Describing motion

Scalar quantity

A quantity that has only magnitude (e.g., distance, speed)

Vector quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction (e.g., displacement, velocity)

Typical walking speed

1.5 m/s

Typical running speed

3.0 m/s

Typical cycling speed

6.0 m/s

Gradient of a Distance-Time graph

Represents the speed of the object

Gradient of a Velocity-Time graph

Represents the acceleration of the object

Area under a Velocity-Time graph

Represents the total distance travelled (or displacement)

Acceleration formula

Acceleration (m/s²) = Change in Velocity (m/s) / Time (s)

Uniform acceleration equation

Final velocity² – Initial velocity² = 2 x acceleration x distance (v² - u² = 2as)