How we determine how fast an
enzyme works
We set up a series of tubes containing graded
concentrations of substrate, [S] . At time zero, we
add a fixed amount of the enzyme preparation.
  Over the next few minutes, we measure the
concentration of product formed. If the product
absorbs light, we can easily do this in a
spectrophotometer.
     Early in the run, when the amount of substrate
is in substantial excess to the amount of enzyme,
the rate we observe is the  initial velocity of Vi.