AQA · GCSE · Combined Science
Course version: 8464 · Version from Sept 2018
Students should be able to recall typical values of speed for a person…
Full specification wording
Speed: Students should be able to recall typical values of speed for a person walking, running and cycling as well as the typical values of speed for different types of transportation systems.
You need to recall approximate everyday speeds.
Checked against the AQA 8464 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 8 of 18
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
You need to recall approximate everyday speeds. A person walking is about 1.5 m/s, running about 3 m/s and cycling about 6 m/s. Transport examples include a car on a motorway at roughly 30 m/s, a train at roughly 50 m/s and a plane at roughly 250 m/s. These are typical values, not exact constants, so use them for estimates. For instance, a car at 30 m/s covers about 1800 m in one minute. To compare values, convert to the same unit: multiply m/s by 3.6 to get km/h, so 30 m/s is about 108 km/h. Learn the list and the unit m/s, and state that values are approximate.
What earns the marks
- Recalls walking speed as about 1.5 m/s.
- Recalls running speed as about 3 m/s and cycling as about 6 m/s.
- Recalls a typical car speed, for example about 30 m/s on a motorway.
- Recalls typical speeds for other transport, such as a train at about 50 m/s or a plane at about 250 m/s.
- Uses typical values to estimate a distance or time, keeping the unit m/s.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Mixing up walking and running values — error.
Put it right: Walking is about 1.5 m/s and running about 3 m/s.
Using km/h values when the question asks for m/s — error.
Put it right: Convert by dividing km/h by 3.6 or multiplying m/s by 3.6.
Treating typical values as exact — error.
Put it right: Describe them as approximate typical values.
Exam tips
- Memorise the short list of typical speeds and their units before the exam.
- In estimate questions, write the value with its unit and show any conversion clearly.
- If unsure, give a sensible approximate value and label it as typical rather than exact.
Try the lesson
The start of the Speed: Students should be able to recall typical values of speed for a person walking, running and cycling as well as the typical values of speed for different types of transportation systems. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of these is the typical speed of a person walking?
Listen
You need to recall approximate everyday speeds. A person walking is about 1.5 m/s, running about 3 m/s and cycling about 6 m/s. Transport examples include a car on a motorway at roughly 30 m/s, a train at roughly 50 m/s and a plane at roughly 250 m/s. These are typical values, not exact constants, so use them for estimates. For instance, a car at 30 m/s covers about 1800 m in one minute. To compare values, convert to the same unit: multiply m/s by 3.6 to get km/h, so 30 m/s is about 108 km/h. Learn the list and the unit m/s, and state that values are approximate. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Recalls walking speed as about 1.5 m/s. Recalls running speed as about 3 m/s and cycling as about 6 m/s. Recalls a typical car speed, for example about 30 m/s on a motorway. Recalls typical speeds for other transport, such as a train at about 50 m/s or a plane at about 250 m/s. A common slip: Mixing up walking and running values — error: giving walking as 3 m/s. Instead, walking is about 1.5 m/s and running about 3 m/s. Exam tip: Memorise the short list of typical speeds and their units before the exam.
See it
Key words
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Typical speeds of people
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Typical speeds of transport
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Estimation and approximation
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Unit conversion between m/s and km/h
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See every definition
- Typical speeds of people
- Approximate everyday values for a person walking at about 1.5 m/s, running at about 3 m/s and cycling at about 6 m/s.
- Typical speeds of transport
- Approximate everyday values for transportation systems, such as a car on a motorway at roughly 30 m/s, a train at roughly 50 m/s and a plane at roughly 250 m/s.
- Estimation and approximation
- Using typical values, which are not exact constants, to estimate a distance or time, keeping the unit m/s.
- Unit conversion between m/s and km/h
- To compare values, convert to the same unit by multiplying m/s by 3.6 to get km/h, so 30 m/s is about 108 km/h.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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