What is the velocity of a sail boat that is traveling 100 meters in 120 seconds?

Question

 I do not understand velocity at all can someone help because our teacher said it that velocity and speed were the same thing and it is confusing me.

Answer 1

Velocity and speed are not necessarily the same thing. 

 

Speed refers to a magnitude. velocity is a vector and has direction associated with it. You will hear speed and velocity used interchang though sometimes.

 

if you travel 100 meters in 120 seconds then speed is

speed = total distance/time = 100 m/120 s = 5/6 m/s.

 

if you traveled east for example the velocity is 5/6 m/s in the east direction.

 

hope helpful - 

best david