The direction and speed of an object is described by its
A. displacement
B. average speed
C. velocity
D. average displacement

Displacement has direction but not speed.
Average speed has speed but not direction.
Velocity has both direction and speed.
Average displacement has direction but not speed.

The direction and speed of an object is described by its v e l oc i t y ​ .
Explanation

Understanding the Question The question asks us to identify which term accurately describes both the direction and speed of an object from the given options. Let's analyze each option to determine the correct answer.

Analyzing the Options



Displacement: Displacement refers to the change in position of an object. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (size) and direction. However, displacement does not directly describe the speed of the object.
Average Speed: Average speed is the total distance traveled by an object divided by the total time taken. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude (speed) but no direction.
Velocity: Velocity is the rate of change of displacement. It is a vector quantity, possessing both magnitude (speed) and direction. Therefore, velocity describes both how fast an object is moving and in what direction.
Average Displacement: Average displacement is the total displacement divided by the total time. While it has direction, it doesn't directly describe the speed at any given moment.


Determining the Correct Answer Based on the definitions, velocity is the term that describes both the direction and speed of an object.

Final Answer Therefore, the correct answer is velocity.


Examples
In sports, understanding velocity is crucial. For example, when a baseball pitcher throws a ball, both the speed and direction of the ball are critical for the catcher to anticipate and catch it successfully. Similarly, in soccer, the velocity of a pass determines where a player needs to be to receive the ball accurately. This concept extends to many other sports and activities where both speed and direction are important.

Answered by GinnyAnswer | 2025-07-08

The correct answer is velocity, as it describes both the direction and speed of an object. Displacement and average displacement define direction but not speed, while average speed describes speed without direction. Therefore, among the options, velocity is the term that encompasses both aspects of motion.
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Answered by Anonymous | 2025-07-12