delta, upper-case Greek D, is a prefix conventionally used to denote a difference.] Velocity answers the question “Is the object moving now, and if so – how quickly?
Once again we have an operational definition: we are told what steps to follow to calculate velocity. Note that this is a definition for average velocity. The displacement Δx is the vector sum of the smaller displacements which it contains, and some of these may subtract out. By contrast, the distance traveled is the scalar sum of the smaller distances, all of which are non-negative (they are the magnitudes of the displacements). Thus the distance traveled can be larger than the magnitude of the displacement, as in the example of travel on a circle, above. Consequently, the average velocity may be small (or zero, or negative) while the speed is positive.
Related Questions
- delta, upper-case Greek D, is a prefix conventionally used to denote a difference.] Velocity answers the question "Is the object moving now, and if so - how quickly?
- I [am in/would like to join] a social or other Greek organization. Can I still rush for Phi Delta Epsilon?
- What are Delta traps used for?
