Difference between Speed and Velocity
Speed and velocity are two different scientific terms. Difference between speed and velocity is on the most interesting topics in physics. Speed is mainly time rate at which an object is moving along the path while velocity is the rate and direction of an object’s movement. Speed is a scalar value while velocity is a vector quantity.
Speed
It’s a scalar quantity which refers how fast an object is moving. Speed is the distance traveled per unit of time. It does not have any direction. Higher speed means and object is moving faster. There are different types of speed namely uniform speed, variable speed, average speed and instantaneous speed rotational speed and tangential speed.
Velocity
Velocity is mainly a vector quantity and it is the rate and direction of an object movement. Velocity can be positive or negative and sometimes also zero. There are various types of velocity including average velocity, instantaneous velocity etc. initial velocity in dictated how fast an object travels when gravity first applies force in the object while final velocity measures the speed and direction of a moving object after it has reached its maximum acceleration. Average velocity is defined as change in position divided by the time traveled.
| Speed | Velocity | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The rate at which an object covers a certain distance. | The rate at which an object changes position in a certain direction. |
| Type of quantity | Scalar quantity. | Vector quantity. |
| Magnitude | Speed is always positive. | It can be positive, negative or zero. |
| SI unit | Speed is measured in m/s. | Velocity is measured in m/s |
| Interrelation | Speed may or may not be equal to velocity. | An object may posses different velocities but same speed. |
| Interrelation | Speed may or may not be equal to velocity. | An object may posses different velocities but same speed. |
Venn Diagram
