Angular speed tells us how fast an object is rotating or revolving. It's a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude (a numerical value). Think of it like how fast a record player is spinning β just the speed, no direction.
Angular velocity, on the other hand, is a vector quantity. This means it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. The direction tells you the axis of rotation and whether the object is rotating clockwise or counterclockwise. Imagine a spinning top β you know how fast it's spinning AND the direction it's leaning.
| Feature | Angular Speed | Angular Velocity |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Rate of change of angular displacement. | Rate of change of angular displacement with direction. |
| Type of Quantity | Scalar | Vector |
| Direction | Not specified | Specified (Clockwise or Counterclockwise) |
| Symbol | $\omega$ (Greek letter omega) | $\vec{\omega}$ (Greek letter omega with an arrow) |
| Units | radians per second (rad/s) | radians per second (rad/s) |
| Formula | $\omega = \frac{\Delta \theta}{\Delta t}$ | $\vec{\omega} = \frac{\Delta \vec{\theta}}{\Delta t}$ |
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