• Written By Jyoti Saxena
  • Last Modified 22-03-2025

Speed, Distance & Time Formula: Definition, Formulas, Examples

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Speed, distance and time are closely interrelated to each other. It is important to understand the relationship shared between these three phenomenons to understand how to implement the formulas appropriately in different sums. There are different formulas that can be used to calculate any of them when the other two factors are defined. This article will discuss and cover all the formulas related to speed, distance, and time and learn how they are interdependent.

What is Speed?

Speed is a measure of how quickly a body moves from one place to another place. The speed of a body is the distance covered by the body in unit time. Distance is the movement of an object in any particular direction. Time can be defined as the duration in which an object covers a given distance. It is possible to find the value of speed with the help of the other two terms. Let us look at the image below.

This image depicts the relationship between distance, speed and time.

Distance=Speed×Time

Speed=DistanceTime

Time=DistanceSpeed

To find speed, if:
1. Distance is in metre (m) and time in seconds (s), then the speed is in metre per second (ms1 or m/s).
2. Distance is in kilometre (km) and time in hours (h) then the speed is in kilometre per hour (kmh1 or km/h)

To find the distance, if:

  1. Speed is in (ms1), time must be in second.
  2. Speed is in (kmh1), time must be in hour.

To find time, if:

  1. Speed is in (ms1), the distance must be in metre (m).
  2. Speed is in (kmh1) the distance must be in kilometre (km).

Let us solve a couple of examples to understand the concept better.

Example 1: Priya covers a distance of 1.2km in 40 minutes. Find her speed in a) (kmh1)    b) (ms1).

Solution: a) To get speed in kilometres per hour, the distance covered must be in kilometres, and the time taken must be in hours.
The given distance is 1.2km and time =40minutes=4060hour=23hour
Therefore, speed=DistanceTime=1.223=1.2×32kmh1=1.8kmh1
b) To get speed in meters per second, the distance covered must be in metres, and the time taken must be in seconds.
The given distance is 1.2km=1.2×1000m=1200m, and time=40minutes=40×60=2400seconds
Therefore, speed=DistanceTime=12002400=12ms1

Uniform Speed, Variable Speed and Average Speed

If an object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time, its speed is said to be uniform; otherwise, its speed is known as variable speed. For example,

  1. If the car covers 80km in the first hour, 80km in the second hour, 80km in the third hour, and so on, its speed is uniform.
  2. If a car covers 55km in the first hour, 65km in the second hour, 45km in the third hour, and so on, its speed is variable.
  3. And, if a car covers the first 70km in the first hour, 60km in 1 hour 30 minutes, 55km in 55 hour 10 minutes, and so on, its speed is also variable.
  4. The average speed can be defined as the total distance covered by a body in a particular time interval. The average speed can be calculated by dividing the total distance travelled by the total time taken.
    Therefore, the average speed of an object =TotaldistancecoveredbyitTotaltimetaken

Let us have a quick look at a couple of examples to understand the concept better.

Example 1: Manu runs 200 metres in 25 seconds. Find
a) His speed
b) The distance run by him in 5 seconds

Solution: a) Speed=DistanceTime=20025=8ms1
b) Distance run by him in 5 seconds =Speed×Time
=8ms1×5
=40metres

Example 2: A car covers 120km in 2 hours, next 160km in 3 hours and last 140km again in 2 hours. Find the average speed of the train.

Solution: Average speed of the car =TotaldistancecoveredbyitTotaltimetaken
Since, total distance covered =120km+160km+140km=420km
Total total time 2hours+3hours+2hours=7hours
Thus, the average speed =4207=60kmh1.
Therefore, the average speed is 60kmh1.

Converting Speed From One Unit to Another

To convert kilometre per hour (kmh1) to meter per second (ms1) multiply the speed by 518. And, to convert meter per second (ms1) to kilometre per hour (kmh1), multiply by 185.
Wondering how we landed in 518 and 185????
Come, let us solve how we got 518

1kmh1=1kilometre1hour
=1000metre60×60seconds=10003600ms1
=1036=518ms1
And, similarly, we can deduce the other conversion as well.
Let us solve some examples based on the conversion from ms1 to kmh1 and vice versa.

Example 1: Convert 90kmh1 into ms1.

