simply. speed. Rate at which an object’s position changes in a specific direction over time. A vector quantity. See acceleration and vector.
Velocity is the speed in combination with the direction of motion of an object. Velocity is a fundamental concept in kinematics, the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies.
| Velocity | |
|---|---|
 As a change of direction occurs while the racing cars turn on the curved track, their velocity is not constant even if their speed is. | |
Common symbols | v, v, v→, v |
Other units | mph, ft/s |
| In SI base units | m/s |
| Dimension | L T−1 |
Velocity is a physical vector quantity: both magnitude and direction are needed to define it. The scalar absolute value (magnitude) of velocity is called speed, being a coherent derived unit whose quantity is measured in the SI (metric system) as metres per second (m/s or m⋅s−1). For example, "5 metres per second" is a scalar, whereas "5 metres per second east" is a vector. If there is a change in speed, direction or both, then the object is said to be undergoing an acceleration.