Average speed
Distance travelled per unit elapsed time.
Physics · Mechanics · Motion & Energy
Speed, distance and time calculator
Use the basic relation v = d/t for constant or average speed. Choose speed, distance or time as the unknown quantity.
Created v1.0
By Thibaut Grzelak, Mechanical Analysis Engineer
02
Results
Distance travelled
Distance covered at the entered average speed and time.
Elapsed time
Time required to cover the distance at the entered average speed.
Relation and numerical substitution
v = d / t—
Distance is nonnegative. Elapsed time is positive when entered. The speed is an average magnitude, not a signed velocity component.
01Formulas and symbols
Formulas used
v
v = d / tAverage speed from distance divided by time.d
d = v × tDistance from average speed multiplied by time.t
t = d / vElapsed time from distance divided by average speed.02Assumptions and limits
Scope of validity
- Distance is nonnegative. Elapsed time is positive when entered. The speed is an average magnitude, not a signed velocity component.
03Validation example
Reference numerical case
- d = 150 m and t = 10 s give v = 15 m/s. The inverse modes recover d = 150 m or t = 10 s.
04References
Technical references
FAQ
Is this instantaneous speed?
No. The relation d/t gives average speed over the whole travelled distance and elapsed time.
Can I use km/h and minutes?
Yes. Choose units independently; the calculator converts values internally before applying the relation.
05The speed–distance–time triangle
Average speed is distance divided by elapsed time: v = d/t. Rearranging gives d = vt and t = d/v.
06Limits and conventions
The calculator uses total travelled distance and elapsed time. It does not reconstruct acceleration, stops, direction changes or an instantaneous speed profile.
07Common mistakes
Do not use displacement when the path length is required for average speed. Check that hours, minutes and seconds are selected correctly.