Answer to Question #163395 in Physics for Bigman

Question

The train traveled 300 kilometers north to Chicago in 3 hours. What is the

train's speed? What is the train's velocity?*

Answer 1

The speed is a scalar quantity and it has the magnitude only. The speed of the train can be found as follows:

$$v=\dfrac{s}{t}=\dfrac{300\ km}{3\ h}=100\ \dfrac{km}{h}.$$

The velocity is a vector quantity and it has both magnitude and direction. Therefore, the train's velocity is $100\ \dfrac{km}{h} [North]$.