What is Speed: Definition and 1000 Discussions

In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as v) of an object is the magnitude of the rate of change of its position with time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance travelled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as the duration of the time interval approaches zero.
Speed has the dimensions of distance divided by time. The SI unit of speed is the metre per second (m/s), but the most common unit of speed in everyday usage is the kilometre per hour (km/h) or, in the US and the UK, miles per hour (mph). For air and marine travel the knot is commonly used.
The fastest possible speed at which energy or information can travel, according to special relativity, is the speed of light in a vacuum c = 299792458 metres per second (approximately 1079000000 km/h or 671000000 mph). Matter cannot quite reach the speed of light, as this would require an infinite amount of energy. In relativity physics, the concept of rapidity replaces the classical idea of speed.

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  1. HappyFlower

    Finding the Speed of a head hit by a soccer ball

    Homework Statement When a soccer ball is kicked toward a player and the player deflects the ball by "heading" it, the acceleration of the head during the collision can be significant. Figure 2-38 gives the measured acceleration a(t) of a soccer player's head for a bare head and a helmeted head...
  2. J

    B Speed of Light & Time Dilation: Travel Distance in 1 Sec?

    10 seconds somewhere can be one on Earth due to time dilation, right? So In the case of distance wouldn't light have traveled more than 186,282 MPS since it had 10 seconds to travel relative to the 1 second on earth. So if light traveled at 186,282MPS for 10 seconds it would have traveled...
  3. L

    Doubling speed in circular orbit to attain elliptical orbit

    Homework Statement A satellite is in a circular orbit (radius R) around a planet of mass M. To change the satellite's orbit the engines fire and its speed is suddenly doubled. The engines fire for a very short time. Determine the length of the semi-major axis of the new orbit. Homework...
  4. alijan kk

    Train Speed: 150m in 25 sec - Find Length

    Homework Statement A train speeds past a pole in 15 seconds and a plate form 100 m long in 25 seconds. Its length is : Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution x/15 = (x+100)/25 after solving this equation x= 150. but the ans is 180 m ? what should be the correct ans.
  5. Richie Smash

    Find the speed of the batsman and direction he takes (vectors)

    Homework Statement Hello, I havre problem here relevant to an image I will attach. ''A cricket ball hit by a batsman moves with a speed of 6m/s along a straight line path PQRS, as shown in the diagram. When the ball is at R, a fieldsman starts to run in a straight line from T with a speed of...
  6. Chris84567

    I Measuring Speed of Light Relative to Earth

    The question: If the max speed I can go in the universe is the speed of light measured from? Background: If there are three rocks in a vacuum along a line (the x axis), one is stationary (rock 1), one is moving 5 m/s in the x direction (rock 2) and one is move -5 m/s in the x...
  7. I

    Finding the relativistic speed of a spacecraft

    Homework Statement If a spacecraft is traveling to a star which is located at a distance of 1 lightyear and it would take the spacecraft 1 year to reach the star in its own frame, how fast would the spacecraft actually fly? Also, how long would the journey take for an observer on Earth...
  8. S

    I What is the propagation speed of a diffusion

    Hello everybody! For my water in nanoscaled-pores simulations with SPH I need a value for the characteristic velocity. My planned approach is to estimate this value by attaining the propagation speed of a diffusion wave. But I have problems with understanding this process since I find some...
  9. C

    Uniform circular motion - origin of speed

    I am having trouble understanding tangential speed as it applies to uniform circular motion and I would appreciate any help. Say I have a ball on the end of a string that I hold with my hand and rotate at a constant speed. If the string provides the centripetal force and acceleration, where...
  10. Alexanddros81

    Determine the smallest possible speed of the bob at A

    Homework Statement 14.34 The 0.5-kg bob of the pendulum travels a complete circle about the pivot point O. Determine the smallest possible speed of the bob in position A if it is suspended from (a) a rigid rod of negligible mass; and (b) a string Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution...
  11. Abdullah Almosalami

    Given current and density of electrons, what is their speed?

