key term - Instantaneous Velocity

Definition

Instantaneous velocity refers to the velocity of an object at a specific moment in time. It provides information about how fast and in what direction an object is moving at that particular instant.

Related terms

Average Velocity: Average velocity calculates overall displacement over a period of time, while instantaneous velocity focuses on measuring speed and direction at one particular moment.

Derivative of the Position Function:

To find instantaneous velocity, we take the derivative (rate of change) of the position function with respect to time.

Acceleration:

Acceleration measures how quickly an object's velocity changes over time. If there's a change in speed or direction, acceleration comes into play.