Instantaneous Speed and Instantaneous Velocity - Definition, FAQs
The event that occurs with an infinitesimal interval change of time is defined as an instant. Meanwhile, the term average refers to the mean of the total event with respect to total time.In this article, we will discuss what is instantaneous velocity, the instantaneous velocity formula, the S.I unit of instantaneous velocity and instantaneous speed, the difference between instantaneous velocity and average velocity, what is instantaneous speed, the instantaneous speed formula, the difference between instantaneous speed and average speed and difference between instantaneous velocity and instantaneous speed.
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- What is Instantaneous Velocity
- Instantaneous Velocity Formula
- Difference Between Average Velocity and Instantaneous Velocity
- What is Instantaneous Speed
- Instantaneous Speed Formula
- Difference Between Average Speed and Instantaneous Speed Table
- Difference Between Instantaneous Speed and Instantaneous Velocity
What is Instantaneous Velocity
In physics, Instantaneous velocity definition can be given as the rate of change of position for a period of time equal to almost zero (i.e.very small). The SI unit of the instantaneous velocity is given in the terms of meter per second.
The meaning of the velocity of any object is the speed of that object in a particular direction. Instantaneous velocity can be defined as the velocity of any object which is in motion at some particular or specific point time interval. The object which maintains its motion in a uniform velocity, then it possesses an instantaneous velocity which is equal to its standard velocity. The average velocity of any object can be defined as the total displacement by total time period.
Instantaneous Velocity Formula
The instantaneous velocity formula can be represented as the follow:
$$
v_i=\lim _{\Delta t \rightarrow 0} \frac{\Delta s}{\Delta t}
$$
Where,
- $\Delta t$ denotes the small change in the time period
- $V_i$ denotes the instantaneous velocity
- $\Delta s$ refers to the change in the displacement of the object
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SI Unit of the Instantaneous Velocity
The SI unit of the instantaneous velocity is given by $\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}$, where $m$ denotes meter and s denotes the second. Instantaneous velocity is a vector quantity. Instantaneous velocity is also defined as the slope of the distance x - time t graph.
$$
\text {Instantaneous Velocity unit }=\frac{\text { meters }(\mathrm{m})}{\text { seconds }(\mathrm{s})}=\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}
$$
Difference Between Average Velocity and Instantaneous Velocity
| Average velocity | Instantaneous velocity |
| The total displacement by total time period is known as average velocity | The displacement divided by small time period at specific point is known as instantaneous velocity |
| Average velocity = total displacement/ total time | Instantaneous velocity = displacement for specific point/ time at that instant |
| The value of average velocity depends on a range of values | The value of the instantaneous velocity depends on an instant value. |
What is Instantaneous Speed
In terms of physics, Instantaneous speed definition can be given as the distance travelled per unit time at a given instant.It is the rate at which an object is moving in a given time without considering the direction of its motion. It can be also defined as the instantaneous velocity without considering its direction i.e. it refers to the magnitude of the instantaneous velocity.
The average speed of the object is defined as the total distance divided by the total time taken by the object to move from one point to the other. When the time interval becomes zero, then the distance by the object also becomes zero. But if the limit of the distance ratio to time is not zero, then it is known as instantaneous speed.
Instantaneous Speed Formula
The formula for Instantaneous speed can be given as the follow:
$$
\text { Instantaneous Speed }=\left|\frac{d s}{d t}\right|
$$
Where,
- $ds$ denotes the small change in the distance of the object
- $dt$ represents the small change in the time period
SI Unit of the Instantaneous Speed
The SI unit of the instantaneous speed is given by $\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}$, where m denotes meter in distance and s denotes the second in time. Instantaneous speed is a scalar quantity.
$$
\text {Instantaneous Speed unit }=\frac{\text { meters }(\mathrm{m})}{\text { seconds }(\mathrm{s})}=\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}
$$
Difference Between Average Speed and Instantaneous Speed Table
| Average speed | Instantaneous speed |
| The total distance by total time period is known as average speed | The distance divided by small time period at specific point is known as instantaneous speed |
| Average speed= total distance/ total time | Instantaneous speed= distance for specific point/ time at that instant |
| The value of average speed depends on a range of values | The value of the instantaneous speed depends on an instant value. |
Difference Between Instantaneous Speed and Instantaneous Velocity
The table below shows the difference between instantaneous speed and instantaneous velocity:
| Instantaneous speed | Instantaneous velocity |
| The distance divided by small time period at specific point is known as instantaneous speed | The displacement divided by small time period at specific point is known as instantaneous velocity |
| Instantaneous speed= distance for specific point/ time at that instant | Instantaneous velocity = displacement for specific point/ time at that instant |
| The value of the instantaneous speed depends on an instant value. | The value of the instantaneous velocity depends on an instant value. |
| $ \text { Instantaneous Speed }=\left|\frac{d s}{d t}\right| $ | $ v_i=\lim _{\Delta t \rightarrow 0} \frac{\Delta s}{\Delta t} $ |
| Instantaneous speed is a scalar quantity | Instantaneous velocity is a vector quantity |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Instantaneous velocity can be defined as the velocity of any object which is in motion at some particular or specific point time interval.
The instantaneous velocity formula can be represented as the follow:
Vi = limΔt→0ds/dt
Where, t denotes the small change in the time period
Vi denotes the instantaneous velocity
ds refers to the change in the displacement of the object
t represents the time period
The average velocity of any object can be defined as the total displacement by total time period.
The SI unit of the instantaneous velocity is given by m/s, where m denotes meter and s denotes the second.
No , it is not a scalar quantity. Instantaneous velocity is a vector quantity.
The value of the distance divided by a small time period at a specific point is known as instantaneous speed.
The formula for Instantaneous speed can be given as the follow:
Instantaneous speed=ds/dt
Where, ds denotes the small change in the distance of the object
dt represents the small change in the time period.
The SI unit of the instantaneous speed is given by m/s, where m denotes meter and s denotes the second.
No, It is not a vector quantity, but Instantaneous speed is a scalar quantity.
The average speed of the object is defined as the total distance divided by the total time taken by the object to move from one point to the other.
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