travel 100 kilometers in 2 hours

Speed Distance Time Calculator

Please enter the speed and distance values to calculate the travel time in hours, minutes and seconds.

About Speed Distance Time Calculator

This online calculator tool can be a great help for calculating time basing on such physical concepts as speed and distance. Therefore, in order to calculate the time, both distance and speed parameters must be entered. For the speed , you need to enter its value and select speed unit by using the scroll down menu in the calculator. For distance , you should enter its value and also select the proper length measurement unit from the scroll down menu. You'll receive the result in standard time format (HH:MM:SS).

Time Speed Distance Formula

Distance is equal to speed × time. Time is equal Distance/Speed.

Calculate Time from Distance and Speed Examples

Recent comments.

One of the best tools I've found for the calculations.

Going 65mph for 30 seconds how far would you get? None of these formulas work without distance. How would I find the distance from time and speed?

if i travel 0.01 inches per second and I need to travel 999999999 kilometers, it takes 556722071 Days and 20:24:34 WHAT

4. How long does it take to do 100m at 3kph ? No I thought you would just divide 100 ÷ 3 = which 33.33333 so 33 seconds or so I thought. But apparently it 2 mins.

This was the best tool ive ever used that was on point from speed to distance and time Calculator

This was somewhat unhelpful as I know the time and distance, but not the speed. Would be helpful if this calculator also could solve the other two as well.

If a total distance of 2 miles is driven, with the first mile being driven at a speed of 15mph, and the second mile driven at a speed of 45 mph: What is the average speed of the full 2 mile trip?

hi sorry im newly introduced to this and i dont understand how to use it but in need to find the distance if i was travelling in the average speed of 15km/hr in 4 hours how far would i travel

D= 697 km T= 8 hours and 12 minutes S= ?

if a train is going 130 miles in 50 minutes, how fast is it going in miles per hour ??

whats the speed if you travel 2000 miles in 20hours?

How long would it take me to drive to Mars at 100 miles per hour and how much gas would I use in a 2000 Ford Mustang000000/ Also, how much CO2 would I release into the air?

great tool helped me alot

A car can go from rest to 45 km/hr in 5 seconds. What is its acceleration?

Guys how much time will a cyclist take to cover 132 METRES With a speed of 8 km/ph

@Mike Depends on how fast that actually is. For every 10 mph above 60, but below 120, you save 5 seconds a mile. But between the 30-60 area, every ten saves 10 seconds a mile (if I am remembering correctly), and every 10 between 15-30 is 20 seconds. Realistically, it isn't likely isn't worth it, unless it is a relatively straight drive with no stops, in which case you will likely go up a gear for the drive and thus improve gas efficiency for the trip. Only really saves time if it is over long trips 300+ miles (in which case, assuming you were on the interstate) that 5 seconds a mile would save you 25 minutes from the drive, making it go from 4h35m to 4h10m. For me, I have family across the U.S., so family visits are usually 900-1400 miles. Even only driving 5 above usually saves me 90-150 minutes or so (since I often have stretches where I drive on US highways which have 55 mph speed limits)

I would like to know if driving fast is worth it for short trips. If I drive 10 MPH over the speed limit for 10 miles, how much time do i save ? Is there an equation for that ?

it helps me in lot of stuff

awesome, helped me notice how long my taiga (electric seedoo) is going to last.

• Salary & Income Tax Calculators
• Mortgage Calculators
• Retirement Calculators
• Depreciation Calculators
• Statistics and Analysis Calculators
• Date and Time Calculators
• Contractor Calculators
• Budget & Savings Calculators
• Loan Calculators
• Forex Calculators
• Real Function Calculators
• Engineering Calculators
• Tax Calculators
• Volume Calculators
• 2D Shape Calculators
• 3D Shape Calculators
• Logistics Calculators
• HRM Calculators
• Sales & Investments Calculators
• Grade & GPA Calculators
• Conversion Calculators
• Ratio Calculators
• Sports & Health Calculators
• Other Calculators

Speed Distance Time Calculator

Initially, this amazing calculator was developed especially for athletes, cyclists or joggers. However, all people who are required due to their activities to calculate an unknown variable with the help of the other two variables, will find use in it. You can use it in two ways. First, enter two particular variables in order to find the third one. Second, you may find the variable by entering the details.

Time can be entered as hh:mm:ss , mm:ss or ss (hh=hours mm=minutes ss=seconds).

Example Time Formats:

• 1:20:45 = 1 hour, 20 minutes and 45 seconds
• 18:25 = 18 minutes and 25 seconds
• 198 = 198 seconds = 3 minutes and 18 seconds

Speed: miles yards feet inches kilometers meters centimeters per hour minute second

Distance: miles yards feet inches kilometers meters centimeters millimeters

You may set the number of decimal places in the online calculator. By default there are only two decimal places.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Decimal Places

Speed    miles/hr miles/min miles/sec yards/hr yards/min yards/sec feet/hr feet/min feet/sec inch/hr inch/min inch/sec km/hr km/min km/sec meter/hr meter/min meter/sec cm/hr cm/min cm/sec mm/hr mm/min mm/sec

Distance    miles yards feet inches kilometers meters centimeters millimeters

Time (hh:mm:ss)

This calculator includes the following algorithms:

Speed = Distance divided by Time

Distance = Speed multiplied by Time

Time = Distance divided by Speed

You may also be interested in our Running Pace Calculator or Steps to Miles Calculator

• Currently 4.09/5

Rating: 4.1 /5 (244 votes)

Distance Time Calculator

Introduction.

