The distance traveled by an object per unit time is called * 1 point a. velocity b. speed c. momentum d. acceleration
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: b. speed
Explanation (300 words):
Speed is defined as the distance traveled by an object per unit of time. It is a scalar quantity, which means it only has magnitude and no direction. The formula to calculate speed is: Speed=DistanceTime\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}
For example, if a car travels 100 kilometers in 2 hours, its speed is: 100 km2 hr=50 km/hr\frac{100 \text{ km}}{2 \text{ hr}} = 50 \text{ km/hr}
Speed tells us how fast an object is moving but not in which direction.
Let’s briefly compare it with the other options to clarify why they are incorrect:
- a. Velocity – Velocity is similar to speed but includes direction. For example, 50 km/h north is velocity, while 50 km/h alone is speed.
- c. Momentum – Momentum is the product of an object’s mass and velocity. It reflects how much motion an object has and is a vector quantity (includes direction). The formula is: Momentum=Mass×Velocity\text{Momentum} = \text{Mass} \times \text{Velocity}
- d. Acceleration – Acceleration measures how quickly an object’s velocity changes over time. It includes both magnitude and direction and is given by: Acceleration=Change in velocityTime\text{Acceleration} = \frac{\text{Change in velocity}}{\text{Time}}
Therefore, among all the choices, only speed directly answers the question about distance per unit time.
Understanding speed is fundamental in physics and daily life — from driving cars to calculating the time required to walk a certain distance. It plays a key role in describing motion and is often the first concept introduced in kinematics.