Are Speed, Acceleration, and Velocity the Same?

AI Thread Summary
Speed, acceleration, and velocity are distinct concepts in physics. Speed is a scalar quantity defined solely by magnitude, while velocity is a vector that includes both magnitude and direction. Acceleration refers to the change in velocity, which can occur through changes in either magnitude or direction. For example, traveling at 100 km/h represents speed, whereas 100 km/h east defines velocity, and actions like turning or braking illustrate acceleration. Understanding these differences is crucial for grasping basic physics principles.
gatorgirl
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Is speed, acceleration and velocity the same?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF, Gatorgirl.
Just to jump-start it: speed is a scalar measurement, which is defined only by its magnitude; velocity is a vector measurement, which is defined by both magnitude and direction; acceleration is a change of velocity, so it applies if either the magnitude or the direction is altered.
In everyday terms, speed would be something like 100 km/h; velocity would be 100 km/h east; acceleration would be taking a corner or hitting the brakes or gas pedal (brakes would be a negative acceleration, but still an acceleration).
 
Thanks. The website is helpful in explaining it on a very basic level. My textbook is written by UF and it provides few examples.
 
Thank You :)
 
I have recently been really interested in the derivation of Hamiltons Principle. On my research I found that with the term ##m \cdot \frac{d}{dt} (\frac{dr}{dt} \cdot \delta r) = 0## (1) one may derivate ##\delta \int (T - V) dt = 0## (2). The derivation itself I understood quiet good, but what I don't understand is where the equation (1) came from, because in my research it was just given and not derived from anywhere. Does anybody know where (1) comes from or why from it the...

Similar threads

Back
Top