The Distance Time Calculator is a versatile tool designed to simplify the calculation of travel distances based on time and speed. Whether you’re planning a road trip, analyzing running speeds, or estimating commute times, this calculator proves to be an invaluable resource for individuals and professionals alike.

The formula governing the Distance Time Calculator is derived from the basic physics equation relating distance, time, and speed:

Distance=Speed×Time Distance = Speed × Time

This formula allows for the calculation of distance when speed and time are known or, conversely, the estimation of time when distance and speed are provided.

How to Use?

Using the Distance Time Calculator is a straightforward process:

• Input Speed and Time : Enter the speed at which you are traveling or the speed of the object in question. Additionally, input the time spent traveling.
• Select Units : Choose the appropriate units for speed and time (e.g., miles per hour, kilometers per hour, minutes, or hours).
• Click Calculate or Submit : Most calculators have a button to initiate the computation. Clicking this button will generate the distance covered based on the inputted speed and time.
• Review the Output : The calculator will display the calculated distance, providing a quick and accurate measure of your travel.

Consider a scenario where you are driving at a speed of 60 miles per hour for 2.5 hours. Using the Distance Time Calculator, the distance covered would be calculated as follows:

Distance=60 mph×2.5 hours=150 miles Distance = 60 mph × 2.5 hours = 150 miles

Q: Can the Distance Time Calculator account for different units of measurement?

A: Yes, most calculators allow users to choose their preferred units for speed (e.g., miles per hour, kilometers per hour) and time (e.g., minutes, hours).

Q: Is this calculator suitable for athletic training purposes?

A: Absolutely. Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, or involved in any sport requiring speed and distance measurements, this calculator is adaptable to various scenarios.

Q: Does the calculator consider breaks or pauses during the journey?

A: No, the calculator assumes constant speed and does not factor in breaks or pauses. It provides a basic estimation based on the given speed and total travel time.

Conclusion:

The Distance Time Calculator is an indispensable tool for anyone needing quick and accurate distance calculations. Whether for travel planning, sports training, or logistical considerations, this calculator provides a reliable means of estimating distances based on speed and time. By leveraging this tool, individuals and professionals can enhance their planning, optimize their schedules, and gain a better understanding of the spatial aspects of their activities.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Speed Formula (with Questions)

Speed is a measure of how quickly an object moves. It is the distance traveled by a body in unit time. For example, if a kid runs 50 meters in 10 seconds, we can say that he moves 5 meters every second. The unit time in this example is one second. So his speed is 5 meters per second.

The following formula relates speed to distance and time.

✩ Speed Formula

Sp ee d = T im e D i s t an ce ​

• Distance = Distance traveled by the moving object
• Time = Time taken to travel the distance

We use this formula to calculate the speed of a moving object.

The same formula can be used to calculate distance or time:

Distance = Speed × Time

T im e = Sp ee d D i s t an ce ​

It is not necessary to remember these as the original formula is sufficient for calculating distance or time.

1 Example

A car goes a distance of 200 miles in 2 hours. What is its speed?

Applying the speed formula:

s = 200/2 miles/hour

s = 100 miles/hour

Speed of car = 100 miles/hour.

2 Example

The distance between the two cities is 200 miles. A bus takes 4 hours to cover this distance. Calculate the speed of the bus?

Distance = d = 200 miles.

Time = t = 4 hours.

Speed = s = unknown

Using the speed formula:

s = 200/4 = 50 miles / hour.

Speed of bus = 50 miles/hour.

Unit of Speed

Several units of speed are possible. They depend on the units used to measure distance and time. Some examples:

• Car: 80 miles/hour
• Ship: 20 nautical miles/hour
• Rocket: 500 miles/minute
• Train: 100 kilometers/hour
• Athlete: 8 meters/second

It is possible to convert one unit to another. Let us see some examples.

3 Example

A train travels at 108 Km/hour. Convert its speed to meters/second.

1 hour = 60 minutes = 60×60 seconds = 3600 seconds

1 Km = 1000 meters

Speed = 108 km/hour

= 1 h o u r 108 km ​

= 3600 seco n d s 108 × 1000 m e t ers ​

= 1080/36 meters/seconds

= 30 meters/second

4 Example

A rocket travels 500 miles per minute. What is its speed in miles per hour?

1 minute = 1/60 hours

Speed = 500 miles/minute

= 1 min u t e 500 mi l es ​

= 60 1 ​ 500 ​ h o u r mi l es ​

= 500 × (60/1) miles/hour

= 30000 miles/hour

Calculating Speed, Distance, and Time

We can use the speed formula to calculate distance and time also. However, before applying it, we have to make sure that units of the known quantities are consistent.

Distance Calculation

Make sure that the units of speed and time are consistent. For example, if speed is in miles per hour and time minutes , we have to do one of the following conversions:

• Time to hours
• Speed to miles/minute

Time Calculation

Make sure that the units of speed and distance are consistent. For example, if speed is in kilometers per hour, and distance in meters , we have to do one of the following conversions:

• Distance to kilometers
• Speed to meters/hour

✩ Consistent Units are Must!

• Check that the units are consistent before using the speed formula for distance or time calculation.
• Convert units if necessary.

5 Example

A cyclist completes a race in 150 minutes at a speed of 16 miles per hour. How long is the race?

Distance = d = unknown

Time = t = 150 minutes

Speed = s = 16 miles / hour

The speed is given in miles per hour, whereas the time is in minutes. Before applying the speed formula, we have to convert either the time to hours or the speed to miles per minute. It is easier to convert the time, so let us do that.

