In physics, velocity is a vector quantity that describes the rate at which an object changes its position. It includes both the magnitude (speed) and the direction of motion. The velocity of an object can change if its speed or direction changes.
Mathematically, velocity is defined as the displacement (change in position) divided by the time taken:
Velocity = Displacement / Time
The displacement is the change in position, given by the final position minus the initial position. The time taken refers to the duration of the motion.
To calculate the velocity of an object when given the distance traveled and time taken, you need to determine the displacement. If the object is moving in a straight line, the displacement will be equal to the distance traveled if the motion is in a single direction. However, if the object changes direction during its motion, the displacement will take into account the change in position, considering both magnitude and direction.
Once you have determined the displacement and the time taken, you can divide the displacement by the time to obtain the velocity.
Velocity = Displacement / Time
It's important to note that velocity is a vector quantity and includes both a magnitude (speed) and a direction. Therefore, when expressing velocity, you need to specify both the value and the direction (e.g., 20 m/s north). If only the magnitude is provided, it refers to the speed of the object, not its velocity.