Science Common Sense

203 - How do we measure speed and velocity?

Measuring speed and velocity is actually quite easy.

Speed: To measure speed, you need to know two things:

1. The distance traveled (in meters, kilometers, or miles)
2. The time taken (in seconds, minutes, or hours)

Then, you just divide the distance by the time. For example, if you traveled 10 kilometers in 2 hours, your speed is:

Speed = Distance / Time = 10 km / 2 hours = 5 kilometers per hour (km/h)

Velocity: Velocity is a bit different. It's like speed, but it also tells you the direction you're moving. To measure velocity, you need to know the same two things as speed: distance and time. But you also need to know the direction.

For example, if you traveled 10 kilometers east in 2 hours, your velocity is:

Velocity = 5 kilometers per hour (east)

The main difference between speed and velocity is that velocity includes direction, while speed is just a number.