______in a particular direction is velocity.

The correct answer is Speed.Key Points

• The average velocity of the body will be the total displacement covered by the total time taken. It is mathematically represented as:

                    \(\text{Average velocity=}\frac{\text{Total Displacement covered}}{\text{Total time taken}}\)

•  Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final position while distance is the actual distance covered by the moving object.

For example-

If a moving object covers a certain displacement d in a time t1 to t2, then the average velocity of the body is:

 \({{V}_{av}}=\frac{d}{{{t}_{2}}-{{t}_{1}}}\)

• It is a vector quantity and it tells about the direction of motion.
•  The average velocity can be positive or negative.
•  Its unit is the same as that of velocity which is m/s.

Explanation:-

• The speed of a moving particle measures how fast it is moving.
• It does not tell about the direction of motion while in the case of velocity speed it has both magnitude and direction.
• So, the velocity of a moving particle measures the rate of change in position during its entire motion. i.e speed of a particle in a given direction.

Additional Information

• Acceleration
  • Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
  • Acceleration is a vector quantity as it has both magnitude and direction. It also the second derivative of position with respect to time or it is the first derivative of velocity with respect to time.
  • Instantaneous acceleration is defined as the ratio of change in velocity during a given time interval such that the time interval goes to zero.
• Displacement
  • It is the shortest distance covered by a body in a definite direction.
  • It is a vector quantity.
  • It can be positive, Negative, or Zero.
  • The unit of displacement is a meter(m).

• Distance
  • The length of the actual path covered by a moving object in a given time.
  • It is a scalar quantity.
  • It is always positive.
  • The unit of distance is a meter (m).