How Do You Find Initial Velocity?

Find an object’s initial velocity using the appropriate formula for the information you have available: u = v-at, or u^2 = v^2-2as, or u = s/t-1/2at. Use first formula if final velocity (V), time (t) and acceleration (a) are known.

  1. Determine the value of force and final velocity

    Find f = ma, where m is the mass of the object; and a is the acceleration of the object. Then, calculate the final velocity with using the formula v(f) = v(i) + at, where: v(f) is the final velocity of the object, v(i) is the initial velocity of the object and a is the acceleration of the object over a specific period of time, t.

  2. Determine the acceleration

    Find the acceleration by using the formula a = f/m where m is the mass of the body in motion and f is the force applied. Substitute the relevant values for the force and mass to find the acceleration.

  3. Calculate the initial velocity

    Calculate the initial velocity using the derived values of time (t), final velocity (v), acceleration (a) and distance (d). Then, using the formula u = v-at, substitute the values of the variables given in to the equation to obtain the final velocity.