Final answer:
Velocity differs from speed in that velocity includes a direction, making it a vector quantity. Speed is a scalar quantity, indicating only magnitude without a reference to direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Velocity is different from speed because velocity includes a direction and speed does not. Velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. Speed, on the other hand, is a scalar quantity, which means it has only magnitude with no direction considered. For instance, if a car is traveling at 50 kilometers per hour going north, that is its velocity. If we only say the car is traveling at 50 kilometers per hour with no mention of direction, that is its speed.
Examples and Concepts
A speedometer in a car measures speed, not velocity since it does not provide a direction.
- If you are calculating the distance divided by time, you are typically finding the average speed. However, if in a straight line and without a change in direction, the average speed and the magnitude of average velocity are the same.
- Instantaneous velocity can be calculated at a specific moment and requires a direction, while instantaneous speed is just the magnitude of that velocity at the same moment.