Velocity explained to kids

Velocity is the speed at which something moves. It is measured in meters per second (m/s). Velocity is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. Velocity is important in many areas of science, including physics, engineering, and oceanography. There are two types of velocity: average velocity and instantaneous velocity. Average velocity is the velocity over a period of time. Instantaneous velocity is the velocity at a specific instant in time. Velocity is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time it takes to travel that distance. For example, if a car travels 100 kilometers in 2 hours, its velocity is 100 kilometers divided by 2 hours, or 50 kilometers per hour (km/h). Velocity is a vector quantity because it has direction. In the example above, the velocity is 50 km/h to the north. The SI unit for velocity is the meter per second (m/s). Velocity can also be expressed in other units such as kilometers per hour (km/h) and miles per hour (mph). If an object is not moving, its velocity is 0 m/s. If an object is moving, but its velocity is not changing, then its velocity is constant. An object's velocity can change for many reasons, including if it speeds up, slows down, or changes direction. There are many ways to measure velocity. For example, you can use a speedometer in a car, or a GPS system. You can also calculate velocity by timing how long it takes an object to travel a known distance.