= 60 150 ​ hours (There are 60 minutes in one hour)

= 15/6 hours

t = 5/2 hours

Now we can apply the formula:

16 = ( 5/2 ) d ​

16 = d × (2/5)

d = 40 miles

Distance covered by cyclist = 40 miles

Average Speed

While going from one point to another, an object may travel at different speeds. Its average speed is the ratio of total distance and total time elapsed during the journey.

A v er a g e Sp ee d = T o t a l T im e T o t a l D i s t an ce ​

Let us understand with an example.

6 Example

A train goes from station A to station B at a speed of 200 Km/h. While returning, the train has a better engine. It is faster by 100 Km/h than the old engine. What is the train’s average speed for the round trip?

Let the distance between stations = d Km.

Speed from A to B = 200 Km/h

Speed from B to A = 200 Km/h + 100 Km/h = 300 Km/h

From the speed formula:

Time = Distance/Speed

Time from A to B = t AB = d/200

Time from B to A = t BA = d/300

Total Time = t AB + t BA = d/200 + d/300

= 200 × 300 300 d + 200 d ​ = 200 × 300 500 d ​ hours

Let us calculate the average speed now.

Total distance = AB + BA = d + d = 2d

AverageSpeed = TotalDistance/TotalTime

= 200 × 300 500 d ​ 2 d ​

= 500 d 2 d × 200 × 300 ​

= 5 400 × 3 ​ = 240 Km/h

Average Speed = 240 Km/h

These questions cover speed and unit conversion concepts discussed above. Some of these are challenging. All the best!

1 Question

A ship goes from one port to another in 2 days and 4 hours. Its average speed is 20 miles/hour. How far are the ports?

Can you convert time to hours and apply the speed formula?

Ans.   1040 miles

2 Question

A drone travels 5 miles to deliver a package. Its speed is 40 miles/hour. How much time does it take to reach its destination?

Can you apply the speed (= distance/time) formula?

Ans.   1/8 hours

3 Question

An athlete runs 5 meters per second. What is her speed in kilometers per hour?

Can you use 1 second = 1/3600 Hour and 1 meter = 1/1000 Kilometer for conversion?

Ans.   18 km/hour

4 Question

A ship goes 20 nautical miles in an hour. Calculate its speed in meters per second?

(1 nautical mile = 1.85 Km)

Can you use 1 hour = 3600 seconds and one nautical mile = 1850 meters for conversion?

Ans.   10.27 m/sec

5 Question

A bus left town A for town B. Having traveled 300 km, it stopped for 30 minutes due to road blockage. It traveled 60% of the total distance by this time. After it started again, the driver increased the speed by 20 km/h and reached town B at the scheduled time. What was the original speed of the bus?

Can you find the relation between the original speed and time till bus hits the road block?

Now can you find the relation between the time taken to travel the distance CB and x?

How much time would the bus have taken had there been no blockage?

Ans.   80Km/h

1 Answer

Time = t = 2 days and 4 hours

Speed = s = 20 miles/hour

The unit speed is in miles per hour, while time is in days. To make units consistent, we convert time to hours before applying the formula.

Time = t = 2 days and 4 hours = 2 × 24 + 4 = 48 + 4 = 52 hours.

Now we can apply the speed formula:

20 × 52 = d

d = 1040 miles

Distance between ports = 1040 miles

2 Answer

Distance = d = 5 miles

Time = t = unknown

Speed = s = 40 miles / hour

The units are consistent, so we can directly apply the formula.

t = 5/40 = 1/8 hours

Time taken by drone = 1/8 hours

3 Answer

1 hour = 60 minutes = 60×60 seconds = 3600 seconds.

Therefore 1 second = 1/3600 hour

1 Kilometer = 1000 meter

So 1 meter = 1/1000 kilometer

Given Speed = 5 meters/second

= 1 seco n d 5 m e t ers ​

= ( 1/3600 ) h o u r 5 × ( 1/1000 ) ki l o m e t ers ​

Converting fractional division to multiplication by inverting the denominator:

= (5/1000) × (3600/1) kilometers/hour

= 1000 × 1 5 × 3600 ​ kilometers/hour

= 180/10 kilometers/hour

= 18 km/hour

4 Answer

1 nautical mile = 1.85 kilometer = 1.85×1000 = 1850 meter

Ship Speed = 20 nautical mile/hour

= 1 h o u r 20 na u t i c a l mi l e ​

= 1 × 3600 seco n d s 20 × 1850 m e t ers ​

= (2 × 185)/(36) meters/second

= 10.27 meters/second

5 Answer

The bus stops at point C for 1/2 hour due to blockage.

Let the initial speed be x Km/h

Time to travel the distance AC = t AC = 300/x hours

Let’s first calculate CB

60% of AB = 300 Km

AB × 0.60 = 300

AB = 300/0.60 = 500 Km

CB = Remaining distance = 500 − 300 = 200 Km

Speed of bus after point C = (x + 20) Km / h

Time to travel the distance CB = t CB = 200/(x + 20) hours

Had there been no blockage, the bus would have traveled at x Km/h. Its travel time would have been:

t usual = AB/x = 500/x hours

The bus reached town B on time, despite blockage, therefore:

Usual time = Time to travel the distance AC + Delay + Time to travel the distance CB

t u s u a l ​ = t A C ​ + 2 1 ​ + t CB ​

x 500 ​ = x 300 ​ + 2 1 ​ + x + 20 200 ​

Multiplying both sides by 2x(x + 20) :

500 × 2(x + 20) = 300 × 2(x + 20) + x(x + 20) + 200 × 2x

1000x + 20000 = 600x + 12000 + x 2 + 20x + 400x

1000x + 20000 = x 2 + 1020x + 12000

0 = x 2 + 1020x − 1000x + 12000 − 20000

x 2 + 20x − 8000 = 0

The speed is calculated by solving the above quadratic equation. Factorizing the quadratic expression we get:

(x + 100)(x − 80) = 0

x = − 100 , or x = 80 .

