A motorcycle goes north at 40 miles per hour. A car goes south at 40 miles per hour on the same street. Which statement is true?

Question

The vehicles are going in opposite directions, so their speed is not the same.
The vehicles are going in opposite directions, so their speed is not the same.

The vehicles have the same speed, but different velocity.
The vehicles have the same speed, but different velocity.

The vehicles have the same speed and velocity.
The vehicles have the same speed and velocity.

The vehicles have the same velocity, but not the same speed.

Answer 1

The correct statement is:

The vehicles have the same speed, but different velocity.

Here's why:

• Speed is a scalar quantity, which means it only has magnitude. In this case, both the motorcycle and the car are traveling at 40 miles per hour, so their speeds are the same.

• Velocity is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. Since the motorcycle is traveling north and the car is traveling south, their velocities are different even though their speeds are the same.