Velocity - Definition, Example, Types, FAQs

Velocity - Definition, Example, Types, FAQs

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Nov 12, 2024 09:13 PM IST

What is meant by velocity or what is the meaning of velocity?

In our daily life we all use the term speed. It is a measure of how fast a particular object or person is moves in relation to time. Most of the time we also compare the speed of two objects moving in the same direction such as two horses racing in a race. But what happens when they run in the two opposite directions? How can we calculate the speed of the two horses in this situation? Well, in that case the term ‘VELOCITY’ comes in the picture. Let’s see what is velocity and how we can measure velocity of an object in the below article.

What is velocity in physics?

Velocity definition physics is the measure of an object’s speed as well as its direction of motion. It is a vector quantity as it has magnitude and direction both. To calculate the velocity of any object, we must consider both magnitude and direction.

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Velocity example

If a car travels toward north at a speed of 10 meter per second (m/s), then the velocity of the car will be 10 m/s to the north.

Velocity definition

Velocity meaning is the rate of change in position of an object with respect to time towards a particular direction. When either the magnitude of the velocity or the direction in which the object is moves or both changes, then the object is said to be accelerating.

Velocity formula physics

Velocity is calculated by the formula

v=∆x/∆t

where, v ? Velocity

∆x ? Displacement

∆t ? Change in time

Si unit of velocity

The SI unit of Velocity is METER/SECOND (m/s)

Velocity is also expressed in Miles per hour (mph), Kilometer per second (km/s) and Kilometer per hour (kph)

Types of velocity

Initial and final velocity formula

Initial velocity: The velocity with which an object begins its motion from the starting point is known as initial velocity of that object. As an illustration: Rohan leaves his house at a velocity of 5 m/s towards north. So, his initial velocity is 5 m/s northward.

Final Velocity: The velocity with which, the object reached its final position is known as final velocity of that object. Continuing with the preceding example, Rohan arrives at his friend’s house, his final destination, with a velocity of 7 m/s northward. So, his final velocity is 7 m/s northward.

Average velocity

When an object is moving in a straight line at a non-uniform speed, it can be expressed in the terms of average velocity. Average velocity is given by the arithmetic mean of initial and final velocity for a given period of time.

Average Velocity=Initial velocity+ Final velocity2

Mathematically, vav = u+ v2

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Constant velocity

When an object moves in a straight line at a constant speed and direction, it is said to have a constant velocity. For example: consider a car travelling at a constant speed in one direction. The velocity-time graph of an object moving with a constant velocity is a straight line as the speed and direction does not change with time.

Variable velocity

When an object’s velocity changes either in magnitude, direction or both, the object is said to be in variable velocity. A car moving down a crowded street, for example, will have varying velocity and direction.

Speed and velocity

Speed and velocity are those two terms which always makes us confused and remembering their concept and definition becomes a difficult task, although both of them are quite different terms. The main difference between speed and velocity is that speed is a measure of distance travelled by an object with respect to time whereas velocity is the measure of displacement travelled by an object with respect to time towards a particular direction. The easiest way to remember the difference between these two terms is that speed does not give us the direction in which the object is moving whereas velocity tells in which direction the object is moving. Average velocity which is total displacement upon total time, can never be greater than average speed because displacement is the shortest distance travel by an object which will always be smaller than the actual distance traveled by it.

Difference between speed and velocity

Speed
Velocity
Speed is a measure of how far an object travel in relation to time.
Velocity is a measure of how far an object travel with respect to time in one of direction.

It is scalar quantity.
It is a vector quantity.

Because speed is a scalar quantity, it can never be negative.

Velocity can be negative, and even zero.

It is also known as the rate at which distance changes.
It is also known as the rate at which displacement changes.

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Questions related to

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When an object is moving in a circular path, the velocity at the topmost point of the path can be analyzed in the context of uniform circular motion. Here's a breakdown:


1. **Definition of Velocity in Circular Motion**: Velocity in circular motion is always tangential to the path. This means the speed is constant if the motion is uniform, but the direction of velocity changes continuously.


2. **Topmost Point in Circular Motion**: At the topmost point of a vertical circular path, gravity acts downward while the centripetal force needed to keep the object in circular motion also acts downward. The net force acting on the object provides the centripetal force required for circular motion.


3. **Expression for Velocity**: The centripetal force \(F_c\) required to keep the object moving in a circle of radius \(r\) with velocity \(v\) is given by:

\[

F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}

\]

At the topmost point, the gravitational force \(mg\) helps provide the centripetal force, so:

\[

mg + N = \frac{mv^2}{r}

\]

where \(N\) is the normal force at the topmost point. For an object just moving in the circle (minimal normal force), \(N\) can be approximated as zero:

\[

mg = \frac{mv^2}{r}

\]

Solving for \(v\):

\[

v = \sqrt{gr}

\]


In summary, at the topmost point of a vertical circular path, the velocity \(v\) can be found using \(v = \sqrt{gr}\), where \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity and \(r\) is the radius of the circle.

