Speed, distance and pressure
Two formulas cover a surprising amount of physics: speed = distance ÷ time, and pressure = force ÷ area.
Part of your national curriculum
- Physics: motion and forces: Understand the speed of moving objects and the representation of journeys on distance-time graphs
- Physics: motion and forces: Understand pressure in fluids and atmospheric pressure, and pressure on surfaces
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Calculate speed from distance and time
Key learning points
- • Speed
- • Pressure
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 13 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 13
Visual introductionPicture this
Speed, distance and pressure
Two formulas cover a surprising amount of physics: speed = distance ÷ time, and pressure = force ÷ area.
In a nutshell
Calculate speed from distance and time
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 13
Learn
Speed
Keep units consistent: metres with seconds, kilometres with hours. A distance–time graph's gradient is the speed; a flat line means stationary.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 13
Learn
Pressure
The same force over a smaller area gives greater pressure — which is why snowshoes work and drawing pins do too.
Reset break
Part 4 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 5 of 13
Quick check
Part 6 of 13
Quick check
Part 7 of 13
Reset break
Part 8 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 9 of 13
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 10 of 13
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
A ____–time graph's gradient is the speed; a flat line means stationary.
The same force over a smaller area gives greater ____ — which is why snowshoes work and drawing pins do too.
Challenge round
Part 11 of 13
Game · Recall cards
A cheetah covers 120 m in 4 s. Its speed is…
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 12 of 13
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Speed, distance and pressure
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. A cheetah covers 120 m in 4 s. Its speed is…
2. A flat line on a distance–time graph means…
3. Reducing area with the same force…
4. An object travels 150 m in 30 s. Its speed is…
Lesson round-up
Part 13 of 13
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Points this lesson
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Best run
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Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 13 · Watch & discover
How this is going
- Not looked at yet
Understand the speed of moving objects and the representation of journeys on distance-time graphs
- Not looked at yet
Understand pressure in fluids and atmospheric pressure, and pressure on surfaces