    Homework Statement A current of 1600A exist in a rectangular (0.4 x 16 cm) bus bar. The electrons move at an average velocity of v. If the concentration of electrons is 1029 per cubic meter, and they are uniformly distributed, what is v? Knowns Current (i) = 1600A = 1600 x 1018 aA Charge per...
  12. GaussianSurface

    Calculating distance from speed

    Homework Statement The speed of a runner increased during the first three seconds of a race. Her speed at half-second intervals is given in the table. Find lower and upper estimates for the distance that she traveled during these three seconds. It follows the image's square. Homework Equations...
  13. F

    I Is the Wavefunction Speed in Quantum Mechanics Wrong?

    This problem bothered me many years ago when I was taking a university course in quantum mechanics, but I assumed it was due to an error on my part which I, however, couldn’t locate, and I didn’t ask my course instructor about it. Recently, when researching a q.m. question on the Internet...
  14. Luigi Fortunati

    Is acceleration relative in the same way as the speed?

    The two spaceships A and B approach each other at constant speed v: A----------B There is no way of knowing if B is standing still while A is moving at speed v (to the right), or if A is standing still while B is moving at speed -v (to the left). This shows that speed is relative. But if the...
  15. paulo84

    Electrons move faster than the speed of light?

    In school, I was taught that the position of an electron relative to the nucleus is only an approximation. It is very likely that the electron will be close to the nucleus and where it is 'expected' to be, but it may in fact be anywhere in the universe. Is this correct? And does this allow...
  16. R

    Macroscopic Maxwell's equations and speed of light in media

    So I followed the derivation of the Macroscopic Maxwell's equations by averaging the fields / equations and doing a taylor series to separate the induced charges and currents from the free ones. But why does light now "suddenly" travel slower in dielectric media? I mean, sure, it comes out from...
  17. T

    At supersonic speed, why does Mach number decrease?

    At supersonic speed, air become compressible. However why does Mach number decrease when flow area decrease? I understand that pressure will increase because the density will increase when flow area decrease. However shouldn't the Mach number increase in order to conserve mass flow? Unless the...
  18. Paul Colby

    I Measuring Light Speed Anisotropy

    Sorry, me again. In another thread #47 I gave a experimental setup to detect an anisotropy in light speed of the form ##c(\hat{n}) = c_o + \alpha (\hat{n}\cdot\hat{v})##. It was pointed out quite correctly that the error incurred in the long arm to the sensor would cancel the anisotropy making...
  19. jonnybmac

    What is the relationship between engine power, force, and speed?

    Homework Statement I am having difficulty understanding the conversion between power and rotation at the engine and at the wheel. Can you please state which parts are right and wrong, and why please as I think I've spent that long on researching I've confused myself with too much information...
  20. M

    A Understanding Hypersonic vs Regular Sound Speed in Condensed Matter

    Has anyone encountered the term "hypersonic sound speed" in connection with fluctuations of thermodynamic quantities in condensed matter? How is hypersonic different than regular sound?
  21. S

    I Gravitational Waves vs Universe Expansion Rate

    Is there any relationship between the Speed of gravitational waves and the Universe's "local" expansion rate? Speed of gravitational waves is supposed to be equal to the speed of light. Gravitational waves don't travel faster than light. But we can observe far galaxies moving away from us with...
  22. K

    Motion involving speed cameras

    Homework Statement Homework Equations [/B] Equations of motion: v = u + at s = 1/2 (u + v) t s = ut + 1/2at^2 v^2 = u^2 + 2as 3. The Attempt at a Solution Hello, on a i used the 2nd equation: 30m = 1/2 (3*10^8m/s+3*10^8m/s) t so -> t = 1*10^-7s but to get the correct solution i...
  23. karush

    MHB Eb5 Calculate the average speed in km/h

    $\text{A person jogs eight complete laps around a $400 \, m$ track in a total time of $14.5 \, min$}. \\$ $\textit{a. Calculate the average speed in $km/h$}\\$ \begin{align*}\displaystyle \frac{(8)400 \, m}{14.5 \, min} \left(\frac{km}{1000m} \right) \left(\frac{60 \, min}{h}...
  24. S

    Measurement of the Speed of light

    Hi, What is people measuring when they measure the speed of light (c) actually? the photons or the waves? or some kind of manifestation of light? I ask because I was reading about photons and that they "might" have a very small mass and therefore are not traveling at c. If photons have a...
  25. Physics Student 1234

    The electron momentum is E/c, so that its speed is....

