Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Average velocity is the total displacement divided by the total time taken. It provides a measure of how fast an object is moving over a given time interval.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Average velocity is calculated as $v_{avg} = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$, where $\Delta x$ is displacement and $\Delta t$ is the time interval.
It can be positive or negative depending on the direction of motion.
Average velocity differs from average speed; average speed considers the total distance traveled while average velocity considers displacement.
In uniform motion, average velocity equals instantaneous velocity at any point in time.
When analyzing motion along a straight line, if an object returns to its starting point, its average velocity is zero.
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Related terms
Displacement: The change in position of an object; it is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction.
Instantaneous Velocity: The rate of change of position at a specific point in time; it can be found using derivatives.
Derivative: A measure of how a function changes as its input changes; in physics, it often represents rates of change like velocity or acceleration.