Speed vs. Velocity

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the concepts of speed and velocity, including definitions and formulas.

Speed

A scalar quantity that measures how fast an object moves, defined as the magnitude of distance traveled per unit of time.

Velocity

A vector quantity that measures the displacement of an object per unit of time, including information about direction.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity that only has magnitude and no direction, such as speed.

Vector Quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction, such as velocity.

Displacement

The change in position of an object with respect to a reference point, considered a vector quantity.

Distance

The total length of the path traveled by an object, a scalar quantity.

Speed Formula

Speed = Distance / Time.

Velocity Formula

Velocity = Displacement / Time.

Magnitude

The size or amount of a quantity, disregarding its direction.

Trajectories

The paths that objects follow when moving.