Instantaneous speed is the rate at which a body moves at a particular instant of time. This article will learn about more instantaneous speed examples that we experience in our day-to-day lives.
- Speedometer of a vehicle
- Running Cheetah
- Typing speed
- Moving coins in speed chess
- Seating arrangement
- A Moving vehicle
- Squash ball game
- An individual walking with uniform speed
- Jogging
- A Running Fan
- Instantaneous rate of a ball
- Instantaneous speed of the train
- Cleaning of Messy Place
Speedometer of a vehicle
The vehicle’s speedometer is an instrument that shows the speed of that vehicle for a particular time. A speedometer is a perfect instantaneous speed example. If we want to know the rate of speed for a specific time, it is shown clearly in the speedometer.
Running Cheetah
In general, we have observed a running cheetah in wildlife channels. Cheetah, in general, is known for its speed and can be considered an instantaneous speed example; we estimate that it runs with a speed of 76 miles/hour. It is the cheetah’s instantaneous speed because it is at per hour.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FPClogogif.gif , Free Pascal author, via Wikimedia Commons
Typing speed
Typing speed is calculated based on how many words you type per minute; it is an instantaneous speed example. Here instantaneous speed is calculated per minute, i.e., 30 wpm, and it will be 60 words for 2 minutes.
Moving coins in speed chess
Usually, we can decide the winner in chess competitions even upon the player’s speed moves the coins. Here the speed is calculated for each movement to give a precise result. Therefore, the moving of chess coins is an instantaneous speed example.
Seating arrangement
In a crowded restaurant, the seating arrangement is generally done based on a booking done by customers and is an instantaneous speed example. Here, the speed may vary for each arrangement and can calculate the rate of speed for a different arrangement.
A Moving vehicle
A vehicle makes our transport easy. Moving of vehicle is an instantaneous speed example. Suppose you drive a vehicle at an average speed of 40Km/Hr and insist on calculating the vehicle’s speed per minute. In that case, you are trying to find the instantaneous rate of that vehicle for a particular time.
Squash ball game
Playing squash ball is a sort of speed game. If we neglect the direction and concentrate only on the magnitude of speed for a particular time at which the ball is hit, then we are calculating its instantaneous speed. Therefore, the speed of the squash ball at a specific time is an instantaneous speed example.
An individual walking with uniform speed
An individual keeps walking on a path with uniform speed and suddenly rushes to his home. Here we can observe the change in rate, and if we want to know the rate of speed at the moment he runs, then it is an instantaneous speed example.
Jogging
Some individuals have a habit of going on a jog, and it is a real-life instantaneous speed example. While jogging, they may cover 3Km per 30 minutes, and their speed may change at any time. Here the change in the rate of speed at a particular moment is calculated as instantaneous speed.
A Running Fan
A Running Fan is also a daily life example of instantaneous speed. In general, we change the speed of the fan as our requirement. Here, if we neglect the direction and only concentrate on the magnitude of the rate, it is possible to calculate the instantaneous speed of the fan.
Instantaneous speed of a ball
The speed of the ball always depends on the material from which it is made. The speed will be initially maximum when you hit a ball, i.e.,124mph, and gradually decrease to 94mph. Here the change in the rate of speed at any time, not considering the direction in which the ball moves, can be known by calculating instantaneous speed.
Instantaneous speed of the train
A train moves at the speed of 150mph for a particular time, but while crossing or reaching the destination, the speed rate gradually decreases up to 120mph concerning position and time. Here the speed calculated at the time of decrease is an example of instantaneous speed.
Cleaning of Messy Place
The speed at which a person cleans a place at a specific time is an instantaneous speed example. A person may clean a room for 3 hr with uniform speed, and the same person can clean the remaining space in 1 hr if he increases his speed. Here the change in speed for the moment he increases his speed is instantaneous speed.
Frequently asked questions on instantaneous speed | FAQs
What is the greatest example of an instantaneous speed?
The greatest example of an instantaneous speed is the violation of the speed limit.
When a person exceeds the speed limit up to 10%, a policeman stops him for violating the rules. The decrease in speed at the exact time he stops the vehicle is instantaneous speed.
What’s instantaneous speed?
In general, instantaneous speed definition is as follows,
In a motion, when there is a change in speed of a body for a particular time interval, the speed calculated for that particular interval is known as instantaneous speed. It depends on the change in displacement of the body as time interval changes.
How can we measure the instantaneous speed of an object?
We can calculate the instantaneous speed at any given interval of time in which the body moves.
Instantaneous speed is the magnitude value of instantaneous velocity, and it can’t be negative. When a bike moves along a path with an average speed of 63mph, the instantaneous speed is measured by considering the distance covered and the time taken to cover that distance. Here the direction can be neglected.
Define the speed of an object?
Speed is a scalar and shows only the magnitude of the body.
In general, speed is the fastness of a body and the rate at which a body covers a certain distance along a given path in a time interval. We indicate speed usually in the form of numerical value along with the unit meter/second or m/s.
Compare Instantaneous Speed and Average Speed?
The comparison between average speed and instantaneous speed is as below;
| Average speed | Instantaneous speed | |
| Definition | It is the overall speed of a body within the period. | It is the speed of a body at a specific time. |
| Quantity | Scalar It has only magnitude. | Scalar It has only magnitude. |
| Formula | 
|  |
| Instrument to measure in vehicles | Speedometer. | Speedometer. |
Relation between Instantaneous Speed and Instantaneous Velocity?
The typical relation between instantaneous speed and instantaneous velocity lies in the quantity in which we measure them.
- Instantaneous velocity gives both direction and magnitude of a body in motion. In contrast, instantaneous speed defines only the magnitude value of a body.
- Both have a unit in meter/second,
- Instantaneous speed is the magnitude value of instantaneous velocity.
- Instantaneous velocity is a vector, while instantaneous speed is scalar.
What is the formula to calculate Instantaneous Speed?
The formula to calculate instantaneous speed is below,
Instantaneous speed =
Here, V = It is the limit as time change approaches towards zero. For a uniform motion, instantaneous speed is always constant, and Sinst cannot be less or equal to zero.
Problems on Instantaneous speed.
Problem 1
An object’s displacement is given by the function s(t) = 5t2 – 10t +2. Calculate the instantaneous speed of the object at time t = 4s?
Solution: The given displacement function is s(t) = 5t2 – 10t +2 .
To calculate instantaneous speed, we can use the formula.
Sinst = 10(4) – 10
Sinst = 40 – 10
Sinst = 30 m/s
Therefore, the instantaneous speed of the given object is 30m/s.
Also Read:
- Example of relative motion
- Example of chemical change which is reversible
- Aufbau principle example
- Example of inertia of motion
- Constant angular velocity example
- Example of eukaryotic cell
- Motion parallax example
- Multiple alleles example 2
- Constructive interference example
- Gravitational acceleration example
I am Raghavi Acharya, I have completed my post-graduation in physics with a specialization in the field of condensed matter physics. I have always considered Physics to be a captivating area of study and I enjoy exploring the various fields of this subject. In my free time, I engage myself in digital art. My articles are aimed towards delivering the concepts of physics in a very simplified manner to the readers.
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