Question

which explains the information needed to calculate speed and velocity?
○ both require the total distance, but velocity also requires time and displacement.
○ both require time, but velocity requires displacement and speed requires distance.
○ speed requires displacement, while velocity requires distance.
○ speed does not require time, while velocity does require time.

Explanation:

To determine the correct option, we recall the formulas for speed and velocity. Speed is calculated as \( \text{speed} = \frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}} \), and velocity is \( \text{velocity} = \frac{\text{displacement}}{\text{time}} \). Both speed and velocity require time. Speed uses distance (a scalar quantity), while velocity uses displacement (a vector quantity).

• Analyzing Option 1: It says both require total distance, but velocity does not require distance (it requires displacement), so this is incorrect.
• Analyzing Option 2: This matches the formulas—both need time, speed needs distance, velocity needs displacement.
• Analyzing Option 3: It swaps the requirements for speed and velocity, so it's incorrect.
• Analyzing Option 4: Both speed and velocity require time (since \( \text{speed} = \frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}} \) and \( \text{velocity} = \frac{\text{displacement}}{\text{time}} \)), so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Both require time, but velocity requires displacement and speed requires distance.