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?
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To answer the title of your question. No
Speed is literally a measurement of the rate of change in *distance* speed without any discussion of distance is nonsensical.
To answer your second question about the size. That also doesn’t matter. When we talk about speed we are basically say a specific *point* has traveled a given distance in a given time. The size of the object that point is attached to is irrelevant. Like this about it this way if you have a semi truck and a small compact car that both drive 60 miles in on hour. Did the licence plate on the semi travel faster than the license plate on the car? Of course not.
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