Uniform speed
The table below shows how the distance travelled by an object from its starting point changed with time.
| Time t (s) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance d (m) | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 |
Second by second
Observation
Distance in the first second = 3 − 0 = 3 m
Distance in the second second = 6 − 3 = 3 m
Distance in the third second = 9 − 6 = 3 m
And so on — 3 m in every remaining second.
The object covers the same distance in every second. In that case we say it has a uniform speed, also called a constant speed.
Calculating the speed
speed = 18 m ÷ 6 s = 3 m s−1
In uniform motion you get the same answer whether you divide the total distance by the total time or take a single second. That is what uniform means.