The rates of change of position of objects with respect to time, including both speed and direction. Plural form of velocity.
From Latin velocitas meaning 'swiftness', from velox meaning 'swift' or 'quick'. The scientific definition distinguishing velocity from speed developed in the 17th century with advances in physics.
Unlike speed, velocity is a vector quantity that cares about direction - you could run very fast on a treadmill and have high speed but zero velocity since you're not actually going anywhere! This distinction revolutionized physics.
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