What does the term 'velocity' refer to in vehicle physics?

The term 'velocity' in vehicle physics specifically refers to both the speed of the vehicle and the direction in which it is moving. Unlike speed, which is a scalar quantity that only measures how fast an object is moving, velocity is a vector quantity. This means that velocity conveys more information as it includes the rate at which the vehicle travels as well as the specific direction of that travel. For example, a vehicle traveling at 60 miles per hour to the north has a different velocity from one traveling at the same speed but to the south. This distinction is crucial for understanding motion in a more comprehensive way, especially in contexts like navigation, collision avoidance, and physics calculations.