Speed is not a negative quantity, so x = 80Km/h .

Challenging Speed, Time, Distance Questions (Hints & Answers) ➤

Average Speed Calculator

Use this speed calculator to easily calculate the average speed of a vehicle: car, bus, train, bike, motorcycle, plane etc. with a given distance and travel time. Returns miles per hour, km per hour, meters per second, etc.

Related calculators

• Average Speed formula
• How to calculate the average speed of a car?
• Finding average speed examples
• Average speed vs Average velocity

    Average Speed formula

The average speed calculation is simple: given the distance travelled and the time it took to cover that distance, you can calculate your speed using this formula:

Speed = Distance / Time

The metric unit of the result will depend on the units you put in. For example, if you measured distance in meters and time in seconds, your output from the average speed calculator would be ft/s. If distance was measured in miles and time in hours, then output will be in miles per hour (mph, mi/h), and so on for km/h, m/s, etc. - all supported by our tool.

    How to calculate the average speed of a car?

Let us say that you travelled a certain distance with your car and want to calculate its average speed. The easiest way to do that would be by using the speed calculator above, but if you prefer, you can also do the math yourself. Either way, one needs to know the distance. If you have noted the distance on your odometer then you can use that number. Other options are to use a map (e.g. Google Maps) and measure the distance travelled based on your actual path (not via a straight line, unless you travelled by air in which case that would be a good approximation), or to use a GPS reading if you used navigation during the whole trip. Then you need to know the travel time. Make sure to subtract any rests or stops made from the total trip duration.

As you can see, to work out your speed in km/h or mph just apply the speed formula with the relevant units for distance and time. This is how to calculate average speed of a car, bike, boat, or any other vehicle or object.

    Finding average speed examples

Example 1: Using the equation above, find the speed of a train which travelled 120 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes while making four stops, each lasting approximately 2.5 minutes. First, subtract the time spent at the train stops: 2.5 x 4 = 10 minutes. 2:10 minus 10 minutes leaves 2 hours of travel time. Then, apply the avg speed formula to get 120 miles / 2 hours = 60 mph (miles per hour).

Example 2: A cyclist travels to and from work, covering 10 km each way. It took him 25 minutes on the way to work and 35 minutes on the way back. What is the cyclist's average speed? First, add up the time to get 1 hour total. Also add up the distance: 5 + 5 = 10 kilometers. Finally, replace in the formula to get 10 / 1 = 10 km/h (kilometers per hour) on average in total.

    Average speed vs Average velocity

Average speed (what this calculator computes) and average velocity are not necessarily the same thing though they may coincide in certain scenarios. This is basic physics, but a lot of people find it confusing. Here are the differences in short.

Speed is a scalar value whereas velocity is the magnitude of a vector. Speed does not indicate direction whereas velocity does. The two coincide only when the journey from the start point to the end point happens on a straight line, such as in a drag race. If the movement path is not a straight line then the average velocity will be smaller than the mean speed.

Cite this calculator & page

If you'd like to cite this online calculator resource and information as provided on the page, you can use the following citation: Georgiev G.Z., "Average Speed Calculator" , [online] Available at: https://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/average-speed-calculator.php URL [Accessed Date: 29 Apr, 2024].

     Transportation calculators

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Distance and Time Taken to Average Speed Calculator

Click save settings to reload page with unique web page address for bookmarking and sharing the current tool settings

✕ clear settings

Flip tool with current settings and calculate total distance or time

Related Tools

• Estimate travel time
• Travel distance calculator
• Convert speed into different units
• Convert distance into different units
• Convert time duration into different units

Calculate average speed of a moving object from the total distance travelled and the time taken from start to finish.

Once you have entered a distance and a time period the average speed will appear in the answer box and two conversion scale will also show a range of values for distance versus speed and time versus speed.

This tool calculates average speed using the following formula:

• d = Distance

Distance Travelled

Enter the actual distance that is travelled by a moving object in any unit of distance measurement.

Enter the time taken to complete the distance travelled in any measurement unit of time.

Average Speed

This is the speed that a moving object would need to maintain without variation, in order to complete the distance travelled in the same period of time.

Applications

Examples of types of average speed calculations:

• Convert a journey distance in kilometres and the time taken in hours, to an average speed in mph.
• Determine the average speed of a runner in mph, from a track run distance in metres, and the stopwatch time in minutes or seconds.
• Calculate a training speed to complete a cycling route within a target period of time.

2.2 Speed and Velocity

Section learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

• Calculate the average speed of an object
• Relate displacement and average velocity

Teacher Support

The learning objectives in this section will help your students master the following standards:

• (B) describe and analyze motion in one dimension using equations with the concepts of distance, displacement, speed, average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and acceleration.

In addition, the High School Physics Laboratory Manual addresses content in this section in the lab titled: Position and Speed of an Object, as well as the following standards:

Section Key Terms

In this section, students will apply what they have learned about distance and displacement to the concepts of speed and velocity.

[BL] [OL] Before students read the section, ask them to give examples of ways they have heard the word speed used. Then ask them if they have heard the word velocity used. Explain that these words are often used interchangeably in everyday life, but their scientific definitions are different. Tell students that they will learn about these differences as they read the section.

