PHY 1510 – Introduction to Newtonian Mechanics: 1-D Kinematics

VOCABULARY flashcards covering fundamental 1-D Kinematics concepts including vectors, scalars, motion parameters, and graphical interpretations.

Position

The vector pointing from the origin to the point or object, characterized by both magnitude and direction.

Vector

A physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction, often represented as an arrow.

Scalar

A physical quantity that only has magnitude, such as distance, speed, and temperature.

Displacement

A vector quantity giving the change in position between two points, calculated as $\Delta \vec{r} = \vec{r}_f - \vec{r}_i$.

Distance

A scalar quantity representing the ground covered by an actual route, which does not provide a direction.

Average velocity

The ratio of displacement to the time interval in which the displacement occurred, defined as $\vec{v}_{avg} = \frac{\Delta \vec{r}}{\Delta t}$.

Instantaneous velocity

The derivative of the position vector with respect to time, defined as $\vec{v} = \lim_{\Delta t \to 0} \frac{\Delta \vec{r}}{\Delta t} = \frac{d\vec{r}}{dt}$.

Acceleration

The rate of change in velocity over a certain period of time.

Average acceleration

The change in the velocity vector divided by the time interval of interest, defined as $\vec{a}_{avg} = \frac{\Delta \vec{v}}{\Delta t}$.

Instantaneous acceleration

The limit of the average acceleration as the time interval approaches zero, defined as $\vec{a} = \lim_{\Delta t \to 0} \frac{\Delta \vec{v}}{\Delta t} = \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}$.

Slope ($\text{Position vs. Time Graph}$)

A calculation of the rise over run ($\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$) that measures the velocity of an object.

Slope ($\text{Velocity vs. Time Graph}$)

The calculation defined as $\frac{\Delta v_x}{\Delta t_x} = \frac{v_2 - v_1}{t_2 - t_1}$, where steeper slopes correspond to greater acceleration.

Gravity ($g$)

On the surface of the Earth, it causes a downward acceleration of magnitude $9.8\,m/s^2$.

Free fall

A particular type of constant acceleration motion where the acceleration is directed downward with the magnitude of $g$, regardless of whether the object is moving up or down.