What is the difference between the speed and the torque of a motor?

Speed is a measure of how far something travels in a given period of time. The rate of change in position. For a motor, speed is measured in revolutions per minute.

Torque is force exerted as an object rotates. To turn a motor shaft requires a certain amount of torque. If a load is added to the shaft, more torque is required to turn it.

Two motors of different sizes may run at the same speed. A shaded-pole motor (example: window fan) exerts very little torque. A common speed is 1800 or 1200 RPM.

A large industrial motor (example; factory conveyor belt) may exert a very high torque in order to start a heavy load, and yet it runs at a similar speed.

The same is true of engines. An eight cylinder car engine can run at 3600 RPM and exert a great amount of torque. A small generator will run at 3600 RPM, but not exert nearly as much torque as the car.