Physics - Chap 2: Representing Motion

Particle Model

Simplified version of a motion diagram using single points

Time Interval

Difference between two times

Motion Diagram

Series of images showing positions of a moving object

Coordinate System

A system used to describe motion that gives the zero point location of the variable being studied and the direction in which the values of the variable increase.

Origin

Point with zero value for both variables in a coordinate system

Position

Separation between an object and the origin, can be positive or negative

Distance

Scalar quantity describing how far an object is from the origin

Magnitude

Measure of size

Vectors

Quantities with both magnitude and direction

Scalars

Quantities without direction, such as temperature or distance

Resultant

Vector resulting from the sum of two other vectors

Displacement

Change in position with magnitude and direction

Position-Time Graph

A graph that can be used to determine an object's velocity and position, as well as where and when two objects meet, by plotting the time data on a horizontal axis and the position data on a vertical axis.

Instantaneous Position

Position of an object at a specific instant in time

Average Velocity

Change in position divided by time, slope of position-time graph

Average Speed

Absolute value of slope of position-time graph, how fast an object is moving

Instantaneous Velocity

Speed and direction of an object at a specific instant in time

Time Interval (Formula)

Δt = tf - ti

Displacement (Formula)

Δd = df - di

Average Velocity (Formula)

Δv = Δd/Δt = (df - di)/(tf - ti)

Equation of Motion for Average Velocity (Formula)

d = vt + di