Understanding Velocity in Physics | Definition, Formula, and Importance

Velocity

Velocity is a fundamental concept in physics and is defined as the rate at which an object changes its position in a specific direction

Velocity is a fundamental concept in physics and is defined as the rate at which an object changes its position in a specific direction. It is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude of velocity represents the speed of an object, while the direction describes the path it is moving along.

The formula to calculate velocity is:

Velocity (v) = Displacement (Δx) / Time (Δt)

Where the displacement is the change in position of an object, and time is the duration in which the displacement occurs.

Velocity can be positive or negative, depending on the direction of motion. A positive velocity indicates movement in the positive direction, while a negative velocity represents movement in the opposite direction. For example, if an object moves 10 meters east in 5 seconds, the velocity would be +2 m/s. Conversely, if an object moves 10 meters west in 5 seconds, the velocity would be -2 m/s.

It is important to note that velocity accounts for both speed and direction, making it different from speed alone. While speed tells us how fast an object is moving, velocity also gives us information about the object’s motion in a specific direction.

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