Speed, Distance and Time

Online calculator and formulas for calculating speed, distance and time

Speed Calculator

Fundamentals of kinematics

Calculates the relationship between speed (v), distance (s) and time (t). Foundation of all motion calculations in physics.

Result
Speed:
Time:
Distance:

Example Calculation

Example: Car trip
Problem:

A car travels 240 km in 3 hours. What is the average speed?

Given:
  • Distance s = 240 km
  • Time t = 3 h
  • Find: Speed v
Solution:

Apply speed formula:

\[v = \frac{s}{t}\]
\[v = \frac{240 \text{ km}}{3 \text{ h}} = 80 \text{ km/h}\]

Convert to m/s:

\[v = \frac{80 \text{ km/h}}{3.6} = 22.2 \text{ m/s}\]
Important conversions
km/h → m/s: Divide value by 3.6
m/s → km/h: Multiply value by 3.6
Example: 100 km/h = 27.8 m/s
Physical meaning

Speed is the quotient of distance traveled and time required. It describes how fast an object moves and is one of the fundamental quantities in kinematics.


Formulas for speed, distance and time

These formulas describe the fundamental relationships of kinematics. They apply to uniform motion with constant speed.

Calculate speed

Basic formula of kinematics: distance per time.

\[v = \frac{s}{t}\]
v = Speed [m/s] or [km/h]
s = Distance [m] or [km]
t = Time [s] or [h]
Calculate distance

Distance traveled at constant speed.

\[s = v \times t\]
Rearrangement of the basic formula for distance.
Calculate time

Required time for a certain distance.

\[t = \frac{s}{v}\]
Important for travel times and trip planning.
Unit conversion

Conversion between m/s and km/h.

\[v_{[m/s]} = \frac{v_{[km/h]}}{3.6}\]
\[v_{[km/h]} = v_{[m/s]} \times 3.6\]
Factor 3.6 = 3600 s/h ÷ 1000 m/km
Pay attention to unit system
For km/h:
Time in hours [h]
Distance in kilometers [km]
Speed in [km/h]
For m/s:
Time in seconds [s]
Distance in meters [m]
Speed in [m/s]

Detailed description of speed

Physical Fundamentals

Speed is one of the fundamental quantities in mechanics. It describes the change of position per unit of time and is the quotient of distance traveled and time required for uniform motion.

These simple formulas form the basis for more complex kinematic calculations and are essential for understanding motion processes.

Usage Instructions

Select with the radio buttons which quantity should be calculated. Pay attention to consistent units (km/h or m/s system).

Application Areas

Traffic and Transportation

Vehicle speeds, travel times, traffic planning. Foundation for navigation systems and logistics.

Sports and Medicine

Running speeds, training analysis, biomechanics. Performance diagnostics and motion optimization.

Technology and Industry

Production speeds, machine cycle, conveyor technology. Basis for automation and process optimization.

Understanding speed in everyday life

Speeds are encountered everywhere in daily life. Here are some typical values for comparison:

Human and Animal

Pedestrian: ~5 km/h
Cyclist: ~20 km/h
Cheetah: ~120 km/h

Vehicles

City traffic: ~50 km/h
Highway: ~130 km/h
ICE train: ~300 km/h

Nature and Technology

Sound: ~343 m/s
Light: ~300,000 km/s
Earth rotation: ~465 m/s

Tip: Always pay attention to units when calculating speeds! Don't mix km/h with m/s without proper conversion.

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