Exams
Test Series
Previous Year Papers
JEE Main Previous Year Question Paper JEE Advanced Previous Year Papers NEET Previous Year Question Paper CUET Previous Year Papers COMEDK UGET Previous Year Papers UP Polytechnic Previous Year Papers AP POLYCET Previous Year Papers TS POLYCET Previous Year Papers KEAM Previous Year Papers MHT CET Previous Year Papers WB JEE Previous Year Papers GUJCET Previous Year Papers ICAR AIEEA Previous Year Papers CUET PG Previous Year Papers JCECE Previous Year Papers Karnataka PGCET Previous Year Papers NEST Previous Year Papers KCET Previous Year Papers LPUNEST Previous Year Papers AMUEEE Previous Year Papers IISER IAT Previous Year Papers Bihar Diploma DECE-LE Previous Year Papers NPAT Previous Year Papers JMI Entrance Exam Previous Year Papers PGDBA Exam Previous Year Papers AP ECET Previous Year Papers PU CET Previous Year Papers GPAT Previous Year Papers CEED Previous Year Papers AIAPGET Previous Year Papers JKCET Previous Year Papers HPCET Previous Year Papers CG PAT Previous Year Papers SRMJEEE Previous Year Papers BCECE Previous Year Papers AGRICET Previous Year Papers TS PGECET Previous Year Papers MP PAT Previous Year Papers IIT JAM Previous Year Papers CMC Vellore Previous Year Papers ACET Previous Year Papers TS EAMCET Previous Year Papers NATA Previous Year Papers AIIMS MBBS Previous Year Papers BITSAT Previous Year Papers JEXPO Previous Year Papers HITSEEE Previous Year Papers AP EAPCET Previous Year Papers UCEED Previous Year Papers CG PET Previous Year Papers OUAT Previous Year Papers VITEEE Previous Year Papers
Syllabus
JEE Main Syllabus JEE Advanced Syllabus NEET Syllabus CUET Syllabus COMEDK UGET Syllabus UP Polytechnic JEECUP Syllabus AP POLYCET Syllabus TS POLYCET Syllabus KEAM Syllabus MHT CET Syllabus WB JEE Syllabus OJEE Syllabus ICAR AIEEA Syllabus CUET PG Syllabus NID Syllabus JCECE Syllabus Karnataka PGCET Syllabus NEST Syllabus KCET Syllabus UPESEAT EXAM Syllabus LPUNEST Syllabus PUBDET Syllabus AMUEEE Syllabus IISER IAT Syllabus NPAT Syllabus JIPMER Syllabus JMI Entrance Exam Syllabus AAU VET Syllabus PGDBA Exam Syllabus AP ECET Syllabus GCET Syllabus CEPT Syllabus PU CET Syllabus GPAT Syllabus CEED Syllabus AIAPGET Syllabus JKCET Syllabus HPCET Syllabus CG PAT Syllabus BCECE Syllabus AGRICET Syllabus TS PGECET Syllabus BEEE Syllabus MP PAT Syllabus MCAER PG CET Syllabus VITMEE Syllabus IIT JAM Syllabus CMC Vellore Syllabus AIMA UGAT Syllabus AIEED Syllabus ACET Syllabus TS EAMCET Syllabus PGIMER Exam Syllabus NATA Syllabus AFMC Syllabus AIIMS MBBS Syllabus BITSAT Syllabus BVP CET Syllabus JEXPO Syllabus HITSEEE Syllabus AP EAPCET Syllabus GITAM GAT Syllabus UPCATET Syllabus UCEED Syllabus CG PET Syllabus OUAT Syllabus IEMJEE Syllabus VITEEE Syllabus SEED Syllabus MU OET Syllabus
Books
Cut Off
JEE Main Cut Off JEE Advanced Cut Off NEET Cut Off CUET Cut Off COMEDK UGET Cut Off UP Polytechnic JEECUP Cut Off AP POLYCET Cut Off TNEA Cut Off TS POLYCET Cut Off KEAM Cut Off MHT CET Cut Off WB JEE Cut Off ICAR AIEEA Cut Off CUET PG Cut Off NID Cut Off JCECE Cut Off Karnataka PGCET Cut Off NEST Cut Off KCET Cut Off UPESEAT EXAM Cut Off AMUEEE Cut Off IISER IAT Cut Off Bihar Diploma DECE-LE Cut Off JIPMER Cut Off JMI Entrance Exam Cut Off PGDBA Exam Cut Off AP ECET Cut Off GCET Cut Off CEPT Cut Off PU CET Cut Off CEED Cut Off AIAPGET Cut Off JKCET Cut Off HPCET Cut Off CG PAT Cut Off SRMJEEE Cut Off TS PGECET Cut Off BEEE Cut Off MP PAT Cut Off VITMEE Cut Off IIT JAM Cut Off CMC Vellore Cut Off ACET Cut Off TS EAMCET Cut Off PGIMER Exam Cut Off NATA Cut Off AFMC Cut Off AIIMS MBBS Cut Off BITSAT Cut Off BVP CET Cut Off JEXPO Cut Off HITSEEE Cut Off AP EAPCET Cut Off GITAM GAT Cut Off UCEED Cut Off CG PET Cut Off OUAT Cut Off VITEEE Cut Off MU OET Cut Off
Latest Updates
Eligibility
JEE Main Eligibility JEE Advanced Eligibility NEET Eligibility CUET Eligibility COMEDK UGET Eligibility UP Polytechnic JEECUP Eligibility TNEA Eligibility TS POLYCET Eligibility KEAM Eligibility MHT CET Eligibility WB JEE Eligibility OJEE Eligibility ICAR AIEEA Eligibility CUET PG Eligibility NID Eligibility JCECE Eligibility Karnataka PGCET Eligibility NEST Eligibility KCET Eligibility LPUNEST Eligibility PUBDET Eligibility AMUEEE Eligibility IISER IAT Eligibility Bihar Diploma DECE-LE Eligibility NPAT Eligibility JIPMER Eligibility JMI Entrance Exam Eligibility AAU VET Eligibility PGDBA Exam Eligibility AP ECET Eligibility GCET Eligibility CEPT Eligibility PU CET Eligibility GPAT Eligibility CEED Eligibility AIAPGET Eligibility JKCET Eligibility HPCET Eligibility CG PAT Eligibility SRMJEEE Eligibility BCECE Eligibility AGRICET Eligibility TS PGECET Eligibility MP PAT Eligibility MCAER PG CET Eligibility VITMEE Eligibility IIT JAM Eligibility CMC Vellore Eligibility AIMA UGAT Eligibility AIEED Eligibility ACET Eligibility PGIMER Exam Eligibility CENTAC Eligibility NATA Eligibility AFMC Eligibility AIIMS MBBS Eligibility BITSAT Eligibility JEXPO Eligibility HITSEEE Eligibility AP EAPCET Eligibility GITAM GAT Eligibility UPCATET Eligibility UCEED Eligibility CG PET Eligibility OUAT Eligibility IEMJEE Eligibility SEED Eligibility MU OET Eligibility

