Urooj Niazi 
One of the most significant concepts of basic physics is to understand the difference between speed and velocity. Even though the two terms are used interchangeably in everyday life, these terms have a different scientific meaning. The speed and the velocity are used to describe the speed of an object; however, the two are differing in the way direction is considered. This paper offers a clear and simple definition of the difference between speed and velocity using simple definitions, formulae, examples and a comparison table. At the conclusion, you shall definitely know when to resort to speed and when velocity is more relevant in physics and other real-life cases.
What Is Speed?
Speed is the rate of movement of an object irrespective of its direction of movement. It is a scalar quantity, that is, it does not consist of a direction as well as a magnitude. Speed informs us how far we are going to cover in a period.
Formula:
Speed = Distance ÷ Time
E.g. assume that a car covers 60 kilometers per hour, its speed is 60km/h. When it comes to the difference between speed and velocity, speed is easier in the fact that it does not consider the direction to which the object is moving.
What Is Velocity?
Velocity refers to the rate in which an object moves in a given direction. Velocity is a vector quantity, therefore it has a direction as well as magnitude unlike speed.
Formula:
Velocity = Displacement ÷ Time
As an example, when the car travels at a speed of 60 km/h towards the north then this figure reflects velocity. This dynamic aspect is one of the main aspects to be considered in the distinction between speed and velocity.
Key Difference Between Speed and Velocity
The overall distinction of speed and velocity is based on direction. Speed is simply the rate of movement of something whereas velocity is the rate of movement of something and direction. A moving object may also possess constant speed with varying velocity provided that the direction is varying like a car going round a circular road.
Comparison Table
| Basis | Speed | Velocity |
| Type | Scalar | Vector |
| Direction | Not required | Required |
| Depends on | Distance | Displacement |
| Can be zero | Rare | Possible |
The difference between speed and velocity can also be clearly explained simplistically by this table.
Examples from Daily Life
Suppose that you walk 5km/h. Your speed is 5 km/h. When you walk 5km/h to the east, then that would also be velocity. These real-life illustrations serve to strengthen the distinction between speed and velocity in a real life setting.
Why Understanding This Difference Matters
In physics, navigation, sports, and engineering, one needs to know the distinction between speed and velocity. It assists in correct calculation, movement analysis as well as in problem solving where direction is an important factor.
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