Difference Between Speed and Velocity

Speed and velocity are both terms used to describe the rate at which an object moves, but they have distinct differences:

Speed

Speed is a scalar quantity that refers to how fast an object is moving without any regard to direction. It is defined as the distance traveled per unit of time. For example, if a car travels 60 miles per hour, its speed is 60 mph. Speed is always positive and does not include any directional information.

Velocity

Velocity is a vector quantity that describes both the speed and direction of an object's motion. It specifies how fast an object is moving and in what direction. Velocity is calculated by taking the rate of change of an object's position. For example, if a car is moving eastwards at 60 miles per hour, its velocity is 60 mph east. Velocity can be positive (moving in a specified direction), negative (moving in the opposite direction), or zero (stationary).

In summary, speed is the distance traveled by an object in a given time period, while velocity includes both the speed and direction of the object's motion.