Question
Question: Distinguish between speed and velocity....
Distinguish between speed and velocity.
Solution
The main difference between both the quantities is that speed is a vector quantity and velocity is a vector quantity.
A scalar quantity is a measurable quantity that is described by a magnitude or amount. On the other hand, a vector quantity is fully described by a magnitude and a direction.
So, in essence magnitude wise both are same but velocity has direction and hence its evaluation is done by vector laws.
Complete step by step answer:
Speed is defined as change in distance with time and velocity is defined as change in displacement with time.
And by looking at the definition we can verify that both quantities are different as displacement is a vector quantity and distance is a scalar quantity.
Speed can never be zero or negative on the other hand velocity can be zero or negative.
The velocity of the object changes with the change in direction, therefore the object must follow one direction.
Whereas in case of speed, it continues to count even if the object changes its direction.
Ordinary laws of algebra are used to evaluate speed whereas in case of velocity vector algebra is to be used.
An object travelling with 50km/h is considered to have this much speed
An object travelling with 50km/h in north direction is considered to have this much velocity in that direction.
So, these were major points to distinguish velocity and speed.
Note: When a vector quantity is divided by a scalar quantity, the result is a vector quantity.
Change is velocity with time is termed as acceleration.
Displacement is defined as the shortest path travelled by a body between its starting and end points of the journey.
Distance on the other hand is defined as the total path length covered by the body.