Distance travelled | s | metres (m) |
Time taken | t | seconds (s) |
Time taken | t | seconds (s) |
Velocity at the start (initial velocity) | u | metres/second (m/s) |
Velocity at the end (final velocity) | v | metres/second (m/s) |
Acceleration | a | metres/seconds (m/s2) |
1. Motion with constant velocity | ||
Distance (s) = velocity (u or v) x time (t) | s = vt | |
2. Accelerated motion | ||
Acceleration (a) = [change in velocity]/time | a = [v-u]/t | |
Another version: | v = u + at | |
s = ut + ½ at2 | v2 = u2 + 2as | |
Accelerated motion with zero initial velocity | s = ½ at2 | v2 = 2as |