Speed vs. Velocity — What's the Difference?

The rate at which an object moves.

The rate and direction of an object's movement.

In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as v) of an object is the magnitude of the rate of change of its position with time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance travelled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as the duration of the time interval approaches zero.

A vector quantity showing both speed and direction.

The rate at which someone or something moves or operates or is able to move or operate

Can have positive or negative values based on reference direction.

Each of the possible gear ratios of a bicycle.

The displacement of an object per unit time.

The light-gathering power or f-number of a camera lens.

A measure considering both the speed and direction of movement.

An amphetamine drug, especially methamphetamine.

The velocity of an object is the rate of change of its position with respect to a frame of reference, and is a function of time. Velocity is equivalent to a specification of an object's speed and direction of motion (e.g.

Success; prosperity

The speed of something in a given direction

Move quickly

Rapidity or speed of motion; swiftness.

Make prosperous or successful

(Physics) A vector quantity whose magnitude is a body's speed and whose direction is the body's direction of motion.

Take or be under the influence of an amphetamine drug

The rate at which something acts or occurs

Distance traveled divided by the time of travel.

The rate at which money changes hands in an economy.

The limit of this quotient as the time of travel becomes vanishingly small; the first derivative of distance with respect to time.

(physics) A vector quantity that denotes the rate of change of position with respect to time, combining speed with a directional component.

The magnitude of a velocity.

Rapidity of motion.

Swiftness of action

The rate of occurrence.

The act of moving rapidly

(economics) The number of times that an average unit of currency is spent during a specific period of time.

The state of being in rapid motion; rapidity

Quickness of motion; swiftness; speed; celerity; rapidity; as, the velocity of wind; the velocity of a planet or comet in its orbit or course; the velocity of a cannon ball; the velocity of light.

A transmission gear or set of gears in a motor vehicle

Rate of motion; the relation of motion to time, measured by the number of units of space passed over by a moving body or point in a unit of time, usually the number of feet passed over in a second. See the Note under Speed.

A numerical expression of the sensitivity of a photographic film, plate, or paper to light.

Distance travelled per unit time

The capacity of a lens to accumulate light at an appropriate aperture.

The length of time required or permitted for a camera shutter to open and admit light.

(Slang) A stimulant drug, especially amphetamine or methamphetamine.

(Slang) One that suits or appeals to a person's inclinations, skills, or character

(Archaic) Prosperity; luck.

To go, move, or proceed quickly

To drive at a speed exceeding a legal limit

To pass quickly

To move, work, or happen at a faster rate; accelerate

(Slang) To be under the influence of a stimulant drug.

To prove successful; prosper.

To get along in a specified manner; fare.

To cause to move or proceed quickly; hasten

To increase the speed or rate of; accelerate. Often used with up

To further, promote, or expedite (a legal action, for example).

(Archaic) To help to succeed or prosper; aid.

The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion.

The rate of motion or action, specifically the magnitude of the velocity; the rate distance is traversed in a given time.

(photography) The sensitivity to light of film, plates or sensor.

(photography) The duration of exposure, the time during which a camera shutter is open (shutter speed).

(photography) The largest size of the lens opening at which a lens can be used.

(photography) The ratio of the focal length to the diameter of a photographic objective.

Amphetamine or any amphetamine-based drug (especially methamphetamine) used as a stimulant, especially illegally.

(archaic) Luck, success, prosperity.

(slang) Personal preference.

A third-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the rate of change of gamma with respect to changes in the underlying asset price.

(film) Called by the soundman when the recording equipment has reached running speed and is ready to go.

To succeed; to prosper, be lucky.

To help someone, to give them fortune; to aid or favour.

(intransitive) To go fast.

(intransitive) To exceed the speed limit.

(transitive) To increase the rate at which something occurs.

To be under the influence of stimulant drugs, especially amphetamines.

(obsolete) To be expedient.

(archaic) To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin.

(archaic) To wish success or good fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.

To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.

To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.

Prosperity in an undertaking; favorable issue; success.

The act or state of moving swiftly; swiftness; velocity; rapidly; rate of motion; dispatch; as, the speed a horse or a vessel.

One who, or that which, causes or promotes speed or success.

To go; to fare.

To experience in going; to have any condition, good or ill; to fare.

To fare well; to have success; to prosper.

To make haste; to move with celerity.

To be expedient.

To cause to be successful, or to prosper; hence, to aid; to favor.

To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.

To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.

To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin; to undo.

To wish success or god fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.

Distance travelled per unit time

A rate (usually rapid) at which something happens;

Changing location rapidly

The ratio of the focal length to the diameter of a (camera) lens system

A central nervous system stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite; used to treat narcolepsy and some forms of depression

Step on it;

Move faster;

Travel at an excessive or illegal velocity;

Move very fast;

Cause to move faster;

How fast something moves, irrespective of direction.

A measure of distance covered per unit time.

A scalar quantity showing only magnitude.

A measure not considering the direction of movement.

Yes, Speed, being a scalar, is always positive or zero.

Yes, Velocity is zero when there's no displacement, even if the object moved.

Velocity is a vector because it has both magnitude (speed) and direction.

Yes, Speed is zero when an object is stationary.

Speed is the magnitude of Velocity.

Yes, if they move at the same rate but in different directions, their Velocities differ.

Yes, especially if an object returns to its starting point; its displacement (and thus Velocity) might be zero.

Average Speed is total distance divided by total time.

Yes, a change in Velocity's sign indicates a reversal in direction.

Average Velocity is total displacement divided by total time.

Yes, because even if its Speed remains constant, its direction changes.

Negative Velocity means movement opposite to the reference positive direction.

No, because Speed is scalar, and Velocity is vector; they convey different information.

Yes, because while the magnitude (Speed) might be constant, the direction changes continuously.

They affect both since they reduce an object's rate and can change its direction.