instantaneous velocity <H2> Average Speed

Close-up Round Dashboard Speedometer Tachometer White
Stock Photo 2500883975 | Shutterstock Average speed is a measure of
how fast an object moves over a
given period, regardless of any
variations in its direction. It is
defined as the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken for the journey. Mathematically, it is
expressed as:
Total Distance
v avg=
Total Time
Unlike instantaneous speed, which refers to the speed of an object at a specific moment, average speed
considers the overall motion, making it useful for analyzing trips where speed changes over time.
Average velocity is often confused with average speed. Since velocity is a vector quantity, the direction
in which the object is moving must be considered. The formula for average velocity is expressed in terms
of initial and final positions:

Δ ⃗x ( ⃗x f −⃗xi )
⃗v avg= =
Δ t (t f −t i )

where x₁ and x₂ are the initial and final positions, respectively, and t₁ and t₂ are the corresponding times.
It is important to note that Δx=x f −xi represents displacement, not the total distance. If the object's
path is not a straight line or if the object changes direction, the total distance (the actual path length
traveled) may be different from displacement (the straight-line distance between the start and end
points).
If an object starts from rest at position zero, the equation simplifies to:
⃗x ₂
⃗v avg=
t2
Key Points
 Total Distance Matters – Average speed depends only on the total distance traveled, not on the
path taken.
 Time Intervals are Crucial – The total time includes any pauses or variations in motion.
  It differs from Average Velocity – Unlike velocity, which considers displacement and direction,
average speed is always a positive scalar quantity, and it cannot be zero if the object is moving.
Example 1:An airplane travels 2000 kilometers from Dubai to Jordan in 4 hours. Find the average speed
of the plane.
Total distance 2 000 km
v avg= = =500 km/h
Total time 4h

This tells us that on average, the plane travels 500 kilometers each hour. The average speed simply tells
us the total distance covered over the total time interval of the trip. It does not provide information related
to the changes in speed during the journey.

<H2> Instantaneous Speed

Think about the speedometer in a car. It shows you how fast you are going right now. In physics, this is
called instantaneous speed, which refers to the speed of an object at a very specific moment in time. For
example, the speed of a car at t = 3 seconds.

To understand this better, imagine you are watching a car drive down the road. Instead of focusing on its
average speed over the entire trip, you are curious about its speed at a particular instant—like when you
glance at the speedometer. To find this, we zoom in on a very tiny interval of time, almost zero, and
observe how far the car moves during that minuscule slice. This gives us the instantaneous speed.

To find the instantaneous speed, we examine a specific point in time or an extremely small time interval
(Δt)—so small that it is almost zero. This is where the concept of a limit comes in. In math, when we say
the time interval approaches zero, we use the term "limit." Mathematically, this is expressed as:

∆x
v inst= lim
∆t→0 ∆t

This expression tells us that as the time interval gets smaller and smaller, the ratio of distance over time
will approach the instantaneous speed. While we will not dive into complex calculus here, it is important
to understand that by using a limit, we are finding the speed at a very specific moment using a time
interval that is nearly zero. Instead of measuring over a large period, we focus on a nearly instantaneous
moment.

It is important to note that instantaneous speed is the magnitude of instantaneous velocity (which
includes both speed and direction). Since we are talking about speed here, which is a scalar quantity
(meaning it has no direction), we only care about the magnitude of the velocity.

One way to calculate instantaneous speed is by looking at a position–time graph and finding the slope of
the tangent line at a specific point in time. The slope of this tangent line represents the speed at that
particular instant. For example, imagine a position–time graph where the position of the car at different
times is shown, as in Figure 3.7. To find the instantaneous
speed at a specific point (say, at t = 3 seconds), you would
draw a tangent line at that point. The slope of this tangent
line (change in position over change in time) gives you the
instantaneous speed at t = 3 seconds. If the graph shows
that the position changes by 6 meters in 2 seconds, the
instantaneous speed would be:

Instantaneous speed = 6 m/2 s = 3 m/s

This would be the speed of the car at exactly t = 3 seconds.

Figure 3.7: The slope and the instantaneous velocity. @ TS pickup and
illustrate. Draw the curve and tangent at point P with different colors.

Example 2: Let us explore how instantaneous velocity can be approximated from average velocity calculated over
different times. Here is the data for a car’s position over various times:

Table 1: Car’s Position vs. Time

Time (t) Position (x)

0.00 s 0.00 m
1.00 s 4.00 m
2.00 s 15.00 m
3.00 s 30.00 m
4.00 s 55.00 m
.

