Velocity Calculator
Calculate velocity from distance and time, or solve for distance or time when velocity is known. Includes instant conversions between m/s, km/h, and mph.
Calculate Velocity (v = d ÷ t)
Final Velocity with Acceleration (v = u + at)
Speed Conversions
Calculated Values
Common Speed Reference Table
Reference speeds for various objects and activities. Useful for comparison or estimating travel times.
| Object / Activity | m/s | km/h | mph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking (average) | 1.4 | 5 | 3.1 |
| Running (jogging) | 3.0 | 10.8 | 6.7 |
| Cycling (casual) | 5.5 | 20 | 12.4 |
| City driving | 14 | 50 | 31 |
| Highway driving | 31 | 112 | 70 |
| Commercial airplane | 250 | 900 | 560 |
| Speed of sound (sea level) | 343 | 1,235 | 767 |
| Speed of light (vacuum) | 3×10⁸ | 1.08×10⁹ | 6.7×10⁸ |
The Velocity Formula v = d ÷ t
Velocity measures how fast an object changes position. In physics, velocity is calculated by dividing displacement (distance traveled in a specific direction) by time. The formula v = d/t provides the average velocity over a given time period for objects moving at constant or varying speeds.
Velocity Formulas:
- v = d ÷ t (Velocity = Distance ÷ Time)
- d = v × t (Distance = Velocity × Time)
- t = d ÷ v (Time = Distance ÷ Velocity)
- v = u + at (Final velocity with acceleration)
What Is the Difference Between Speed and Velocity?
While often used interchangeably in everyday language, speed and velocity have distinct meanings in physics. Speed is a scalar quantity that measures only how fast an object moves. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both speed and direction.
For example, a car traveling at 60 km/h north has a different velocity than one traveling at 60 km/h south, even though both have the same speed. When an object changes direction, its velocity changes even if its speed remains constant. This distinction matters in physics calculations involving acceleration and momentum.
Average vs. Instantaneous Velocity
Average velocity considers total displacement over total time. If you drive 100 km in 2 hours, your average velocity is 50 km/h regardless of whether you stopped for breaks or sped up and slowed down. Instantaneous velocity is your velocity at any specific moment, like what your speedometer shows.
Calculating Final Velocity with Acceleration
When acceleration is involved, use v = u + at where v is final velocity, u is initial velocity, a is acceleration, and t is time. An object falling from rest accelerates at 9.8 m/s² (gravitational acceleration). After 5 seconds, its velocity reaches 49 m/s (0 + 9.8 × 5).
Unit Conversions for Velocity
Converting between velocity units is straightforward with these relationships: 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h = 2.237 mph = 3.281 ft/s = 1.944 knots. To convert km/h to m/s, divide by 3.6. To convert mph to km/h, multiply by 1.609. Our calculator handles these conversions automatically.
For related physics calculations, explore our acceleration calculator for motion analysis, distance calculator for geometry, or kinetic energy calculator for energy computations.
Last Updated: January 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy