What is the term for the distance traveled per unit time?

The term that refers to the distance traveled per unit time is speed. Speed is a scalar quantity that describes how fast an object is moving, without regard to its direction. It is typically expressed in units such as meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h).

Understanding speed is fundamental in physics because it provides a straightforward measurement of motion. For example, if a car travels 60 kilometers in one hour, its speed is 60 kilometers per hour. This measurement helps characterize the motion of objects in various contexts, such as transportation and sports.

Other concepts like velocity, acceleration, and momentum involve additional factors. Velocity, while related to speed, also includes direction, making it a vector quantity. Acceleration refers to the rate of change of speed over time, and momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. Each of these terms has its unique significance in the study of motion, but when specifically discussing the distance traveled per unit time, speed is the correct choice.