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What Is the Difference between Speed and Velocity?

Answer – Speed is solely about how fast something is moving, while velocity not only includes speed but also specifies the direction of motion.

Explanation: 

While speed and velocity are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings:

Speed:

  • Speed is a scalar quantity that measures how fast an object is moving along a path.
  • It is the rate at which an object covers distance over time, without considering direction.
  • For example, 50 km/hr represents the speed of a car traveling along a road.

Velocity:

  • Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both the speed and direction of an object’s movement.
  • It describes how fast an object’s position changes with respect to time.
  • Velocity is calculated by considering both the magnitude (speed) and direction of motion.
  • For instance, 50 km/hr west indicates both the speed and direction of an object’s movement.

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