Speed, Velocity, Distance, and Displacement - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering scalar/vector quantities, distance/displacement, and the formulas and examples from the video.

Scalar quantity

A quantity that has magnitude only; it has no direction.

Vector quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

Speed

A scalar quantity representing how fast an object is moving; magnitude only.

Velocity

A vector quantity representing speed with a direction; magnitude and direction.

Distance

A scalar quantity that measures how far an object has traveled; magnitude only.

Displacement

A vector quantity measuring the straight‑line distance from start to end with a direction.

Speed formula

Speed = distance ÷ time.

Velocity formula

Velocity = displacement ÷ time.

s in velocity vs speed

In velocity, s represents displacement; in the speed equation, s is not displacement, and d represents distance.

Direction

Orientation of motion; part of a vector quantity like velocity.

Negative velocity

A velocity value that indicates motion in the opposite direction.

Average speed

Total distance ÷ total time for a journey, when speed varies.

Average velocity

Total displacement ÷ total time for a journey, when direction changes.