Speed and velocity are very important terms in physics and engineering. Both concepts have different meanings but usually used interchangeably. Speed is the rate at which an object is moving. On the other hands, velocity is the rate and direction of movement of an object.
This blog post explores about the speed, velocity and their difference with easy examples. This will help students understand the basics of speed and velocity so that they can solve the mathematics questions related to speed, time and distance easily.
Let’s discuss the concepts of speed and velocity in detail.
Speed
Speed is a scalar quantity that is defined as the distance traveled divided by total time taken. Speed is measured in two ways i.e meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h).
Eg. if a car travels 500 kilometers in 5 hours, its speed is 100 km/h.
Velocity
Velocity is a vector quantity. It is defined as the rate at which the position of an object is changed. Being a vector quantity it has both magnitude and direction.
Eg. A car is traveling at a velocity of 60 km/h north. It means the car is moving towards north direction at the speed of 60 kilometers in an hour.
Difference Between Speed and Velocity
Here are detail information about how these terms are different from each others:
S.No | Speed | Velocity |
---|---|---|
1 | Speed is the rate at which an object is moving. | Velocity is the rate and direction of movement of an object. |
2 | Speed is a scalar quantity | velocity is a vector quantity. |
3 | Speed only has magnitude. | Velocity has both magnitude and direction. |
4 | Speed can be calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the time taken to travel. | Velocity is calculated by dividing the displacement by the total time taken to make that displacement. |
5 | Formula of speed is speed = distance / time | Formula of velocity is velocity = displacement/time |
6 | Example, if a car travels 120 miles in 2 hour, then its speed is 60 miles per hour or you can say that speed of car is 60 miles/hour | Eg. if a truck starts at a stop sign and drives 60 miles in north direction. Then its displacement will be 60 miles north. |
Apart from physics and engineering, both speed and velocity are used in everyday life.
Eg. To reach at high level in cycling, swimming, racing, all you need to do is focus on improving the speed and velocity. By doing so we can easily compete the level.
If we talk about engineering, Both speed and velocity are important terms to be considered while constructing roads and bridge.
Speed and velocity are basic concepts in physics. These terms are used to describe the object’s motion in various situations such as the movement of planets in space.
Five Difference Between Speed and Velocity
Here we will discuss about the main five difference between Speed and Velocity. this will help students in answering the questions usually asked by examiners.
The 5 Differences between speed and velocity including:
- Speed is a scalar quantity means it only has magnitude. On the other hand, velocity is a vector quantity means it has both magnitude and direction.
- You can calculate Speed by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken to travel that distance.
On the other hand, you can calculate velocity by dividing the displacement by the time taken to make that displacement.
- Speed=Distance/Time
or s=d/t
Velocity=Displacement/Time
4.Speed can be +ve, -ve, or zero. On the other hand, the velocity can either +ve or -ve
- An object’s speed can remain constant even if velocity is changing. I hope this blog post has helped you in understanding speed, velocity and how speed and velocity are different from each other.
What is the difference between speed and velocity?
Speed is the rate of movement of an object without considering its direction. It is measured in meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h).
On the other hand, Velocity is vector quantity, it is the rate at which an object is moving in a specific direction. It is measured in meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h), with the direction specified as north, south, east, or west.
Difference between speed and velocity example
A boy is running at a speed of 10 m/s. It means the runner is moving 10 meters in every second in any direction.
If boy is running at the speed of 10m/s in east direction. Then we can say that its velocity is 10 m/s east.
Difference between Speed and Velocity in Tabular Form
Speed scalar quantity
Velocity vector quantity
Speed Meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h)
Velocity Meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h), with the direction specified
Eg:- A boy is running at a speed of 60 km/h.
Eg:- A boy is running at a speed of 60km/h at north direction