Speed vs Velocity: Difference & Examples

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Speed refers to how fast an object is moving, measured as a scalar quantity without direction, while velocity is a vector that includes both speed and direction. For instance, if an object moves at -5 mph, it indicates a backward speed of 5 mph, highlighting the importance of direction in velocity. In uniform circular motion, an object's speed remains constant, but its velocity changes continuously due to the constant change in direction, resulting in acceleration towards the center of the circle. This distinction is crucial as it demonstrates how velocity can have observable physical effects, such as the feeling of being pushed outward while navigating a curve in a car. Understanding the difference between speed and velocity is essential in physics and real-world applications.
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could someone please clarify th e difference between the 2 and maybe give me an example?
 
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Velocity is a vector, so it has direction. Speed is the magnitude of velocity-- it doesn't have direction.

For example, if my velocity is -5 mph, I am traveling backwards with speed 5 mph.
 
If you travel forward in a straight line at 5 mph and the turn around a corner at 5 mph and drives forward again at 5 mph... when turn around the corner your speed doesn't change, but your velocity does, because you change direction..
 
sorry was gunna comment but was beaten to it
 
blackice552 said:
could someone please clarify th e difference between the 2 and maybe give me an example?

A good example of the difference between speed and velocity can be found in uniform circular motion. Suppose that some object is moving in a circle around some central point at a specific speed. The speed does not change, but the velocity vector is always changing, indicating that the body is accelerating towards the center of the circle. If you get in a car and drive around a curve, you'll feel a force towards the outside of the curve, despite that your speed does not change (since you're accelerating towards the center of the curve). So you can see that the vector nature of velocity has observable physical effects.
 

Thread 'Mousetrap Car Energy efficiency'

For simple comparison, I think the same thought process can be followed as a block slides down a hill, - for block down hill, simple starting PE of mgh to final max KE 0.5mv^2 - comparing PE1 to max KE2 would result in finding the work friction did through the process. efficiency is just 100*KE2/PE1. If a mousetrap car travels along a flat surface, a starting PE of 0.5 k th^2 can be measured and maximum velocity of the car can also be measured. If energy efficiency is defined by...
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