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How speed and velocity differ?

Updated: 8/17/2019
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12y ago

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Speed is the distance travelled in a given period of time and is measured in metres per second or miles per hour (ie 'distance' per 'unit of time'). It is always a positive number. Velocity, however,, is the sppeed of an object in a given direction. So that if you define ''forwards' as a positive velocity, then if the object travels 'backwards', that would be classed as a negative velocity. So, if a car travels forwards, say, at 30 mph, its speed will be 30mph and its velocity will also be 30mph. However, if the car returns at the same speed, its speed will still be 30mph but its velocity will be - 30mph (minus 30mph) as the car is travelling in the opposite direction. This may seem a pointless exercise, but in equations of motion that involve speed, velocity, accceleration, time and so on, the direction of travel is important and so the velocity is used rather than speed. The concept of velocity is used in space travel, satellite technology, calculating flight paths, calculating missile trajectories and so on and so direection of travel - and hence velocity - is of vital importance.

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Zackery Schumm

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1y ago
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12y ago

Speed is the rate of covering distance. 60 mph north, south, or west are all

exactly the same speed.

Velocity is speed and its direction. 60 mph north, south, and east are three

different velocities.

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Q: How speed and velocity differ?
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How does velocity differ from speed?

Velocity indicates direction in addition to speed.


How does velocity differ from acceleration?

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.


How velocity and speed differ from each other?

Velocity is a vector measurement, it has both a speed quantity, but also includes direction. Speed is a scalar measurement, it only concerns with the how fast the object is moving, not its direction


How do velocity and speed differ?

Velocity is a speed and its direction. -- "30 miles per hour" is a speed -- "30 miles per hour north" is a velocity -- "30 mph north" and "30 mph east" are equal speeds but different velocities.


When measuring two different velocities if the time interval of measurement is the same for both what will differ?

I would think direction since velocity is a vector. Could also be speed. Speed is just a rate, velocity has speed and a direction. Short answer: direction with a speed caveat to account for the ambiguity in the question.


What is the biggest difference between speed and velocity?

velocity is speed with direction; velocity is a vector and speed is a scalar


What is speed in a given direction is called?

Speed in a given direction is velocity.


Is velocity the speed of a wave?

Velocity and speed are not synonyms.


Diffetiate speed and velocity?

Speed has no direction, velocity does.


Are speed and velocity different?

SPEED has the speed only; while VELOCITY has the direction and the speed.


How is velocity same from instantaneous speed?

Instantaneous speed is the magnitude of the velocity. Velocity also states the [direction] of the speed.


What is speed in a given direction?

Speed in a given direction is called velocity.