What is the difference between Speed, Velocity and Acceleration?

Speed and Velocity are both measures of distance travelled in a given time and are therefore calculated using Speed=Distance/Time.Speed is a scalar quantity which means that it is quantified by a magnitude only. Velocity is a vector quantity whcih means that it is quantified by a magnitude and a direction (it can also be considered to be speed in a given direction).Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, which means that it is the measure of change in velocity over a given time. Since it is a change in velocity rather than a change in speed, the change described could be a change in magnitude, a change in direction, or a change in both of these values. Acceleration is also a vector quantity.

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

If Hannah slows down from a speed of 12 m/s to 8 m/s and has a mass of 45kg, how much force has been exerted on her to cause this deceleration?


A charged particle in a cyclotron moves in a circle with radius 5mm. If the field in the cyclotron is 0.06 T and the velocity of the particle is 2.4x10^7, what is the charge-mass ratio of the particle?


How does electromagnetic induction produce a current?


The focal length of the lens is 10 cm. Calculate the power of the lens. State the unit.