What concept in physics is commonly associated with the term 'velocity'?

Velocity is a fundamental concept in physics that refers to the speed of an object in a specific direction. This definition distinguishes it from speed, which is a scalar quantity that only describes how fast an object is moving, regardless of its direction. In contrast, velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it incorporates both the magnitude (how fast) and the direction of the motion.

Understanding velocity is essential for analyzing motion since it gives a complete picture of how an object is moving through space. For example, if a car is traveling north at 60 miles per hour, its velocity precisely describes both how fast it is going and in which direction, allowing for more accurate predictions of its future position when compared to speed alone.