Kinematics: Distance, Displacement, Velocity, and Speed Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core kinematics definitions, equations for average speed and velocity, circular motion metrics, and Galileo's law of odd numbers from the lecture transcript.

Path Length (Distance Travelled)

The total length of the path travelled by an object. It is a scalar quantity.

Displacement

The change in position of an object.

Average Velocity

The ratio of total displacement to the total time interval, given by $\text{Average velocity} = \frac{\text{Total displacement}}{\text{Total time interval}}$.

Average Speed

The ratio of total path length (distance travelled) to the total time interval, given by $\text{Average speed} = \frac{\text{Total path length}}{\text{Total time interval}}$.

Distance Travelled in a Full Circular Rotation

$2\text{π}R$, where $R$ is the radius of the circular path.

Displacement in a Full Circular Rotation

Zero, when an object completes one full rotation in a circular path.

Average Speed Formula for Equal Distance Leg Trips

$\text{Average speed} = \frac{2v_1 v_2}{v_1 + v_2}$, derived from $\frac{2d}{\frac{d}{v_1} + \frac{d}{v_2}}$.

Galileo's Law of Odd Numbers

The distances traversed during equal intervals of time, by a body falling from rest, stand to one another in the same ratio as the odd numbers beginning with unity (namely, $1 : 3 : 5 : 7 \text{…}$).