Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this step by step. The task is to determine whether each statement describes speed, velocity, or acceleration.

Definitions:

- Speed: How fast an object is moving (scalar quantity – only magnitude).
- Example: "5 m/s"
- Velocity: Speed in a specific direction (vector quantity – magnitude and direction).
- Example: "5 m/s north"
- Acceleration: The rate at which speed or velocity changes over time (change in velocity per unit time).
- Example: "increasing speed", "slowing down", "changing direction"

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Now, let's analyze each statement:

1. The motorbike slows down at the stop sign.
→ This describes a change in speed (deceleration).
✔ Acceleration

2. A snail can crawl 2 meters in 2 hours.
→ This gives distance and time, but no direction. It's a measure of how fast it moves.
✔ Speed

3. A car speeds along a curvy road.
→ "Speeds" indicates increasing speed, but also implies motion along a curved path (which involves changing direction). However, the key word here is "speeds" — meaning increase in speed.
✔ Acceleration (because it’s speeding up)

4. A train increased its speed as it left the station.
→ Clearly, the speed is increasing.
✔ Acceleration

5. A boat travels north towards China at 10m/s.
→ Includes both speed (10 m/s) and direction (north).
✔ Velocity

6. The divers swim 1km in 1hr.
→ Distance and time given, no direction mentioned.
✔ Speed

7. The birds fly south at 15m/s to find warm weather.
→ Speed (15 m/s) and direction (south) are both specified.
✔ Velocity

8. Police men travel in all directions across the city to stop coronavirus.
→ This is about movement in multiple directions, but no mention of speed or change in speed. Since they're traveling in various directions, we might think of velocity, but there's no quantitative speed or change. However, the phrase “travel in all directions” suggests varied movement, but without speed or acceleration details. But since they are moving, and the focus is on their motion with direction, but not quantified speed or change — still, the key is that direction is involved. But the statement doesn’t specify speed or change. Still, “travel” implies motion, but no data. However, the fact that they go in “all directions” might suggest changing direction, but again, no explicit change in speed. But the most accurate interpretation is that it's describing general movement, possibly velocity if we assume direction matters. But without numerical values or emphasis on rate, it's ambiguous. However, since the question asks for one of the three, and the statement emphasizes direction ("in all directions"), it leans toward velocity.
✔ Velocity (since direction is emphasized)

9. It takes your Dad 30 minutes to travel 8 km.
→ Distance and time given. No direction.
✔ Speed

10. You lie down to rest and don't move for one hour.
→ No movement at all. So, speed = 0, velocity = 0, and no change in motion. But the statement describes no motion, so it’s not speed, velocity, or acceleration? Wait — actually, zero speed/velocity, but still, the concept applies. However, since there's no motion, it's not describing any of them actively. But technically, speed is zero, but the statement is about being at rest. Still, it's not describing a change or motion. But the best fit is speed, because it's about lack of motion, and speed is a scalar quantity. But really, none of them are being changed. However, the idea is to choose the correct category. Since the person is not moving, speed is 0, so it describes speed (as a value of zero). But more accurately, it's not accelerating, but it's not describing acceleration. The best choice is speed, because it's about how much movement (none), even if it's zero.
✔ Speed (or possibly none, but among the options, speed is best)

But wait — let's reconsider: "You lie down to rest and don't move" — this means no motion, so speed = 0, velocity = 0, acceleration = 0. But the statement isn't describing a change, so acceleration would be zero, but the description isn't about change. So the most appropriate is speed, because it's about the absence of motion, which is a speed value.

Alternatively, some might argue that velocity includes direction, but since there's no motion, direction is irrelevant.

But generally, when someone says "don't move", we interpret it as zero speed.

So:

✔ Speed

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Final Answers:

1. Acceleration
2. Speed
3. Acceleration
4. Acceleration
5. Velocity
6. Speed
7. Velocity
8. Velocity
9. Speed
10. Speed

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Summary Table:

| # | Statement | Answer |
|---|---------|--------|
| 1 | The motorbike slows down at the stop sign. | Acceleration |
| 2 | A snail can crawl 2 meters in 2 hours. | Speed |
| 3 | A car speeds along a curvy road. | Acceleration |
| 4 | A train increased its speed as it left the station. | Acceleration |
| 5 | A boat travels north towards China at 10m/s. | Velocity |
| 6 | The divers swim 1km in 1hr. | Speed |
| 7 | The birds fly south at 15m/s to find warm weather. | Velocity |
| 8 | Police men travel in all directions across the city to stop coronavirus. | Velocity |
| 9 | It takes your Dad 30 minutes to travel 8 km. | Speed |
|10 | You lie down to rest and don't move for one hour. | Speed |

✔ All answers are now explained and filled in.