[AL] Explain to students that velocity, like displacement, is a vector quantity. Ask them to speculate about ways that speed is different from velocity. After they share their ideas, follow up with questions that deepen their thought process, such as: Why do you think that? What is an example? How might apply these terms to motion that you see every day?

There is more to motion than distance and displacement. Questions such as, “How long does a foot race take?” and “What was the runner’s speed?” cannot be answered without an understanding of other concepts. In this section we will look at time , speed, and velocity to expand our understanding of motion.

A description of how fast or slow an object moves is its speed. Speed is the rate at which an object changes its location. Like distance, speed is a scalar because it has a magnitude but not a direction. Because speed is a rate, it depends on the time interval of motion. You can calculate the elapsed time or the change in time, Δ t Δ t , of motion as the difference between the ending time and the beginning time

The SI unit of time is the second (s), and the SI unit of speed is meters per second (m/s), but sometimes kilometers per hour (km/h), miles per hour (mph) or other units of speed are used.

When you describe an object's speed, you often describe the average over a time period. Average speed , v avg , is the distance traveled divided by the time during which the motion occurs.

You can, of course, rearrange the equation to solve for either distance or time

Suppose, for example, a car travels 150 kilometers in 3.2 hours. Its average speed for the trip is

A car's speed would likely increase and decrease many times over a 3.2 hour trip. Its speed at a specific instant in time, however, is its instantaneous speed . A car's speedometer describes its instantaneous speed.

[OL] [AL] Caution students that average speed is not always the average of an object's initial and final speeds. For example, suppose a car travels a distance of 100 km. The first 50 km it travels 30 km/h and the second 50 km it travels at 60 km/h. Its average speed would be distance /(time interval) = (100 km)/[(50 km)/(30 km/h) + (50 km)/(60 km/h)] = 40 km/h. If the car had spent equal times at 30 km and 60 km rather than equal distances at these speeds, its average speed would have been 45 km/h.

[BL] [OL] Caution students that the terms speed, average speed, and instantaneous speed are all often referred to simply as speed in everyday language. Emphasize the importance in science to use correct terminology to avoid confusion and to properly communicate ideas.

Worked Example

Calculating average speed.

A marble rolls 5.2 m in 1.8 s. What was the marble's average speed?

We know the distance the marble travels, 5.2 m, and the time interval, 1.8 s. We can use these values in the average speed equation.

Average speed is a scalar, so we do not include direction in the answer. We can check the reasonableness of the answer by estimating: 5 meters divided by 2 seconds is 2.5 m/s. Since 2.5 m/s is close to 2.9 m/s, the answer is reasonable. This is about the speed of a brisk walk, so it also makes sense.

Practice Problems

A pitcher throws a baseball from the pitcher’s mound to home plate in 0.46 s. The distance is 18.4 m. What was the average speed of the baseball?

The vector version of speed is velocity. Velocity describes the speed and direction of an object. As with speed, it is useful to describe either the average velocity over a time period or the velocity at a specific moment. Average velocity is displacement divided by the time over which the displacement occurs.

Velocity, like speed, has SI units of meters per second (m/s), but because it is a vector, you must also include a direction. Furthermore, the variable v for velocity is bold because it is a vector, which is in contrast to the variable v for speed which is italicized because it is a scalar quantity.

Tips For Success

It is important to keep in mind that the average speed is not the same thing as the average velocity without its direction. Like we saw with displacement and distance in the last section, changes in direction over a time interval have a bigger effect on speed and velocity.

Suppose a passenger moved toward the back of a plane with an average velocity of –4 m/s. We cannot tell from the average velocity whether the passenger stopped momentarily or backed up before he got to the back of the plane. To get more details, we must consider smaller segments of the trip over smaller time intervals such as those shown in Figure 2.9 . If you consider infinitesimally small intervals, you can define instantaneous velocity , which is the velocity at a specific instant in time. Instantaneous velocity and average velocity are the same if the velocity is constant.

Earlier, you have read that distance traveled can be different than the magnitude of displacement. In the same way, speed can be different than the magnitude of velocity. For example, you drive to a store and return home in half an hour. If your car’s odometer shows the total distance traveled was 6 km, then your average speed was 12 km/h. Your average velocity, however, was zero because your displacement for the round trip is zero.

Watch Physics

Calculating average velocity or speed.

This video reviews vectors and scalars and describes how to calculate average velocity and average speed when you know displacement and change in time. The video also reviews how to convert km/h to m/s.

• A scalar quantity is fully described by its magnitude, while a vector needs both magnitude and direction to fully describe it. Displacement is an example of a scalar quantity and time is an example of a vector quantity.
• A scalar quantity is fully described by its magnitude, while a vector needs both magnitude and direction to fully describe it. Time is an example of a scalar quantity and displacement is an example of a vector quantity.
• A scalar quantity is fully described by its magnitude and direction, while a vector needs only magnitude to fully describe it. Displacement is an example of a scalar quantity and time is an example of a vector quantity.
• A scalar quantity is fully described by its magnitude and direction, while a vector needs only magnitude to fully describe it. Time is an example of a scalar quantity and displacement is an example of a vector quantity.

This video does a good job of reinforcing the difference between vectors and scalars. The student is introduced to the idea of using ‘s’ to denote displacement, which you may or may not wish to encourage. Before students watch the video, point out that the instructor uses s → s → for displacement instead of d, as used in this text. Explain the use of small arrows over variables is a common way to denote vectors in higher-level physics courses. Caution students that the customary abbreviations for hour and seconds are not used in this video. Remind students that in their own work they should use the abbreviations h for hour and s for seconds.