What is the Difference Between Speed and Velocity?

Last Updated on Jan 28, 2025
Download As PDF
IMPORTANT LINKS
Motion in a Straight Line
Measurement of Speed Types of Motion Speed and Velocity Average Speed Difference Between Speed and Velocity Relative Speed Average Speed and Average Velocity Average Velocity Distance-Time Graph Acceleration Speed-Time Graph Difference Between Acceleration and Velocity Acceleration-Time Graph Velocity-Time Graph Distance and Displacement Position-Time Graph Relative Velocity Difference Between Distance and Displacement Kinematics Equations Difference Between Kinetics and Kinematics Translatory Motion Uniform and Non-Uniform Motion Odometer of an Automobile Instantaneous Speed and Instantaneous Velocity Measure Rate of Change of Motion Rectilinear Motion of Particles Uniformly Accelerated Motion Velocity Motion in One Dimension Relative Motion Introduction to Motion Slow and Fast Motion Types of Motion and Distance Measurement Uniform and Non-Uniform Motion
Physical World Units and Measurements Motion in a Plane Laws of Motion Work Energy and Power System of Particles and Rotational Motion Gravitation Mechanical Properties of Solids Mechanical Properties of Fluids Thermal Properties of Matter Thermodynamics Kinetic Theory of Gases Oscillations Waves Electric Charges and Fields Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance Current Electricity Moving Charges and Magnetism Magnetism and Matter Electromagnetic Induction Alternating Current Electromagnetic Waves Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Wave Optics Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter Atoms Nuclei Semiconductor Electronics Earth Science

Speed and velocity are two related concepts in physics, but they are not the same thing. Speed is the rate of change of distance whereas, Velocity is the rate of change of displacement. The key difference between speed and velocity is that velocity includes information about direction, while speed does not.

In this Physics article, we are going to discuss the differences between speed and velocity.

What is Speed?

Speed is the measurement of the change in distance, which means the rate of change of distance per unit of time. It is a scalar quantity, which means it has only magnitude. Its magnitude can only be a non-zero positive integer unless the body is at rest. Usually, speed is represented using the symbol s. However, this may vary as per the convenience and information provided in the problem.

It can be calculated using the formula,

—(1)

Here, distance = length covered during the journey = d(say}

Time = time Taken cover the journey= t(say}

It can be mathematically expressed as,

—-[from equation (1)]

Unit: S.I. unit of measurement is m/s

Other useful units of measurement = Km/hr and m/min, miles per hour, foot per second, etc.