Solution:

Start by calculating the average velocity between two points. Let us say t=1.00 s and t=3.00 s .

Δ ⃗x ( ⃗x f −⃗xi ) (30.00 m−4.00 m)

⃗v avg= = = =13 m/s
Δ t (t f −t i ) (3.00 s−1.00 s)
This is the average velocity of the car between 1.00 seconds and 3.00 seconds. Let us reduce the time
interval a bit more. Take the average velocity between 1.00 seconds and 2.00 seconds:

Δ ⃗x ( ⃗x f −⃗xi ) (15.00 m−4.00 m)

⃗v avg= = = =11m/s
Δ t (t f −t i ) (2.00 s−1.00 s)
Although the average velocity between 1.00 seconds and 3.00 seconds was 13 meters per second, it was
slightly lower (11 meters per second ) between 1.00 and 2.00 seconds. This suggests that the car traveled
faster in the second half of the motion. However, to obtain a more accurate estimate of the instantaneous
velocity, smaller time intervals would be necessary. The table below provides more detailed information
about the car's motion between 1.00 and 2.00 seconds.

Time Interval (t 1 tot 2) Displacement (Δx) Time Interval (Δt) Average Velocity ( ⃗
v avg)
1.00 s to 2.00 s 11.00 m 2.00 s−1.00 s=1.00 s 11.00m
=11.00m/s
1.00 s
1.00 s to 1.50 s 5.50 m 1.50 s−1.00 s=0.50 s 5.50 m
=11.00 m/s
0.50 s
 1.00 s to 1.25 s 4.00 m 1.25 s−1.00 s=0.25 s 4.00 m
=16.00 m/s
0.25 s
1.00 s to 1.20 s 3.90 m 1.20 s−1.00 s=0.20 s 3.90 m
=19.50 m/ s
0.20 s
1.00 s to 1.15 s 3.75 m 1.15 s−1.00 s=0.15 s 3.75 m
=25.00 m/ s
0.15 s
1.00 s to 1.10 s 3.50 m 1.10 s−1.00 s=0.10 s 3.50 m
=35.00 m/ s
0.10 s

As we reduce the time intervals, the calculated average velocities increase, indicating that the car is accelerating. For
the smallest time intervals, such as from t = 1.00 s to t = 1.10 s, the average velocity is significantly higher and
closely approximates the instantaneous velocity at t = 1.00 s.
For instance, the average velocity from t = 1.00 s to t = 1.10 s is 35.00 meters per second, which provides a good
estimate of the instantaneous velocity at that moment. This demonstrates how the instantaneous velocity can be
approximated by calculating the average velocity over progressively smaller time intervals.
Conclusion: Instantaneous velocity represents the velocity at a specific moment in time. While we cannot directly
measure it with finite time intervals, we can estimate it by calculating average velocities over smaller intervals. The
smaller the time interval, the closer the average velocity gets to the instantaneous velocity.

<H1> Progress Check 1

1. If a person is fined by a police officer for over speeding, which speed will be mentioned in the
report: average or instantaneous?

Answer: Instantaneous Speed. As police use speed-measuring devices such as radar guns that
record the speed of a vehicle at a specific moment, the speed mentioned is the instantaneous
speed.

2. A train travels 240 kilometers from station A to station B in 4 hours and returns to station A in
3 hours. Calculate the following:

a) the average speed of each journey

b) average speed for the entire trip

Solution:

Given:

Distance between stations A and B = 240 km

Time taken for the first journey = 4 h

 Time taken for return journey = 3 h

Average speed = Total distance / Total time Solving for

part a)
First Journey: 240 km / 4 h = 60 km/h

Return Journey: 240 km / 3 h = 80 km/h Same formula

for the return
trip

b) Entire trip: (240 + 240) km / (4 + 3) h = 480 / 7 = 68.57 km/h Solving for

part b)

<H1> Key Differences Between Average and Instantaneous

Speed
Aspect Average Speed Instantaneous Speed

Speed at a specific moment in

Definition Total distance divided by total time
time

Describes motion at specific

Usage Describes overall motion
points

Example Total flight duration from Dubai to Ruwi,

Speed during takeoff or landing
Scenario Oman

Table 3.3: Key differences between average and instantaneous speed

<H1> Progress Check 2

1. Fill in the missing data in the given table of a sprinter's race:

Time Interval Distance Covered Average Speed

Notes
(s) (m) (m/s)

