Can Final Velocity Be Higher Than Displacement? | Explained"

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Final velocity can indeed be greater than displacement, but comparing them directly is meaningless due to differing units. In the example of a rock thrown from a cliff, calculations show that the final velocity can be around 17.35 m/s while the displacement is 15.3 m. It's important to note that velocity is measured in meters per second, while displacement is in meters, making direct comparisons invalid. Additionally, the final velocity can exceed average velocity, as average velocity is calculated as total distance divided by total time. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in physics discussions.
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Sorry if this is a dumb question but can the final velocity be higher than displacement/change in position?

For example, if a rock is thrown in the water with the acceleration of gravity on a 15.3m high cliff, can final velocity be equal to 17.32m/s or is that incorrect?
 
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Of course it can! I'll quickly verify your answer.

s=ut+1/2at^2
0=-4.9t^2+15.3
t = 1.77

v=u+at
= 0-9.8x1.77
= -17.35m/s
 
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For your information, you cannot directly compare values with different units. The velocity is in meters per second and the height is in meters, so it doesn't make sense to say one is larger than the other. For example, 17.32 m/s is 0.02887 m/minute. It's the same velocity, but now the number is smaller than the number in the height.
 
since the acceleration of gravity is 9.8m/sec/sec, you can calculate the distance at which the vertical freefall distance in meters equals the velocity in meters/sec. It is meaningless though.
 
Khashishi said:
For your information, you cannot directly compare values with different units.

I think the OP is asking about the final velocity and the average velocity (total distance/total time).

Of course the final velocity can be bigger than the average. The average of any set of numbers is always somewhere in between the biggest and smallest numbers, unless all the numbers are the same (which would mean the velocity was constant).
 
So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
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