Is there a measure of speed that is not dependent on distance?

431 views

This question stemmed from a conversation about measuring the speed of two very different objects. I realized that, unlike other measures that have their own units (length, mass, etc.), speed is measured using a ratio of distance and time. So I was wondering, does the size of the objects get factored into the measurement somehow? If speed is only ever measured using this distance/time approach (mph, for example), then wouldn’t the measure of speed become problematic since a large object is able to cover more distance than a small object?

In: 0

15 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

A large object traveling at 20 mph goes at the same exact speed as a small object traveling at 20 mph. The larger object will only cover a greater distance in the same amount of time if it increases its speed.

Your question is kind of like asking if there is a measure of volume that does not depend on space. But volume only makes sense as a concept if we refer to space. Because volume literally depends on how much space something takes up. That’s what volume fundamentally is.

You are viewing 1 out of 15 answers, click here to view all answers.