Are the units of velocity the same as the units of speed?

Velocity and speed are related concepts in physics, and while they are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, their definitions and the units associated with them have distinct characteristics.

Both velocity and speed measure how fast an object is moving. In the International System of Units (SI), both speed and velocity are measured in meters per second (m/s). This is where the confusion often arises.

Velocity, however, is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. For example, saying an object is moving at 10 m/s to the east describes both how fast it is moving and the direction of that movement. Speed, on the other hand, is a scalar quantity and only considers magnitude: it describes how fast an object is moving regardless of its direction. For instance, an object moving at 10 m/s has a speed of 10 m/s, but its velocity would depend on the direction it is traveling.

Thus, considering that both velocity and speed can indeed be expressed using the same unit (meters per second), the assertion that their units are the same is true.