Can you use speed and velocity interchangeably?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ellieee
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Speed Velocity
AI Thread Summary
Speed and velocity are closely related concepts, particularly in one-dimensional motion, where they can often be used interchangeably. Speed refers only to magnitude, while velocity includes direction, which is crucial for understanding motion. In a straight line, if speed is x, velocity can be either x or -x, but this relationship does not apply to other types of motion, such as circular motion. The discussion highlights the importance of accurately interpreting graphs, particularly velocity-time graphs, to determine the nature of the motion. Accurate labeling of such graphs is essential for confirming that the motion is indeed linear.
ellieee
Messages
78
Reaction score
6
Homework Statement
qn (di)-> the graph is a v-t graph, so shouldn't we say "constant velocity" instead of "speed"?
Relevant Equations
nil
16255635504933063555622718551114.jpg

16255635202437013700399969144045.jpg
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes. It's better to describe it as constant velocity, as speed just describes the magnitude and not the sign. (I presume this is one-dimensional motion.)
 
In motion in a straight line such as in your example, the concepts of velocity and speed are almost identical: If speed is x, then velocity will be x or -x. I repeat, this holds only in motion in a straight line, it does not hold for other motions e.g. circular motion.
 
Delta2 said:
in a straight line
how can you tell it's in a straight line ?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ellieee said:
how can u tell it's in a straight line ?
I can not infer it from the given data (the screenshot of the graph isn't complete, doesn't completely show the text that describes the graph), somehow I thought it was given to you.
 
ellieee said:
how can u tell it's in a straight line ?
Since they label it a velocity-time graph, where the velocity is constant it must be moving in a straight line. (Assuming it's labeled accurately.)
 
Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'
TL;DR Summary: I would like to know the voltmeter readings on the two resistors separately in the picture in the following cases , When one of the keys is closed When both of them are opened (Knowing that the battery has negligible internal resistance) My thoughts for the first case , one of them must be 12 volt while the other is 0 The second case we'll I think both voltmeter readings should be 12 volt since they are both parallel to the battery and they involve the key within what the...
Thread 'Trying to understand the logic behind adding vectors with an angle between them'
My initial calculation was to subtract V1 from V2 to show that from the perspective of the second aircraft the first one is -300km/h. So i checked with ChatGPT and it said I cant just subtract them because I have an angle between them. So I dont understand the reasoning of it. Like why should a velocity be dependent on an angle? I was thinking about how it would look like if the planes where parallel to each other, and then how it look like if one is turning away and I dont see it. Since...
Back
Top