General Physics 1 – Kinematics: Motion Along a Straight Line

40 vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and definitions from the lecture on one-dimensional kinematics.

Classical Mechanics

The systematic theory developed by Isaac Newton that studies motion and the forces that cause it.

Sir Isaac Newton

English physicist and mathematician whose laws form the foundation of classical mechanics.

Kinematics

The branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion.

One-Dimensional Motion

Motion that occurs along a single straight line, typically taken as the x-axis.

Reference Point

A chosen location from which positions are measured; serves as the basis for describing motion.

Origin

The zero point of a coordinate system used as the reference point for position measurements.

Position (x)

The location of an object relative to the origin in a coordinate system.

Coordinate System

A mathematical framework (e.g., an x-axis) used to specify positions in space.

Scalar Quantity

A physical quantity that has magnitude only and no direction (e.g., distance, time).

Vector Quantity

A physical quantity that possesses both magnitude and direction (e.g., displacement, velocity).

Distance

A scalar equal to the total path length traveled regardless of direction.

Path Length

The cumulative length of the actual route taken between two points.

Displacement

A vector representing the straight-line change in position from initial to final point.

Change in Position

Another name for displacement, symbolized as Δx.

Time (t)

A scalar measure of the duration of events or intervals.

Frame of Reference

The coordinate system and reference point from which motion is observed.

Speed

The rate at which distance is covered; a scalar quantity.

Instantaneous Speed

The speed of an object at a specific instant in time.

Average Speed

Total distance traveled divided by total time taken.

Velocity

The rate of change of position with respect to time; a vector quantity.

Instantaneous Velocity

The velocity of an object at a particular moment, equal to the slope of the position–time graph at that point.

Average Velocity

Total displacement divided by the time interval during which the displacement occurs.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity with respect to time.

Uniform Velocity

Motion with constant velocity and zero acceleration.

Uniform Acceleration

Motion in which acceleration remains constant over time.

Position–Time Graph

A plot with position on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis used to study motion.

Velocity–Time Graph

A plot of velocity versus time; its slope gives acceleration and its area gives displacement.

Acceleration–Time Graph

A plot of acceleration versus time; the area under the curve gives the change in velocity.

Slope (Graph)

The gradient of a line on a graph; in kinematics, it represents velocity on an x-t graph or acceleration on a v-t graph.

Area Under Curve

The integral beneath a graph line; yields displacement on a v-t graph and velocity change on an a-t graph.

Positive x Direction

The accepted forward or rightward direction along the x-axis in one-dimensional motion.

Unit Vector

A vector of length one (e.g., x̂) used to indicate direction of a vector quantity.

Total Distance

The sum of all path lengths traveled during a journey.

Total Displacement

The net change in position from start to finish, including direction.

Δx (Delta x)

Symbol representing displacement: xfinal minus xinitial.

Δt (Delta t)

Symbol representing the time interval: tfinal minus tinitial.

tf – ti

Algebraic expression used to calculate the time interval Δt between initial and final times.

Motion Interpretation (Graph)

The skill of extracting physical quantities by examining slopes and areas on kinematic graphs.

Constant Velocity Test

Criterion indicating constant velocity: straight-line x-t graph and zero slope on a v-t graph.

Kinematics Learning Outcome

An educational objective such as translating verbal descriptions into mathematical form or interpreting kinematic graphs.