Thread: Speed vs Velocity

Hi everyone!

I have a doubt concerning 2 terms which are commonly used together in Physics: speed and velocity; I believe they should be translated as "rapidez" and "velocidad", respectively, but I am not quite sure...

Any ideas?

Thanks!

hi! I am a Spanish speaker.
I don`t know how is in English, but here in Physics we use "rapidez" meaning only the value of it. "Velocidad" is the vector with its components.

Hi, Santiago!

Yes, for what I've been reading,the difference between the two centers around the concept of direction.

Basically velocity has both magnitude and direction. Speed is only the magnitude.
Velocity is how fast something goes with direction and speed is how far something goes in a unit of time.

I guess this pretty much clarifies my doubts.

Thanks!