The exact answer to the question "What is a change in position over time in a specified direction known as?" is Velocity.
Understanding Velocity
Velocity is a fundamental concept in physics that describes how fast an object is moving and in what direction it is traveling. It's not just about speed; the direction is crucial.
Based on the provided information, we know that:
- The correct answer is Velocity.
- Key Points: The motion of an object in a specified direction is called velocity.
Velocity vs. Speed
It's common to confuse velocity with speed, but they are distinct concepts:
- Speed tells you how fast an object is moving (e.g., 50 miles per hour). It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude.
- Velocity tells you how fast an object is moving and in what direction (e.g., 50 miles per hour north). It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
Consider the difference:
| Characteristic | Speed | Velocity |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Rate of change of distance | Rate of change of displacement |
| Includes | Magnitude only | Magnitude and Direction |
| Type | Scalar | Vector |
Practical Examples of Velocity
Understanding velocity is important in many real-world scenarios:
- Navigation: Pilots and sailors rely on velocity to determine their course and arrival time. Knowing you are traveling at 500 mph is not enough; you need to know in which direction.
- Weather Forecasting: Tracking the velocity of wind helps predict weather patterns. Wind moving at 20 mph west is different from wind moving at 20 mph east.
- Vehicle Motion: When driving, your speedometer shows your speed. However, your velocity is your speed plus your direction (e.g., heading north on the highway).
Velocity is mathematically represented as the rate of change of displacement over time. Displacement is the straight-line distance between two points, including the direction.
In summary: Velocity precisely defines motion by combining both the speed of movement and the direction of travel. It is the change in an object's position over a specific duration, explicitly accounting for the path's orientation.