    Homework Statement Homework Equations E = γmc2 p = γmv K = E - mc2 E2 = c2p2 + m2c4 The Attempt at a Solution I have completed most of this question, but I am struggling to get the required result to the final part of the question.[/B]
  26. erik giles

    I Measuring Speed in Relativity - Einstein's Work Explained

    Good morning. I've just completed working through Einstein's work on special and general relativity. Do I understand that, in relativity, a moving object cannot measure its own speed without an external reference to compare to? IE, there is no experiment it can conduct to determine its own...
  27. Pushoam

    Doppler effect: calculate speed of a moving star

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution When the source is not moving, ## \lambda = 6250 A ## ...(1) When the source is moving, ## \lambda ' = 6500 A ## ...(2) From (1) and (2), ## \lambda ' > \lambda ## ...(3) This means that the source is moving away from...
  28. K

    Find the angular speed of the smaller gear

    1.Why does the angular speed of small gear depend only on larger gear only? 2.Why does the length of linkage connecting two gears does not have any influence on the angular speed of smaller gear? The first question can be answered by looking at slack and tightening of chain caused by rotation...
  29. doublev231

    Find speed given mass, starting speed and time

    A cart which weighs 500g is moving on a horizontal table with the starting speed of 7 m/s. At the end of the cart there's a non-elastic wire attached, which is thrown over a pulley, and on the other end of the wire there's a 200g load. I need to find the speed of the cart and the distance it...
  30. A

    Pressure Equalization -- speed and time of duration

    I have two pressure vessels (volumes known) at different pressures (known) . There is a connecting tube between them of known diameter. I first want to calculate velocity during the equalization and should easily be able to determine the time to equalization. P1 V1 P2 V2 Cross section of...
  31. L

    Do ideal gases move at the same speed?

    I've learned that ideal gases have the same average kinetic energy, but this doesn't necessarily mean that they have the same speeds within a container..Instead, is it right to say that (according to kinetic molecular theory) that the speed of molecules at an instance is a wide range of speeds?
  32. N

    I Speed of Light & Magnetic Field: Condensing Wave Speed?

    If the speed of light is ~300 m/s in a vacuum, can the electric and magnetic fields of the wave be condensed such that it travels faster? The idea being that an outside force condenses these fields and lenghtens the wavelenght with no loss of energy thus increasing the directional speed. The...
  33. M

    Speed at the top of the loop with energy loss from friction

    Homework Statement If the car is going 30 m/s half way up the loop and loses energy due to friction at a rate of 2.0J per meter of track, how fast will it be going at the top? (this is question related to the loop of roller coaster track, with radius 20m.) Homework Equations 1. Ki + Ui = Kf +...
  34. Arman777

    I Why the speed of light is constant for every observer?

    Why the speed of light is constant for every observer ? Is it a special thing for photons cause I guess there's no other elementry particle that can move with c ? Also I want to investigate the constant of c for every observer, in the perspective of particle relationship. For example, can I...
  35. Swedky

    Calculate speed according to distance, gravity and h-angle.

    Hi there, so I want to know how to get the speed I need to move some object from point A to B, accordint to the distance between points, gravity and height angle. I means, I have this: height angle = 40.0 distance from point A to B = 5m gravity = -9.81 speed = ? I think that I just need to know...
  36. M

    Is there work for object moving at a constant speed?

    Homework Statement An object of mass 100kg is acted on by a constant force as it moves through a displacement at a constant speed of 7.2m/s. What is the net work done on the object? Homework Equations Wnet = ΔK Fnet = 0 The Attempt at a Solution I know that the answer is zero because the...
  37. Alexanddros81

    Calculate the speed of a boy at the end of the chute

    Homework Statement 14.11 A boy slides down a water chute, starting from rest a A. Neglecting friction determine his speed (a) at the end B of the chute; and (b) on entering the water at C. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution for (a): for (b): Do I have to treat the boy at B as...
  38. axer

    Why can't we apply the speed equation in a free fall?

