What is the difference between speed and velocity?

Great question! In physics, **speed** and **velocity** are related but distinct concepts, and understanding their difference is important. **Speed** is a scalar quantity, which means it only has magnitude (size) and no direction. It tells you how fast an object is moving regardless of the direction. For example, if a car is traveling at 60 kilometers per hour, that number alone represents its speed. **Velocity**, on the other hand, is a vector quantity. This means it has both magnitude and direction. Velocity describes how fast an object is moving **and** the direction of its motion. For example, if the car is moving at 60 kilometers per hour to the north, that is its velocity. If the car changes direction but keeps the same speed, its velocity changes because velocity depends on direction as well as speed. In summary, speed tells you "how fast," while velocity tells you "how fast and in which direction." This distinction is important in physics because many equations and concepts (like acceleration and momentum) depend on the direction of motion, not just the speed.