One-Dimensional Kinematics and Free Fall

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering linear motion, position-time and velocity-time graphs, accelerated motion formulas, braking calculations, and free fall.

Point-Like Object (Massenschwerpunkt)

The physical idealization where a body is treated strictly as a point mass located at its center of mass, ignoring spatial extension.

Rectilinear Motion (Geradlinige Bewegung)

Motion occurring exclusively along a straight line, which may include reversals of direction.

Velocity ($v$)

A vector quantity indicating how fast and in what direction an object travels, expressing the distance covered over a specific time interval relative to a starting point.

Position Function for Constant Velocity ($x(t)$)

The linear kinematic equation $x(t) = v_0 \cdot t + x_0$, where $x_0$ is the initial distance from the reference origin $x = 0\,\text{m}$.

Slope of an $x(t)$-Diagram

The gradient of a position-time graph, which represents the instantaneous velocity (Momentangeschwindigkeit) of the object.

Area Under a $v(t)$-Diagram

The numerical area enclosed between the velocity graph and the time axis, which corresponds to the total distance covered (zurückgelegte Strecke).

Acceleration ($a$)

Any change in velocity over time, defined by the formula $a = \frac{v_2 - v_1}{t}$, representing the slope in a $v(t)$-diagram.

Position Equation for Accelerated Motion

The second-degree polynomial equation $x(t) = \frac{1}{2} \cdot a \cdot t^2 + v_0 \cdot t + x_0$, whose plot in an $x(t)$-diagram forms a parabola.

Velocity Equation for Accelerated Motion ($v(t)$)

The linear relationship $v(t) = a \cdot t + v_0$, describing how velocity changes under constant acceleration over time.

Intersection Calculation (Schnittstelle)

The mathematical process of determining where two moving bodies meet by setting their position equations equal, rearranging to zero, and applying the quadratic formula (Mitternachtsformel).

Braking Process (Bremsung)

A deceleration maneuver where coming to a stop implies $v(t) = 0\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}$, determined by setting $0 = a \cdot t + v_0$ and substituting the resulting time $t$ into the position function $x(t)$.

Free Fall (Freier Fall)

Uniformly accelerated motion starting from rest ($v_0 = 0\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}$) from an initial height $x_0$ under gravitational acceleration $a = -9.81\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}^2}$, analyzed in the absence of air resistance.