Distance, Displacement, Speed & Velocity

This lesson covers:

  1. The difference between speed and velocity
  2. The difference between distance and displacement
  3. The speed and velocity equations: s=dts=\frac{d}{t} and  v=stv=\frac{s}{t}

A scalar quantity only has magnitude.


A vector quantity has both magnitude and ________.

displacement

distance

direction

0

/

1

Illustration of a speedometer icon with a needle indicating speed.

scalar / vector


Speed is a  quantity, whereas velocity is a  quantity.

scalar
vector

0

/

2

A person is walking 1.5 m/s north.


This is an example of:

Speed

Velocity

0

/

1

scalar / vector


Distance is a quantity whereas displacement is a quantity.

scalar
vector

0

/

2

The formula for velocity is:

v=st
v=ts​
v=st​

0

/

1

A dog travels 300 m north in 100 s.


What is the dog's average velocity?

3

m/s north

m/s north

0

/

1

Illustration of a car traveling at a constant velocity of 25 m/s.

A car travels 800 m at a constant velocity of 25 m/s.


How many seconds did it take for the car to travel 800 m?

32

s

s

0

/

1