difference between velocity and speed
Answers
Explanation:
Speed is the time rate at which an object is moving along a path, while velocity is the rate and direction of an object's movement. ... For example, 50 km/hr (31 mph) describes the speed at which a car is traveling along a road, while 50 km/hr west describes the velocity at which it is traveling.
Difference Between Speed And Velocity
Often we use the terms speed and velocity interchangeably without realizing it is wrong to do so. There is a difference between speed and velocity which everyone must know. In fact, it is also a common question asked in many exams. When we describe the motion of objects regarding distance, time and direction, we use these two terms. Thus, they carry different meanings. In other words, speed refers to the time rate at which an object moves along a path whereas the rate and direction of that object’s movement will be velocity. Let’s learn more about how they are different.
Definition of Speed
To help evaluate the difference between speed and velocity, we need to understand their definition. Speed is the amount of distance an object covers over a specific period of time, irrespective of the direction it is travelling in. Thus, lack of directional component means it is a scalar quantity. In order to calculate the average speed, take the total distance travelled and divide it by the total time needed to travel that distance.
Definition of Velocity
As we discussed before that speed is a scalar quantity thus it’s got a corresponding vector quantity which combines how fast the object travels and its direction. So, this vector quantity refers to as velocity. In other words, we define it as the rate at which the object is changing its position. It is important to note that a change in position from its starting point to its endpoint is its displacement. What matters here is the direct distance from the starting point to the finish point and not the precise route. So, to find out the average velocity, you need to multiply displacement by time.