Speed Calculator

How to Calculate Speed, Distance, and Time

Understanding the relationship between speed, distance, and time is fundamental in physics and everyday life. This calculator helps you determine any one of these variables when you know the other two.

What is the Formula?

The basic formula relating speed, distance, and time is:

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

From this, we can derive two other formulas:

\[ \text{Distance} = \text{Speed} \times \text{Time} \]

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

Where:

• Speed is typically measured in miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h)
• Distance is measured in miles (mi) or kilometers (km)
• Time is measured in hours (h)

What are the calculation steps?

1. Identify which two variables you know and which one you need to calculate.
2. Ensure all units are consistent (convert if necessary).
3. Apply the appropriate formula based on what you're calculating.
4. Perform the calculation to get your result.

Example Calculation

Let's calculate the speed of a car:

Given:

• Distance traveled = 240 miles
• Time taken = 4 hours

Step 1: Identify the formula

We need to calculate speed, so we'll use: Speed = Distance / Time

Step 2: Plug in the values

Speed = 240 miles / 4 hours

Step 3: Perform the calculation

Speed = 60 mph

Therefore, the speed of the car is 60 miles per hour.

Diagram of Speed, Distance, and Time Relationship

The following diagram illustrates the relationship between speed, distance, and time:

This diagram shows how speed, distance, and time are interrelated. The distance is represented by the top line, which is equal to the product of speed and time (bottom line). The formula Speed = Distance / Time encapsulates this relationship.