Posted on January 23, 2023 (Updated on July 10, 2025)

Calculate velocity and errors from distance between GPS points

Hiking & Activities

How do you find velocity with GPS coordinates?

First we plot the two GPS points on a spherical model of the earth, then calculate the angle between them using a dot product, then calculate the ‘Great Circle’ distance using this angle and the earth’s radius and finally we divide by the elapsed time to approximate the speed.
 

How is the distance between GPS points calculated?

Distance

Formula: Δψ = ln( tan(π/4 + φ2/2) / tan(π/4 + φ1/2) ) (‘projected’ latitude difference)
q = Δφ/Δψ (or cosφ for E-W line)
d = √(Δφ² + q²⋅Δλ²) ⋅ R (Pythagoras)
where φ is latitude, λ is longitude, Δλ is taking shortest route (<180°), R is the earth's radius, ln is natural log

How to manage the data obtained from the GPS in order to calculate the distance?

By taking the difference between its own time and the timestamp of the GPS signal and multiplying by the speed of light, the receiver calculates a rough measure of the distance between the receiver and the satellite.
 

How to calculate velocity Python?

Approach: In the first approach, we will find initial velocity by using the formula “u = (v-a*t)” In the second approach, we will find final velocity by using formula “v = u + a*t” In the third approach, we will find acceleration by using formula “a = (v – u)/t”
 

Does GPS provide velocity?

The Global Positioning System, or GPS, is a satellite based navigation system developed by the United States Defense Department in the 1970’s. It provides three items to users: Position – Latitude, Longitude, and Height. Velocity – Velocity North, East, and Up.

How do I find the velocity between two points?

Velocity (v) is a vector quantity that measures displacement (or change in position, Δs) over the change in time (Δt), represented by the equation v = Δs/Δt.

What is GPS formula?

There are also clocks in the GPS receivers. Radio wave signals from the satellites travel at 186,000 miles per second. To find the distance from a satellite to a receiver, use the following equation: (186,000 mi/sec) x (signal travel time in seconds) = Distance of the satellite to the receiver in miles.
 

Can you calculate distance from coordinates?

Learn how to find the distance between two points by using the distance formula, which is an application of the Pythagorean theorem. We can rewrite the Pythagorean theorem as d=√((x_2-x_1)²+(y_2-y_1)²) to find the distance between any two points.

How is the distance calculated between the GPS satellite and GPS receiver?

Quote from video:

How do I show velocity on Google Maps?

Turn Speedometer on or off

  1. On your Android device, open the Google Maps. app.
  2. Tap your profile picture or initial Settings. Navigation settings.
  3. Under “Driving options,” turn on/off Speedometer.


How can I calculate velocity?

Determine the object’s original velocity by dividing the time it took for the object to travel a given distance by the total distance. In the equation V = d/t, V is the velocity, d is the distance, and t is the time.

How do you convert km to velocity?

A kilometer has 1,000 meters, and an hour has 3,600 seconds, so 100 kilometers per hour is: 100 x 1,000 / 3,600 = 27.777… m/s.