Speed is defined as what?

• A. The acceleration of gravity
• B. The energy of motion
• C. The distance traveled in a given time
• D. The rate of climb

Answer: (C)

Speed is the rate at which an object covers distance. It’s defined as distance traveled divided by the time it takes, so it’s a scalar quantity (no direction). In flight, speed tells you how far you move in a given time, using units like knots or mph. For example, flying 120 nautical miles in 2 hours gives a speed of 60 knots. The other ideas map to different concepts: gravitational acceleration is a constant, not motion rate; the energy of motion refers to kinetic energy; and the rate of climb describes how quickly altitude increases, i.e., vertical speed.