Velocity
* Definition: Velocity describes both the speed of an object (how fast it's moving) and its direction.
* Vector: Vectors are quantities that have both magnitude (size) and direction.
* Example: A car traveling at 60 mph eastward has a velocity of 60 mph east. This tells us both how fast it's going and in what direction.
Speed
* Definition: Speed only describes how fast an object is moving.
* Scalar: Scalars are quantities that only have magnitude (size).
* Example: The car traveling at 60 mph has a speed of 60 mph. We know how fast it's going, but not where it's headed.
In simpler terms:
Imagine you're driving. Your speedometer shows your speed, but it doesn't tell you which way you're going. Your car's navigation system, however, tells you both your speed and direction – that's your velocity.
Key difference:
The key is that velocity requires information about direction. Speed only cares about how fast something is moving.