Calculating Average Velocity

A student has a displacement of 304 m north in 180 s. What was the student's average velocity?

We know that the displacement is 304 m north and the time is 180 s. We can use the formula for average velocity to solve the problem.

Since average velocity is a vector quantity, you must include direction as well as magnitude in the answer. Notice, however, that the direction can be omitted until the end to avoid cluttering the problem. Pay attention to the significant figures in the problem. The distance 304 m has three significant figures, but the time interval 180 s has only two, so the quotient should have only two significant figures.

Note the way scalars and vectors are represented. In this book d represents distance and displacement. Similarly, v represents speed, and v represents velocity. A variable that is not bold indicates a scalar quantity, and a bold variable indicates a vector quantity. Vectors are sometimes represented by small arrows above the variable.

Use this problem to emphasize the importance of using the correct number of significant figures in calculations. Some students have a tendency to include many digits in their final calculations. They incorrectly believe they are improving the accuracy of their answer by writing many of the digits shown on the calculator. Point out that doing this introduces errors into the calculations. In more complicated calculations, these errors can propagate and cause the final answer to be wrong. Instead, remind students to always carry one or two extra digits in intermediate calculations and to round the final answer to the correct number of significant figures.

Solving for Displacement when Average Velocity and Time are Known

Layla jogs with an average velocity of 2.4 m/s east. What is her displacement after 46 seconds?

We know that Layla's average velocity is 2.4 m/s east, and the time interval is 46 seconds. We can rearrange the average velocity formula to solve for the displacement.

The answer is about 110 m east, which is a reasonable displacement for slightly less than a minute of jogging. A calculator shows the answer as 110.4 m. We chose to write the answer using scientific notation because we wanted to make it clear that we only used two significant figures.

Dimensional analysis is a good way to determine whether you solved a problem correctly. Write the calculation using only units to be sure they match on opposite sides of the equal mark. In the worked example, you have m = (m/s)(s). Since seconds is in the denominator for the average velocity and in the numerator for the time, the unit cancels out leaving only m and, of course, m = m.

Solving for Time when Displacement and Average Velocity are Known

Phillip walks along a straight path from his house to his school. How long will it take him to get to school if he walks 428 m west with an average velocity of 1.7 m/s west?

We know that Phillip's displacement is 428 m west, and his average velocity is 1.7 m/s west. We can calculate the time required for the trip by rearranging the average velocity equation.

Here again we had to use scientific notation because the answer could only have two significant figures. Since time is a scalar, the answer includes only a magnitude and not a direction.

• 4 km/h north
• 4 km/h south
• 64 km/h north
• 64 km/h south

A bird flies with an average velocity of 7.5 m/s east from one branch to another in 2.4 s. It then pauses before flying with an average velocity of 6.8 m/s east for 3.5 s to another branch. What is the bird’s total displacement from its starting point?

Virtual Physics

The walking man.

In this simulation you will put your cursor on the man and move him first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. Keep the Introduction tab active. You can use the Charts tab after you learn about graphing motion later in this chapter. Carefully watch the sign of the numbers in the position and velocity boxes. Ignore the acceleration box for now. See if you can make the man’s position positive while the velocity is negative. Then see if you can do the opposite.

Grasp Check

Which situation correctly describes when the moving man’s position was negative but his velocity was positive?

• Man moving toward 0 from left of 0
• Man moving toward 0 from right of 0
• Man moving away from 0 from left of 0
• Man moving away from 0 from right of 0

This is a powerful interactive animation, and it can be used for many lessons. At this point it can be used to show that displacement can be either positive or negative. It can also show that when displacement is negative, velocity can be either positive or negative. Later it can be used to show that velocity and acceleration can have different signs. It is strongly suggested that you keep students on the Introduction tab. The Charts tab can be used after students learn about graphing motion later in this chapter.

Check Your Understanding

• Yes, because average velocity depends on the net or total displacement.
• Yes, because average velocity depends on the total distance traveled.
• No, because the velocities of both runners must remain exactly the same throughout the journey.
• No, because the instantaneous velocities of the runners must remain the same at the midpoint but can vary at other points.

If you divide the total distance traveled on a car trip (as determined by the odometer) by the time for the trip, are you calculating the average speed or the magnitude of the average velocity, and under what circumstances are these two quantities the same?

• Average speed. Both are the same when the car is traveling at a constant speed and changing direction.
• Average speed. Both are the same when the speed is constant and the car does not change its direction.
• Magnitude of average velocity. Both are same when the car is traveling at a constant speed.
• Magnitude of average velocity. Both are same when the car does not change its direction.
• Yes, if net displacement is negative.
• Yes, if the object’s direction changes during motion.
• No, because average velocity describes only the magnitude and not the direction of motion.
• No, because average velocity only describes the magnitude in the positive direction of motion.

Use the Check Your Understanding questions to assess students’ achievement of the sections learning objectives. If students are struggling with a specific objective, the Check Your Understanding will help identify which and direct students to the relevant content. Assessment items in TUTOR will allow you to reassess.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute Texas Education Agency (TEA). The original material is available at: https://www.texasgateway.org/book/tea-physics . Changes were made to the original material, including updates to art, structure, and other content updates.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/1-introduction

• Authors: Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: Physics
• Publication date: Mar 26, 2020
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/1-introduction
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/2-2-speed-and-velocity

© Jan 19, 2024 Texas Education Agency (TEA). The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Formula of Speed Time and Travelled Distance

Introduction of Speed, Distance and Time

‘Speed, distance, time’ is one of the famous and important topics within the maths or quantitative field of any competitive exam. The concept of velocity, time, and distance is used drastically for questions referring to specific topics inclusive of motion in a straight line, circular motion, boats, races, clocks, and many others. 

