Difference between revisions of "Speed"
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| − | In [[physics]], speed refers to the magnitude of the [[velocity]] of an object. | + | In [[physics]], |
| + | '''speed''' refers to the magnitude of the [[velocity]] of an object. | ||
| − | + | Speed is the total [[distance]] traveled divided by the [[time]] it takes to travel it.<ref>Serway and Beichner, ''Physics for Scientists and Engineers'', Fifth Edition</ref> | |
<math>Speed=\frac{d D}{d t}</math> | <math>Speed=\frac{d D}{d t}</math> | ||
| − | Note that speed is a [[scalar]], therefore it has no direction | + | Note that speed is a [[scalar]], therefore it has no direction, and because it is a measure of magnitude, it is never negative. |
| − | Like velocity, units for its measurement are [[meter]]/[[second]] and more commonly in informal circumstances [[kilometer]]/[[hour]] and [[mile]]/[[hour]]. | + | Like velocity, units for its measurement are [[meter]]s/[[second]] (m/s), and more commonly in informal circumstances [[kilometer]]s/[[hour]] (kph) or (km/h) and [[mile]]s/[[hour]] (mph) or (MPH). |
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Category:Mechanics]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:02, April 6, 2017
In physics, speed refers to the magnitude of the velocity of an object.
Speed is the total distance traveled divided by the time it takes to travel it.[1]
<math>Speed=\frac{d D}{d t}</math>
Note that speed is a scalar, therefore it has no direction, and because it is a measure of magnitude, it is never negative.
Like velocity, units for its measurement are meters/second (m/s), and more commonly in informal circumstances kilometers/hour (kph) or (km/h) and miles/hour (mph) or (MPH).
References
- ↑ Serway and Beichner, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Fifth Edition