4.4 Speed/Velocity & Distance/Displacement

Question 1

What is displacement?

Answer 1

Displacement is a vector quantity. At a given moment, it measures the net distance and direction in a straight line from an object’s starting point to its finishing point - e.g. the plane flew 5 metres north.

Question 2

How is speed and velocity different?

Answer 2

Speed is how fast the object’s going with no regard to the direction. Velocity is speed of the object in a given direction.