Distance, Speed, Time Formula

Students are commonly asked to determine the distance, speed, or travel time of something given any two variables. These types of problems are quite interesting to solve as it describes real-life situations for many people. For example, a question might say: 

Find the distance a car has traveled in twenty minutes at a constant speed of 50 km /hr. Generally in these problems, we use the distance speed time formula to calculate the desired quantity.

Speed 

Speed is defined as the rate at which an object moves from one place to another in a given interval of time. It is a scalar quantity as it defines only the magnitude not the directions of an object moving. The S.I. unit of speed is m/s.

The speed of a moving object can be calculated as: 

\[ Speed = \frac{Distance}{Time}\]

Speed can either be uniform or variable.

Average Speed: The average speed is the total distance covered by an object in a particular interval of time. For example,

If a moving object covers d₁, d₂, d₃...dₙ with different speeds V₁, V₂, V₃,...V n m/s in time t₁, t₂, t₃,...t n respectively, the average speed is calculated as:

\[ \frac{Total \, Distance \, Traveled}{Total \, Time \, Taken} = \frac{d_{1},d_{2},d_{3},..d_{n}}{t_{1},t_{2},t_{3},..t_{n}}\]

What is Relative Speed?

Relative speed is the speed of a moving object in terms of another. When two objects are moving in the same direction, then the difference in their speed is termed relative speed.

Similarly, when two objects are moving in different directions, then the sum of their speed is termed relative speed.

Relative Speed Formula in Time and Distance

Let us understand the relative speed formula in time and distance with an example.

If two objects are moving in the same direction at x₁ m/s and x₂ m/s, respectively, where x₁ > x₂, then their relative speed is (x₁ - x₂) m/s.

Example 1: Consider two objects X and Y separated by a distance of d meters. Suppose, If both X and Y are moving in the same direction at the same time at a speed of x meter per second and y meter per second respectively, then

Relative speed = (X - Y) metre per second

If two objects are moving in different directions at x₁ m/s and x₂ m/s, respectively, where x₁ < x₂, then their relative speed is (x₁ + x₂) m/s.

Example 2: Consider two objects X and Y separated by a distance of d meters. Suppose, If both X and Y are moving in different directions at the same time such X moves towards Y at speed of x m/s, and Y moves away from X at a speed of y m/s, where X > Y, then, 

Relative Speed = (X + Y) metre per second

Distance refers to the length of the path covered by an object or person. You can calculate the distance traveled by an object if you know how long and how fast it moved. The distance traveled by an object or person in terms of speed and time can be calculated as: 

Time refers to the duration in hours, minutes, or seconds spent to cover a particular distance. Time taken by a moving object to cover a certain distance at a given speed is calculated as :

\[ Time = \frac{Distance}{Speed}\]

Relationship between Speed, Time and Distance

\[ Speed = \frac{Distance}{Time}\] This tells us how slow or fast an item actions. It describes the distance traveled divided by the point taken to cover the distance. 

Distance is directly proportional to speed, but time is inversely proportionate. Thus, \[ Distance = Speed * Time \]

\[ Time = \frac{Distance}{Speed}\], as the rate increases the time taken will decrease and vice versa. 

Using the precise units is critical to not forget while the usage of the formulation. 

Units for Speed, Time, and Distance

Speed, distance, and time may be expressed in one of a kind:

Time - second (sec), minute (min), hour (hr)

Distance - meter (m), kilometer (km), mile, feet

Speed - m/s, km/hr

So, if distance = kilometre and time = hour, then velocity = distance/ time; the units of speed would be km/ hr.

Units of speed, time, and distance are obvious, let us apprehend the conversions related to these.

Speed, Time and Distance Conversions

In order to convert from km/hour to m/sec, we multiply by 5/18. So, 1 km/hour = 5/18 m/sec

In order to convert from m/sec to km/hour, we multiply with the aid of 18/five. So, 1 m/sec = 18/5 km/hour = 3.6 km/hour

1 yard = 3 ft

1 kilometer= 1000 meters

1 mile= 1.6 km

1 hr = 60 minute = 3600 seconds

If the ratio of speeds is a: b for a certain distance, the ratio of time taken to close the gap may be b: a, and vice versa.

Uses of Speed, Time, and Distance

Average speed  

\[common velocity = \frac{general \, distance \, traveled}{overall \, time \, taken}\]

When the distance is consistent: common \[ velocity = \frac{2xy}{x+y}\]; where x and y are the 2 speeds at which the identical distance has been covered.

Solved Examples

A person has covered a distance of 60 km in 2 hours. Calculate the speed of the bike.

Given: Distance Covered, distance = 60 km,

Time taken, time = 2 hours

Speed is calculated using the formula: \[ Speed = \frac{Distance}{Time}\]

= 30 Km/hr.

In a bike race, a biker is moving at a speed of 80 km/hr. He has to cover a distance of 105 km. Calculate the time will he need to reach his destiny.

Given: Speed = 80 km/hr,

Distance  to cover, d = 105 km,

Taken time, t =?

Speed is given by the formula: \[ Time = \frac{Distance}{Speed}\] 

Time is taken \[ Time = \frac{Distance}{Speed}\]

Time is taken by the biker = 1.31 hr

A car person travels a car at a speed of 50 km per hour. How far can he cover in 2.5 hours?

