GCSE Physics

Speed, Distance & Time

Equally, however, we could consider them to have run a longer distance in the same time. Both points of view are exactly the same.

All that we are talking about is their average speed, which is defined by:

Why average speed, though? Think about how a race happens - they start from rest, speed up, and run at almost the same speed throughout.

At the end, they sprint as fast as they can until the finish. A simple calculation involving their total distance (800m) and their time (world record = 86s) reveals nothing about the race itself.


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