Dimensional Formula:


What is Velocity?

Velocity is the measurement of the change in displacement, which means the rate of change of displacement. It is a vector quantity, which means it has both direction as well as magnitude. The magnitude of the velocity is referred to as the speed. Its magnitude can be negative, positive, or even zero as well. Usually, velocity is represented using the symbol v or . However, this may vary as per the convenience and information provided in the problem.

It can be calculated using the formula,

—(1)

Here, displacement = Final position – initial position = = ∆x(say}

Time = time Taken cover the displacement = = ∆t(say}

Here, and are final and initial posting respectively and similarly are final and initial time.

It can be mathematically expressed as,

—-[from equation (1)]

Its units and dimensional formula are similar to that of speed.

Difference Between Speed and Velocity

The difference between speed and velocity is given below.

Parameters Speed Velocity
Definition Speed is defined as the measure of rate change of distance. Velocity is defined as the measure of rate change of displacement.
Nature of Quantity Speed is a scalar quantity. Velocity is a vector quantity.
Magnitude Its magnitude is always a non-zero positive integer unless the body is at rest. Its magnitude can be positive, negative, or zero as well.
Formula It can be mathematically expressed as

.

It can be mathematically expressed as,

Example Rahul running at 5 Km/hr is the measure of his speed. Rahul is running at the rate of 5 Km/hr towards the North is the measure of his velocity.

Let’s understand this through an example. Consider you went for a jog in a park having a circumference of 200 metres. You asked your friend to calculate your velocity. You have taken your friend as a point of reference as a start and end point. After continuous jogging for around half an hour and completing 4 rounds, you asked your friend about the velocity. But you were shocked by listening to it. Its magnitude comes out to be 0 m/s. This is because from the formula of velocity, we have displacement equals final minus initial position and in this case your final and initial position both are the same, resulting in zero displacement. Thus, the magnitude of velocity is also zero. What about the speed? Well, we will discuss the same in the solved examples.

Learn more about angular velocity.

Test Series
130.4k Students
NCERT XI-XII Physics Foundation Pack Mock Test
323 TOTAL TESTS | 5 Free Tests
  • 3 Live Test
  • 163 Class XI Chapter Tests
  • 157 Class XII Chapter Tests

Get Started

Speed and Velocity in Linear and Circular Motion

Let’s consider a body moving along a circular path having a radius, r covering distance, din time period, t. Then Linear speed, s can be expressed as,

Now, let’s consider the angle swept by the body in the same period, t, with respect to the center be, . Then the angular speed, can be expressed as,

Learn more about drift velocity here.

Solved Examples on Speed and Velocity

Example 1. Raj went on a jog in his nearby park, which has a circumference of 180 metres. He jogs around 10 rounds of the park. He measured the time taken so that he could calculate his efficiency. He starts from the gate of the park and ends at the same position as well, and the time taken is 30 minutes. Calculate his speed and Velocity.

Solution 1: Let’s first figure out important data from the problem. Here we are given with,

Distance = 10 × circumference = 10 × 180 metres = 1800 metres

Displacement = final position – initial position = 0, since he begins and finishes at the same position

Time taken = 30 minutes = 30 × 60 = 1800 seconds

Clearly, we know that,

Therefore, Speed = 1 m/s

Now,

therefore, Velocity = 0

Let’s prepare, practice, score high and get top ranks in all the competitive examinations with the help of the Testbook App. This app is built to create a method of concept learning for students preparing for competitive exams. Just download it and get started. So download the Testbook App from here now and get started in your journey of preparation.

If you are checking this Physics article, also check the other Physics articles in the table below:
Uses Of Concave Lens Relation Between g And G
Electric Displacement Brewster’s Law
Ground Wave Propagation Derivation of Terminal Velocity
Oil Circuit Breaker Relation Between Torque and Moment of Inertia
Relation Between Resistance and Length Derivation of Mirror Formula

More Articles for Physics

Difference Between Speed and Velocity FAQs

Speed is defined as the rate of change of distance per unit time whereas Velocity is defined as the rate of change of displacement per unit time.

Average speed is defined as the total distance covered divided by total time taken to cover that distance (including breaks, if any during the journey) whereas average velocity is defined as the ratio of total displacement and total time taken.

Speed measures the rate of change of position of the body with time whereas velocity measures the speed as well as the direction of motion. Acceleration is the measurement of rate of change of velocity with time.

Linear speed is the measure of concrete distance covered by the body while in motion whereas linear velocity is defined as the measure of rate change in linear displacement per unit time.

Speed is the rate at which an object covers distance and velocity is the measure of rate change in the position of the object in a particular direction.

Report An Error