The equation for calculating distance traveled by car, given speed and time, is 

Distance = Speed/Time

Substituting the values, we get

Hence, a car can travel 125 km in 2.5 hours.

If a boy travels at a speed of 40 miles per hour. At the same speed, how long will he take to cover the distance of 160 miles?

The formula to calculate time, when speed and distance are given is:

Time taken by car to cover 160 miles is :

\[ Time = \frac{160}{40}\]

T = 4 hours

Hence, a boy will take 4 hours to cover a distance of 160 miles at a speed of 40 miles per hour.

Two boys are running from the same place at a speed of 7 km/ hr and 5 km/hr. Find the distances between them after 20 minutes respectively if they move in the same direction.

When boys run in the same direction, 

Their relative speed = ( 7 - 5) km/ hr = 2 km/ hr.

Time is taken by boys = 20 minutes

Distance covered = Speed × Time

\[ = 20 * \frac{20}{60}\]

Hence D = 6.6 km

From this discussion, we have concluded that,

If two moving bodies are moving at the same speed, the distance traveled by them is directly proportional to the time of travel i.e when speed is constant.

If two moving bodies move for the same time, the distance traveled by them is directly proportional to the time of travel i.e when time is constant.

If two moving bodies are moving at the same distance, their travel of time is inversely proportional to speed i.e when the distance is constant.

FAQs on Formula of Speed Time and Travelled Distance

1. Who discovered the speed formula?

Galileo Galilei (Italian Physicist) is credited with being the first to measure the speed of a moving object concerning the time taken and distance covered. He defined speed as the distance covered by an object or person per unit of time.

2. What is known as instantaneous speed?

Instantaneous speed is the speed of a moving object at a specific point in time. For example, a car is presently travelling at 60 km/hr, but it may speed up or slow down in the next couple of hours.

3. What is the difference between speed and average speed?

The average speed of something is calculated by dividing the total distance travelled by the total time it took to travel that distance. The definition of speed is the rate at which anything is moving at any given time. Average speed refers to the pace at which a vehicle travels over the course of a journey.

A car travelled a distance of 100 km in 2 hours. What is its average speed?

The correct option is c 50 kmph average speed = 50 km per hr..

If a racing car covers 200 km in 2 hours then find its speed.

A car in uniform motion covers a distance of 100 km in 2.5 h. What is its average speed?

Speed of Light Calculator

Table of contents

With this speed of light calculator, we aim to help you calculate the distance light can travel in a fixed time . As the speed of light is the fastest speed in the universe, it would be fascinating to know just how far it can travel in a short amount of time.

We have written this article to help you understand what the speed of light is , how fast the speed of light is , and how to calculate the speed of light . We will also demonstrate some examples to help you understand the computation of the speed of light.

What is the speed of light? How fast is the speed of light?

The speed of light is scientifically proven to be the universe's maximum speed. This means no matter how hard you try, you can never exceed this speed in this universe. Hence, there are also some theories on getting into another universe by breaking this limit. You can understand this more using our speed calculator and distance calculator .

So, how fast is the speed of light? The speed of light is 299,792,458 m/s in a vacuum. The speed of light in mph is 670,616,629 mph . With this speed, one can go around the globe more than 400,000 times in a minute!

One thing to note is that the speed of light slows down when it goes through different mediums. Light travels faster in air than in water, for instance. This phenomenon causes the refraction of light.

Now, let's look at how to calculate the speed of light.

How to calculate the speed of light?

As the speed of light is constant, calculating the speed of light usually falls on calculating the distance that light can travel in a certain time period. Hence, let's have a look at the following example:

• Source: Light
• Speed of light: 299,792,458 m/s
• Time traveled: 100 seconds

You can perform the calculation in three steps:

Determine the speed of light.

As mentioned, the speed of light is the fastest speed in the universe, and it is always a constant in a vacuum. Hence, the speed of light is 299,792,458 m/s .

Determine the time that the light has traveled.

The next step is to know how much time the light has traveled. Unlike looking at the speed of a sports car or a train, the speed of light is extremely fast, so the time interval that we look at is usually measured in seconds instead of minutes and hours. You can use our time lapse calculator to help you with this calculation.

For this example, the time that the light has traveled is 100 seconds .

Calculate the distance that the light has traveled.

The final step is to calculate the total distance that the light has traveled within the time . You can calculate this answer using the speed of light formula:

distance = speed of light × time

Thus, the distance that the light can travel in 100 seconds is 299,792,458 m/s × 100 seconds = 29,979,245,800 m

What is the speed of light in mph when it is in a vacuum?

The speed of light in a vacuum is 670,616,629 mph . This is equivalent to 299,792,458 m/s or 1,079,252,849 km/h. This is the fastest speed in the universe.

Is the speed of light always constant?

Yes , the speed of light is always constant for a given medium. The speed of light changes when going through different mediums. For example, light travels slower in water than in air.

How can I calculate the speed of light?

You can calculate the speed of light in three steps:

Determine the distance the light has traveled.

Apply the speed of light formula :

speed of light = distance / time

How far can the speed of light travel in 1 minute?

Light can travel 17,987,547,480 m in 1 minute . This means that light can travel around the earth more than 448 times in a minute.

Speed of light

The speed of light in the medium. In a vacuum, the speed of light is 299,792,458 m/s.

How Far is 2 Hours at 30 Km/Hr?

Search calculateme.

Snapsolve any problem by taking a picture. Try it in the Numerade app?