0–2 16 ---- Speeding up

2–4 ---- 8 Maintaining steady

Time Interval Distance Covered Average Speed
Notes
(s) (m) (m/s)

speed

4–6 12 ---- Slowing down

Entire Race ---- ---- Overall performance

Solution:

Time Interval Distance Covered Average Speed

Notes
(s) (m) (m/s)

0–2 16 16/2 = 8 Speeding up

Maintaining steady
2–4 8 × ( 4−2 )=8 × 2=16 8
speed

4–6 12 12/(6-4) = 12/2 = 6 Slowing down

Entire Race 16+16+12 = 44 44/6 = 7.33 Overall performance

2. Imagine a car is moving at 20 meters per second for 5 seconds, and then speeds up to 30 meters
per second for the next 5 seconds. What would you expect about the relationship between the
average speeds at these two moments and the overall average speed during this 10-second
interval?
Solution:
Given:

Average speed for 0–5 s: 20 m/s

Average speed for 5–10 s: 30 m/s

Procedure:

Overall average speed: Total Distance Covered/Total Time Taken Weighted average
 20× 5+30 ×5 100+150 over total time
= = =25 m/ s
10 10

The overall average speed (25 m/s) lies between the two
instantaneous average speeds (20 m/s and 30 m/s), as expected.
This reflects the car's varying speeds over the entire interval.

<H1> POWER-UP: A Delivery Truck's Journey

Imagine you are the logistics manager tracking a delivery truck that needs to transport perishable
food products across the city. The truck travels a total of 100 kilometers from the cold storage to the
delivery point. The truck’s speed varies depending on traffic, road conditions, and delivery stops.
Your task is to analyze the truck's journey in terms of average speed and instantaneous speed. The
challenge is to figure out how the truck's varying speeds influence the overall delivery time, as you
cannot afford to delay the delivery because food products get rotten.
Let us break down the journey into different phases and analyze the truck’s motion.

Phase 1: Warehouse to City Centre (0−30 kilometers)

 The truck starts at 0 kilometers

per hour and speeds up at a
constant rate to 40 kilometers
per hour for the first 10
kilometers. It travels at 40
kilometers per hour for the
next 15 kilometers and slows
to a constant rate of 20
kilometers per hour for the last
5 kilometers due to traffic
congestion.

Phase 2: City Center to Highway

(30−60 kilometers)

 The truck speeds up to a

A delivery truck finding its way on a busy city road
constant rate of 60 kilometers Yellow Delivery Truck In Manhattan High-Res
per hour right after leaving the Stock Photo - Getty Images
city center. It maintains this
 speed for 20 kilometers. After that, it speeds up t a constant rate again to 80 kilometers per
hour for the last 10 kilometers on the highway.

Phase 3: Highway to Suburbs (60−85 kilometers)

 The truck travels at a constant speed of 70 kilometers per hour for 15 kilometers before
slowing down at a constant rate to 30 kilometers per hour as it enters a residential area.

Phase 4: Suburbs to Delivery Point (85−100 kilometers)

 The truck slows down to 10 kilometers per hour for the last 10 kilometers due to narrow
roads and frequent stops for deliveries.

Answer the following based on the data given:

1. Draw a graph of the truck’s speed versus distance and speed versus time for the phase you
were assigned.

2. Determine the average speed for each phase, considering the distance traveled and the total
time taken.

3. Identify the points where the truck’s instantaneous speed is highest and lowest. Discuss the
reasons behind these variations.

4. Discuss the relationship between average speed and instantaneous speed. How do the
varying speeds in each phase affect the truck's overall performance?

<H1> CRITICAL THINKING (@TS please place Questioneer Icon)

1. How can measuring instantaneous speed help refine an athlete’s performance during high-
speed actions?

Students should mention that knowing the exact speed at a specific moment helps identify when
an athlete reaches peak performance or slows down unexpectedly. Coaches can use this data to
improve timing, technique, and training plans.

2. In team sports such as soccer, how do average and instantaneous velocities combine to
influence strategy and gameplay?
Answers should include that average velocity helps plan overall team movement, while
instantaneous velocity is crucial for quick decisions—such as passing or changing direction.
Both are key to effective play and coordination.
 3. How can tracking average speed over multiple games help a soccer team identify trends in
overall fitness and endurance?
Answers should explain that monitoring average speed reveals patterns in stamina. A drop
over time may indicate fatigue or lack of conditioning, while consistent or improving speeds
suggest strong endurance.

