I'm studying motion in physics and I often get confused between speed and velocity. I know they both involve how fast something is moving, but I'm not sure what exactly makes them different. Could someone explain it in a simple way, maybe with an example? Also, does direction have anything to do with it?
Great question, Priya!
The key difference between speed and velocity is direction.
Speed is a scalar quantity, which means it only tells you how fast an object is moving — no concern about direction.
Example: A car going at 60 km/h — that's speed.
Velocity is a vector quantity, which means it tells you both the speed and the direction of motion.
Example: A car moving at 60 km/h towards the east — that’s velocity.
So, if two cars are moving at the same speed but in opposite directions, their velocities are different.
Also, if an object comes back to its starting point, its average velocity is zero (because there's no change in position), but its average speed may be high!