Velocity vs Speed: What's the Difference?

Speed tells you how fast; velocity tells you how fast and in which direction. A car circling a track at constant 60 mph has constant speed but changing velocity.

Step-by-step

1. Speed = total distance ÷ total time (always positive scalar).
2. Velocity = displacement ÷ time (vector — can be negative in 1D).
3. Example: walk 3 m east then 3 m west in 6 s. Distance = 6 m, speed = 1 m/s. Displacement = 0, velocity = 0.
4. Constant speed with changing direction (circular motion) means changing velocity.
5. In 1D, velocity sign indicates direction (+ = right/east, − = left/west).
6. Read our blog post on velocity vs speed for more examples and practice problems.

Open the Velocity Calculator to apply these steps with your own numbers instantly.

Frequently asked questions