Average speed: (V_av) is the total distance divided by the total time. It is calculated using the average time.

Instantaneous speed: an object’s speed at a particular time.

Constant speed: speed remains the same over a period of time

The units for speed are always a distance measurement per a time measurement (ie. km/h, m/s). The formula is V= d/t

Conversions

1 m/s = 3.6 km/h

1 h = 60 mins

1 h = 3600 s

1 km = 1000 m

5 Steps to Solving Problems

1. Write down the "given" or the known information.

            - This includes constants or values you are assumed to know

2. Determine and write down the unknown variable.

3. Choose an appropriate equation.

4. Isolate the unknown in the equation.

5. Plug the known values into the equation, solve for the unknown, round and add units.

            - Only round once (at the very end)

            - Always leave at least 2 places after the decimal.

            - All lab write-ups must be in pen or typed. If they are not typed, they must be legible.

            - Lab write-ups must include a title page, which resembles the one below.

            - The first page should start with the title, then followed by the following components

            - Pages must be numbered at the top left right corner

Hypothesis: point or goal of the lab

Materials: list of actual materials used in the lab

Procedure: exact steps you followed

Observations: do not give your opinion, state what you saw

Conclusion: Why did the experiment work? Why did the experiment not work? What happened? (Give your opinion) "It was believed that..."

Diagrams: on unlined paper (letter sized), Make them really big (approximately 2/3 of page), Always use pencil

Independent Variable (in this case – TIME)

            - A variable that is manipulated or measured in an experiment. It is always plotted on the x-axis

Dependant Variable (in this case – Distance)

            - A variable that is changed by the independent variable. It is always plotted on the y-axis.

In this case, we are measuring time, and our distance is dependent on how much time has elapsed.

When graphing a distance-time graph, you can determine the speed of the object by simply finding the slope of the line. The greater the slope the greater the speed. Keep in mind that you must use a line of best fit (a straight line that best represents the data) and do NOT join all of the points on the graph.

To find slope simply start by selecting 2 points on the line of best fit. Label the points 1 and 2. Find the coordinates (x and y values) for these points and plug them into the equation.