AP Physics 1: Constant Velocity

Position

Location of an object with respect to a chosen coordinate system.

Displacement (Δx)

Change in position; straight-line distance between the initial and final positions.

Distance (d)

Total path length traveled from the starting position to the final position.

Magnitude

The amount of a quantity, representing its size or extent.

Initial Position

Starting position of an object, must have sign + or -.

Final Position

Ending position of an object, must have sign + or -.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity that has magnitude only (e.g., mass, speed, volume).

Vector Quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force, displacement).

Motion Map

A representation of an object's position, velocity, and acceleration at various clock readings.

Uniform Motion

Straight-line motion with equal displacements during successive equal-time intervals; constant-velocity motion.

Object’s Velocity

Calculated as vx = rise/run = Δx/Δt.

Motion Graphs

Graphs that represent the relationship between position, velocity, and time.

Slope of Position-Time Graph

Represents an object’s velocity.

Area Under Velocity-Time Graph

Represents the object’s displacement; calculated as base x height.

Average Velocity

v = Δx (displacement) / Δt (time), must have direction (+ or -).

Average Speed

Total distance / time, does not have direction (scalar quantity).