<H1> LESSON CHECK

1. Which of the following best describes total average speed?

A. the speed of an object at a specific moment in time
B. the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken
C. the rate of change of velocity
D. the highest speed an object can achieve

Answer: B

The total distance traveled divided by the total time taken

2. Instantaneous speed is the speed of an object ______.

A. over a large time interval
B. at a specific point in time
C. averaged over the entire journey
D. affected only by gravity

Answer: B

Instantaneous speed is the speed of an object at any instant of time,

3. A car travels 120 kilometers in 2 hours and returns to its initial position in 60 minutes. What is
the average speed of the car?
A. 60 km/h
B. 100 km/h
C. 80 km/h
D. 120 km/h

Answer: C
Given:

Distance the car has to travel in one way = 120 km

Time taken for the first journey = 2 h

Time taken for return journey = 60 min = 1 h

Total distance = 120 km + 120 km = 240 km

Total time = 2 h + 1 h = 3 h

Average speed = Total Distance/Total Time = 240 km/3 h = 80 km/h Using avg. speed
formula

4. Which statement correctly describes the difference between average speed and instantaneous
speed?
A. Average speed depends on velocity, while instantaneous speed depends on acceleration.
B. Average speed is calculated over a time interval, while instantaneous speed is measured at a
single moment.
C. Average speed measures displacement, while instantaneous speed measures total distance.
D. Average speed requires the tangent of a graph, while instantaneous speed requires the slope of
a line.

Answer: B

Average speed is calculated over a time interval, while instantaneous speed is measured at a
single moment.

5. Explain how a position–time graph can be used to determine an object's instantaneous speed at a
specific moment.

Answer: To find instantaneous speed from a position–time graph, draw a tangent line at the
specific point and find its slope. The slope of this tangent line gives the instantaneous speed of
the object at that moment.

6. To calculate instantaneous speed from a position–time graph, you need to find the ______ at a
specific point on the graph.
A. average slope
B. maximum value
C. slope of the tangent line
D. total area under the curve

Answer: C
 The slope of the tangent line of a position–time graph gives instantaneous speed.

7. A runner completes 400 meters in 50 seconds, but the speed changes throughout the run. Which
statement is true?
A. The runner’s instantaneous speed is always equal to their average speed.
B. The runner’s average speed is 8 m/s, but their instantaneous speed may vary.
C. The runner’s instantaneous speed is 8 m/s at every point during the run.
D. The runner’s average speed cannot be determined from this data.

Answer: B

Given:

Distance covered by runner = 400 m

Time taken by runner = 50 s

Procedure:

Average speed = Total distance/Total time = 400/50 = 8 m/s

Speed at any given moment can vary if speed changes during Instantaneous speed

the run

Only the average

What is always true? speed over the entire
distance is known

8. A car is traveling along a straight road. At 2 seconds, its position is 10 meters. At 3 seconds, its
position is 30 meters. At 4 seconds, its position is 50 meters m. Estimate the car’s instantaneous
speed at 3 seconds?

Solution:

Given:

At 2 s, its position is 10 m. At 3 s, its position is 30 m. At 4 s, its position

is 50 m

From 2 s to 3 s,
 Given:

At 2 s, its position is 10 m. At 3 s, its position is 30 m. At 4 s, its position

is 50 m

displacement covered=30 m – 1 0 m=20 m

30 m−10 m
v= =20 m/ s
3 s−2 s

From 3 s to 4 s,

displacement covered=50 m – 30 m=20 m

(50 m−30 m)
v= =20 m/ s
(4 s−3 s )

Now taking the

average of
these two to
Instantaneous speed at 3 s = (20 m + 20 m)/2 = 20 m/s
estimate the
instantaneous
speed at 3 s.

9. Why is it possible for an object to have a constant average speed but a changing instantaneous
speed during its motion? Provide an example to support your explanation.

An object can have a constant average speed but a changing instantaneous speed because
average speed is calculated over the entire trip, while instantaneous speed is the speed at a
specific moment. For example, a car may slow down in traffic and speed up later, but still travel
100 kilometers in 2 hours, keeping an average speed of 50 kilometers per hour even though its
speed varied throughout the trip.