What describes the relationship between distance traveled and time?

The relationship between distance traveled and time is best described by speed. Speed is defined as the distance covered per unit time, indicating how quickly an object is moving along a path. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has a magnitude and does not take direction into account.

For example, if a runner covers 100 meters in 10 seconds, their speed can be calculated as 10 meters per second (m/s), which reflects how far they traveled over that time period. This simple relation makes speed a fundamental concept in physics and physical education, as it allows us to measure and understand the dynamics of movement.

The other concepts, such as velocity, acceleration, and momentum, involve additional factors. Velocity includes direction in addition to speed, making it a vector quantity. Acceleration refers to the rate of change of velocity over time, and momentum relates to the mass of an object in motion and its velocity. Understanding speed provides a foundational context for these more advanced concepts.