The Physics Classroom - Speed and Velocity

Speed and Velocity  The Physics Classroom says, "Speed is a scalar quantity which refers to "how fast and object is moving."  A fast-moving object has a high speed while a slow-moving object has a low speed.  An object with no movement at all has a zero speed."

"Velocity is a vector quantity which refers to "the rate at which an object changes its position. ... as such, velocity is "direction-aware.""

Now lets say, Dear Heart gets scared and lonely on the stage, so she calls, "Here kitty, kitty!  Here kitty, kitty!" 

A kitty will move about 3 speeds.  "Slow/taunting" like the kitty not wanting to admit directly he would obey any human being (10 ft/120 sec, or 5 ft/min stage left).  "Curious, but cautious," like the kitty not wanting to admit that hopping bug you have is mildly interesting (10 ft/60 sec, or 10 ft/min stage left). And, "On a mission/avert all obstacles," like when the kitty figures out you are opening a can of his favorite cat food (10 ft/3 sec, or 3.3 ft/sec stage left).

Without using the "stage left" when recognizing ft/min, or ft/sec the measurement would refer to speed.  With "stage left," we got ourselves a velocity!

We've been fearful for about a week, because we kept thinking it was going to be an attacker moving across the stage, but we figured, we can now control the images we project, hence keeping both us and Dear Heart safe!  This story doesn't even have to have theatre mice! 

But, then we thought that any one of the slow, medium, or fast kitties that have reached Dear Hearts ankles could trip her up and topple Dear Heart and us. 

But, we are going to error on the side of caution.  We'll say that Dear heart has zero displacement, speed or velocity when the kitty meets up with her.  And, now she's happy because we have given her a low stool to sit on and the kitty has hopped onto her lap for a good petting.  Good kitty, kitty!