Kinematics in Two Dimensions

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 3 of Physics: Principles with Applications, helping students to review critical terms and their definitions.

Vector

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

Scalar

A quantity that has only magnitude.

Resultant Vector

The sum of two or more vectors.

Projectile Motion

The motion of an object moving in two dimensions under the influence of gravity, following a parabolic path.

Pythagorean Theorem

A mathematical formula used to calculate the displacement of vectors at right angles to one another.

Components

Two perpendicular vectors whose sum is a given vector.

Tail-to-Tip Method

A graphical method for adding vectors by placing the tail of one vector at the tip of another.

Parallelogram Method

A method of vector addition where two vectors are represented as adjacent sides of a parallelogram.

Constant Acceleration

Motion at which the acceleration does not change; in projectile motion, this occurs in the vertical direction due to gravity.

Relative Velocity

The velocity of an object as observed from a particular reference frame.