Acceleration
the rate at which velocity changes
Average Speed
distance traveled divided by time during which motion occurs
Average Velocity
displacement divided by time over which displacement occurs
Dependent Variable
the variable that changes as the independent variable changes
Displacement
the change in position of an object against a fixed axis
Distance
the length of the path actually traveled between an initial and a final position
Independent Variable
the variable, usually along the horizontal axis of a graph, that does not change based on human or experimental action; in physics, this is usually time
Instantaneous Speed
speed at a specific instant in time
Instantaneous Velocity
velocity at a specific instant in time
Kinematics
the study of motion without considering its causes
Magnitude
size or amount
Position
the location of an object at any particular time
Reference Frame
a coordinate system from which the positions of objects are described
Scalar
a quantity that has magnitude (and possibly sign) but no direction
Speed
rate at which an object changes its location
Tangent
a line that touches another at exactly one point
Vector
a quantity that has both magnitude and direction
Velocity
the speed and direction of an object
2.1 Relative Motion, Distance, and Displacement
A description of motion depends on the reference frame from which it is described.
2.2 Speed and Velocity
Average speed is a scalar quantity that describes distance traveled divided by the time during which the motion occurs.
2.3 Position vs. Time Graphs
Graphs can be used to analyze motion.
2.4 Velocity vs. Time Graphs
The slope of a velocity vs. time graph is the acceleration.
Displacement (Equation)
Îd = df â dâ
Average Speed (Equation)
vavg = distance / time
Average Velocity (Equation)
vavg = Îd / Ît = (df â dâ) / (tf â tâ)
Position vs. Time Graph (Equation)
d = dâ + v * t
Velocity vs. Time Graph (Equation)
v = vâ + at
Average Acceleration (Equation)
aavg = Îv / Ît = (vf â vâ) / (tf â tâ)
Constant Acceleration (Equation)
v = vâ + at
Displacement with Constant Acceleration (Equation)
d = dâ + vâ * t + 1/2 * a * t²
Velocity with Constant Acceleration (Equation)
v² = vâ² + 2a(d â dâ)
Projectile Range (Equation)
R = (vâ² * sin(2θâ)) / g