[raghusesha (OP)]

Why is the term "speed of light" used so popularly and not "velocity of light" even though light travels in straight line?  (I know that the path may not be truly a straight line based on the gravitational warping caused by celestial bodies, but certainly I feel "velocity" is a more suitable term than "speed")

[JP]

Velocity is speed with a direction.  The speed of light is a constant, but the velocity isn't, since light can travel in different directions. 

[Soul Surfer]

Although JP is correct here I think that he is a bit pedantic.  I think that it is just a matter of preferred usage.  By speed everyone understands that the speed of an object is the velocity in the direction in which it is travelling.  Also if I were to say the velocity of something (unqualified) was x  we would understand that that also referred to the direction in which it was travelling

[JP]

Although JP is correct here I think that he is a bit pedantic. 

Me?  Pedantic?  Never!    []

[Geezer]

It's better than "rate of speed", which is frequently used by the media and the constabulary in the US, as in;

"Geezer was driving at a high rate of speed when I apprehended him."

I suspect this is a (sad) reflection on the level of science education in the US school system.

[SteveFish]

You think that's bad? Now just tell me what the lineal distance was that you traveled before the highway patrol got you?