Hello,

The slope of the tangent drawn on a velocity-time graph at a particular instant of time is equal to the instantaneous acceleration at that time. This is because the slope of the tangent line represents the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, which is the definition of acceleration.

Hope this helps,

Thank you

Question : Comprehension:

Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced another successful mission. ISRO chairman S. Somanath said that three small satellites successfully separated and were injected into orbit. ISRO launched three small satellites powered by its SSLV-D2 launch vehicle from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on February 10, 2023, at 09:18 AM IST. The launch vehicle was carrying EOS-07, Janus-1 & AzaadiSAT-2 satellites and aimed to inject them into a 450 km circular orbit. The launch took place at the first launch pad at SDSC SHAR,
Sriharikota. The SSLV-D2 had to take a 15-minute flight to inject EOS-07, Janus-1, and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into a 450 km circular lower orbit. “It is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module. It is a 34 m tall, 2 m diameter vehicle having a lift-off mass of 120 t,” said ISRO. The EOS-07 satellite weighs 156.3 kg and is made by ISRO.

About 13 minutes into its flight, the SSLV rocket ejected EOS-07 and soon after that the other two satellites Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 were ejected — all at an altitude of 450 km, said ISRO.

With the new rocket in its portfolio, ISRO will have three rockets — Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and its variants (cost about Rs 200 crore), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkII cost about Rs 272 crore and LVM3 Rs 434 crore) and SSLV (Development cost of three rockets about Rs 56 crore each) and production cost may go down later.

“New experiments include mm-Wave Humidity Sounder and Spectrum Monitoring Payload. Janus-1, a 10.2 kg satellite belongs to ANTARIS, USA. An 8.7 kg satellite AzaadiSAT-2 is a combined effort of about 750 girl students across India guided by Space Kidz India, Chennai,” it added.

SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits on a ‘launch-on-demand’ basis. “It provides low-cost access to Space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure,” as per a statement by ISRO.

Question:

After reading the passage it can be inferred that it is

Option 1: a government release

Option 2: a news item

Option 3: a magazine article

Option 4: an editorial

Correct Answer: a news item


Solution : The correct choice is the second option.

The language used is factual and objective, providing information about a recent event (the successful launch of three small satellites by ISRO) without expressing opinions or providing analysis. The use of quotes from ISRO officials and specific details about the launch supports the news-like structure of the passage.

Question : Comprehension:

Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced another successful mission. ISRO chairman S. Somanath said that three small satellites successfully separated and were injected into orbit. ISRO launched three small satellites powered by its SSLV-D2 launch vehicle from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on February 10, 2023, at 09:18 AM IST. The launch vehicle was carrying EOS-07, Janus-1 & AzaadiSAT-2 satellites and aimed to inject them into a 450 km circular orbit. The launch took place at the first launch pad at SDSC SHAR,
Sriharikota. The SSLV-D2 had to take a 15-minute flight to inject EOS-07, Janus-1, and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into a 450 km circular lower orbit. “It is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module. It is a 34 m tall, 2 m diameter vehicle having a lift-off mass of 120 t,” said ISRO. The EOS-07 satellite weighs 156.3 kg and is made by ISRO.

About 13 minutes into its flight, the SSLV rocket ejected EOS-07 and soon after that the other two satellites Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2 were ejected — all at an altitude of 450 km, said ISRO.

With the new rocket in its portfolio, ISRO will have three rockets — Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and its variants (cost about Rs 200 crore), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkII cost about Rs 272 crore and LVM3 Rs 434 crore) and SSLV (Development cost of three rockets about Rs 56 crore each) and production cost may go down later.

“New experiments include mm-Wave Humidity Sounder and Spectrum Monitoring Payload. Janus-1, a 10.2 kg satellite belongs to ANTARIS, USA. An 8.7 kg satellite AzaadiSAT-2 is a combined effort of about 750 girl students across India guided by Space Kidz India, Chennai,” it added.

SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits on a ‘launch-on-demand’ basis. “It provides low-cost access to Space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure,” as per a statement by ISRO.

Question:

Which satellite was injected into the orbit first?

Option 1: EOS-07

Option 2: Janus 1

Option 3: AzaadiSAT-2

Option 4: Antaris

Correct Answer: EOS-07


Solution : The correct choice is the first option.

In the passage, the sequence of events is mentioned regarding the satellite ejection. It states, "About 13 minutes into its flight, the SSLV rocket ejected EOS-07, and soon after that, the other two satellites, Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2, were ejected." This indicates that EOS-07 was injected into orbit first.

Correct Answer: no work is done on it


Solution : The correct option is: that no work is done on it.

No work is done on a body while it rotates in a circle at a constant speed. This is because the body's motion is perpendicular to the direction of the centripetal force that is pulling on it. The force that keeps the body moving in a circular motion and is always pointed in the direction of the circle's centre is known as the centripetal force.

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