Explain the differences between speed and velocity. How are these similar?
Speed and velocity are both terms used to describe how fast an object is moving, but they are slightly different concepts.
Speed is a scalar quantity, which means it only has magnitude. It is defined as the distance traveled per unit of time, such as miles per hour or meters per second. Speed does not have a direction associated with it, so it only tells us how fast an object is moving but not in which direction.
Velocity, on the other hand, is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. It is defined as the rate at which an object changes its position, including both the speed and direction of the object. Velocity is often described in terms of displacement per unit of time, such as meters per second east.
In summary, speed is a scalar quantity that only tells how fast an object is moving, while velocity is a vector quantity that includes both the speed and direction of an object's motion.
Similarities between speed and velocity include both being measures of how fast an object is moving and are both expressed in terms of distance per unit of time (such as meters per second or kilometers per hour).