What is the difference between speed and velocity?

Here's a breakdown of the key differences between speed and velocity:

• Speed: Speed is a scalar quantity that refers to "how fast an object is moving." It is the rate at which an object covers distance. It only has a magnitude. For example, a car might be traveling at a speed of 60 km/h. To understand this better, read more about speed.

• Velocity: Velocity is a vector quantity that refers to "the rate at which an object changes its position." It is the rate at which an object covers distance in a certain direction. It has both magnitude and direction. For example, a car might be traveling at a velocity of 60 km/h due North. To understand this better, read more about velocity.

Here's a table summarizing the key differences:

Feature	Speed	Velocity
Type	Scalar	Vector
Definition	Rate of covering distance	Rate of change of position
Direction	Not specified	Specified
Measurement	Magnitude only	Magnitude and direction

In essence, speed tells you how quickly something is moving, while velocity tells you how quickly and in what direction it's moving. A constant speed means the magnitude of the rate remains the same, while constant velocity means both the magnitude and the direction remain the same.