Solution: 90kmh1
90kmh1=90×518ms1
=25ms1
Hence, 90kmh1=25ms1

Example 2: Convert 15ms1 into kmh1.

Solution: 15ms1
15ms1=15×185kmh1
=54kmh1
Hence, 15ms1=54kmh1

Solved Examples: Formulas Relating Speed, Time and Distance

Q.1. A boy covers first 60km of his journey at 30kmh1 and remaining 50km at 20kmh1.
a) Find Total time taken
b) His average speed during the whole journey
Ans:
a) Time taken to cover first 60km=6030=2hours.
Time taken to cover the remaining 50km=5020=52hours.
Therefore, the total time taken =2+52hours
=92hours.
b) The total distance covered =60km+50km=110km.
and the total time taken =92hours.
Therefore, the average speed of the boy =TotaldistancecoveredbytheboyTotaltimetaken
=11092kmh1.
=110×29kmh1=2209kmh1.
Hence, the average speed of the boy is 2209kmh1.

Q.2. A 160m long train is travelling at a speed of 72kmh1, find the time taken by the train to pass,
a) the post               

b) a 200m long platform
Ans:
a) Distance to be covered by the train = length of the train =160m.
Speed=72kmh1=72×518ms1=20ms1
Thus, the time taken =DistanceSpeed=16020=8seconds seconds.
Hence, the train will take 8 seconds to cover the post.
b) Distance to be covered by the train = Length of the train + Length of the platform
=160m+200m=360m
Therefore, time taken to pass a 200m long post =DistanceSpeed=36020seconds
=18seconds.

Q.3. Priya and Preethu run with a speed of 8kmh1 and 11kmh1. They both start running from the same point, find the distance between them after 2 hours if they run in the
a) same direction

b) opposite directions
Ans:
Distance run by Priya in 2hours=Speed×Time
=8kmh1×2hours=16km
Distance run by Preethu in 2hours=Speed×Time
=11kmh1×2hours=22km
a) Required distance when they are running in the same direction = Difference between the distances covered by Priya and Preethu
Thus, the required distance =22km16km=6km
b) Required distance when they both are running in different directions = Sum of the distances covered by Priya and Preethu
Thus, the required distance =22km+16km=38km

Q.4. Convert 75cms1 into kmh1
Ans:
75cms1=0.75ms1.
=0.75×185kmh1=2.7kmh1.

Q.5. Convert 45kmh1 into mmin1
Ans:
45kmh1
45kmh1=45km1hour
=45×100060mmin1
=750mmin1.

Summary of Speed, Time & Distance Formulas

In this article, we learnt about the correlation between distance, speed and time, and then we learnt that to find the value of any one quantity, we need the help of the other two quantities. Later on, we learnt the formulas to find the distance or speed or time. In addition to this, we learnt about the average speed, and we solved a couple of examples to learn it better. We also learnt about the conversion of metres per second to kilometres per hour and vice versa.

Learn All the Concepts on Distance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Speed, Time & Distance Formulas

Frequently asked questions related to speed, distance and time is listed as follows:

Q.1. What is the relationship between speed, distance and time formula?
Ans:
Speed is a measure of how quickly a body moves from one place to another place, or the speed of a body is the distance covered by the body in unit time. Distance is the amount of movement of an object in any particular direction. Time can be defined as the duration in which an object covers a given distance.
Therefore, we can say that distance is directly proportional to speed and time. Speed is inversely proportional to time.

Q.2. How do you find distance with speed and time questions?
Ans:
Apply the formula, distance=speed×time, to calculate the distance.

Q.3. How do you calculate speed distance and time quickly?
Ans:
With the help of the below-given formulas, we can quickly calculate the speed, distance, and time.
Speed=DistanceTime
Distance=Speed×Time,
Time=DistanceSpeed

Q.4. What is the relation between distance and time?
Ans:
Distance and time are inversely proportional to each other. If one quantity increases, the other decreases and vice versa.

Q.5. How does distance affect speed?
Ans:
The speed is directly proportional to the distance travelled as,
Distance=Speed×Time

We hope this detailed article on formulas relating to speed, time, and distance helped you in your studies. If you have any doubts, queries or suggestions regarding this article, feel to ask us in the comment section and we will be more than happy to assist you. Happy learning!

Practice Speed,Time & Distance Questions with Hints & Solutions