Average Velocity Calculator

What Is Average Velocity?

Average velocity is the total displacement of an object divided by the total time taken. Unlike average speed, which uses total distance, average velocity uses displacement — the straight-line distance from the starting point to the ending point, along with the direction.

This distinction matters in physics. If you drive 100 miles north and then 100 miles south, your total distance is 200 miles, but your displacement is zero. Your average speed is positive, but your average velocity is zero.

How to Calculate Average Velocity

To find average velocity, divide the displacement by the elapsed time.

Average Velocity Formula

Where:

• v = average velocity (m/s)
• Δx = displacement (m)
• Δt = elapsed time (s)

For example, if a runner completes a straight 400-meter dash in 50 seconds:

v = 400 / 50 = 8 m/s = 28.8 km/h = 17.9 mph

Average Velocity vs. Average Speed

Average speed is always positive and uses total distance traveled, while average velocity can be zero or negative depending on the direction of displacement. For a round trip (returning to the starting point), average velocity is always zero, even though average speed is not. Use our velocity calculator to find instantaneous velocity from acceleration instead.