Concept explainers
Does a car speedmeter measure speed, velocity, or both?
Whether a car speedometer measure speed, velocity, or both.
Answer to Problem 1Q
Since speedometer does not indicates the direction of travelling, it measures only speed.
Explanation of Solution
Speed is the distance travelled per unit interval of time. Speed is a scalar quantity. It need to specify only magnitude. Velocity should specify magnitude and direction of motion since it is a vector quantity. A speedometer of a car measures instantaneous speed. It calculate the distance of travel within a particular interval of time. Speedometer calculate the speed using the distance and time interval.
Speedometer cannot identify the direction in the car is moving. It gives no indication of the direction in which the car is travelling. Since it cannot give direction of motion, speedometer can give speed of the car.
Conclusion:
Since speedometer does not indicates the direction of travelling, it measures only speed.
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