Modeling One-Dimensional Motion Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary and conceptual flashcards covering one-dimensional motion, scalar and vector quantities, displacement, velocity, acceleration, and the principles of free fall.

Scalar quantity

A quantity that has magnitude only and has no direction in space; examples include length, area, volume, time, and mass.

Vector quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and a direction in space; examples include displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force.

Position

An object's directed distance from a reference point.

Movement

A state that occurs when the position of an object with respect to a given reference point has changed.

Displacement

A vector quantity representing the straight line distance and direction from the starting point to the ending point, regardless of the path taken.

Distance

A scalar quantity representing the total length of the path taken.

Speed

A scalar quantity that simply tells you how fast an object is moving.

Velocity

A vector quantity that tells how fast and in what direction an object is moving.

Average speed

The total distance traveled divided by the total time taken.

Average velocity

The ratio of an object's change in position (displacement) to the time taken to change the position, represented by the formula $v_{av} = \frac{d}{t}$.

Sign of velocity

Indicates the direction of movement, where a positive value implies movement in the positive direction and a negative value implies movement in the negative direction.

Instantaneous velocity

What is happening to an object's speed and direction at every point of time.

Instantaneous speed

The magnitude of the instantaneous velocity.

Acceleration

The ratio of an object's change in velocity to the time taken to change the velocity, indicated by $a_{av} = \frac{v}{t}$.

Free fall

Motion under the influence of gravity only, with no friction or air resistance involved.

Galileo (1564 – 1642)

Scientist associated with the leaning tower of Pisa who studied how all objects fall with the same constant acceleration when air resistance is neglected.

David Scott

Apollo 15 astronaut who famously demonstrated the Hammer and Feather experiment on the Moon in 1971.

Acceleration due to gravity

Represented by the symbol $g$, it is defined as $g = 9.8\text{ m/s}^2$.

Free fall distance formula

The equation used to calculate the total distance an object has fallen from rest, given as $\frac{1}{2}gt^2$.

Projectile motion rule

When Earth’s gravity is the only force involved, the actual height is equal to the height for no gravity minus $\frac{1}{2}gt^2$.