    Hello, so i know in a free fall the acceleration is constant (9.8 m/s2) therefore speed/velocity is increasing.. But I am wondering why we can't use Speed=D/T
  39. J

    Finding power without given speed or time

    Homework Statement The lawn tractor in figure 18 goes up a hill at a constant velocity. Calculate the power that is developed by the tractor. Mass: 120.0 kg Angle of incline: 21 degrees Distance: 12.0 m Velocity: no velocity given other than it is constant Time: idk Homework Equations None...
  40. A

    How to calculate the speed of an object attached to a string

    Homework Statement The question and the known/given variables are on the image in part 3. The question says that a 20-g bead is attached to a light 120 cm-long string. Now in my mind the bead will travel in a circular path if it is pushed really hard. So Isn't the length of the string, 120 cm...
  41. J

    Maximum speed of car on downhill

    Homework Statement The exercise is this: The mass of the car is m=500 kg. The maximum speed of the car on flat road is v1=35 m/s and on 10 % up hill (tan(alpha)=0.1, alpha is with respect to flat) the maximum speed is v2=20 m/s. The friction force is double on up hill because it has been made...
  42. M

    What Is the Escape Speed of an Electron from a Charged Glass Sphere?

    Homework Statement What is the escape speed of an electron launched from the surface of a 1.0-cm-diameter glass sphere that has been charged to 10nC? Homework Equations Given: d= 1.0cm r= 0.05cm= 0.0005m q1 = 10nC = 10 x 10-9 (sphere) q2 = -1.6 x 10-19 (electron) Equation: U = (kq1q2)/r KE=...
  43. M

    Determining speed of electron in a parallel plate capacitor

    Homework Statement A proton is released from rest at the positive plate of a parallel plate capacitor. It crosses the capacitor and reaches the negative plate with a speed of 50,000 m/s. What will be the final speed of an electron released from rest at the negative plate? Homework Equations...
  44. VSayantan

    Speed of a Magnet Falling through a Conducting Wire

    Homework Statement A small but very powerful bar magnet falls from rest under gravity through the center of a horizontal ring of conducting wire, as shown in the figure below (on the left). The speed-versus-time graph, in arbitrary units, of the magnet will correspond most closely to which of...
  45. physicsnewbie101

    Relation between centrifugal force and speed

    Does centrifugal force generate in increase in overall speed? For example, if I am driving down a highway on-ramp which goes in a circular fashion, with my speed slowly increasing, does my overall speed increase because of the centrifugal force generated from the circular on-ramp? Is more force...
  46. karush

    MHB 243.13.01.19 For which path is the particle's speed constant

    $\tiny{243.13.01.19}$ $\textsf{The following equations each describe the motion of a particle.}$ $\textsf{ For which path is the particle's speed constant?}$ \begin{align*} \displaystyle R_1(t)&= t^7\textbf{i}+t^4\textbf{j}\\ R_2(t)&= \cos(3t)\textbf{i}+\sin(8t)\textbf{j}\\ R_3(t)&=...
  47. C

    Relative speed when someone runs on the treadmill

    We are using VR technology for people with spinal cord injury ( incomplete so they can walk with assistance) for a study. They will be walking on a treadmill wearing an oculus. We have a question regarding relative speed since we are updating the software view based on that if person A runs at 5...
  48. M

    Finding the speed of the block for one and two springs

    Homework Statement The spring in the figure (Figure 1) is compressed by length Δx. It launches the block across a frictionless surface with speed v0. The two springs in the figure (Figure 2) are identical to the spring of figure 1. They are compressed by the same length Δx and used to launch...
  49. M

    Speed after gliding with friction force present using work/E

    Homework Statement The question is as follows: A 50kg ice skater is gliding along the ice, heading due north at 4.0m/s. The ice has a small coefficient of static friction, to prevent the skater from slipping sideways, but kinetic friction =0. Suddenly, a wind from the northeast exerts a force...
  50. A

    Computing angular speed wrt CM I get a contradiction

    Hello! I have been brushing up my Rigid Body Dynamics. I tried computing the angular speed with respect the Center of Mass (CM) using the usual split of kinetic energy and also the split of Angular momentum using the CM. First, a simple case: Two particles of mass M each separated by a distance...
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