Physics: 1d Motion-Instantaneous Velocity vs Average.

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the calculation of instantaneous velocity from average velocity in one-dimensional motion. The method involves using the average velocity at time t1 and adjusting it with the midpoint of the averaging periods. Specifically, the instantaneous velocity can be approximated by taking the average of the average velocities at the center of each interval. For example, between t1 = 0.05 seconds and t2 = 0.10 seconds, the instantaneous velocity is calculated as 32.5 cm/s by averaging the velocities of 30 cm/s and 35 cm/s.

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Gaebril
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Trying to create a table with time and instantaneous velocity. (the tables- http://i.imgur.com/8DZsu.png ) How do I go from using the Average Velocity to the Instantaneous Velocity?

Instantaneous Velocity is the V_avg at t_1 + (delta-t)/2 how do I use this with my data.
 
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You have to make some assumptions about the smoothness of the data, because you lose some information from only having sampled data. See if you can fit the data to a particular model function. If you can't, then you can just estimate the instantaneous velocity = the average velocity at the center of each averaging period. The centers of your averaging periods are between each sample point. If you want the instantaneous velocity at your sample points, then you can take the midpoint between each pair of average velocities. Of course, it's all very approximate.
 
So between t1=.05 and t2=.10 you take the mid point of the average velocities which is 30 + 35 = 65/2 = 32.5cm/s? Thus at t2 instantaneous velocity = 32.5cm/s?
 

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