PHYSICS: Unit 1- Graphing Motions

for test

scalar

a quantity, such as temperature or distance, that is just a number without direction

vector

a quantity, such as position, that has both magnitude and direction

position

the distance and direction from the origin to an object

vector

is position scalar or vector

distance

the entire length of an object’s path, even if the object moves in many directions

scalar

is distance a scalar or a vector

displacement

a change in position having both magnitude and direction; is equal to the final position minus the initial position

vector

is displacement vector or scalar

speed

refers to how fast an object is moving

scalar

is speed scalar or vector

velocity

refers to the rate at which an object changes its position

vector

is velocity a scalar or vector

acceleration

the rate at which the velocity of an object changes

vector

is acceleration a scalar or vector

constant velocity

traveling at the same speed and going the same direction

instantaneous velocity

speed and direction at specific moments in time

y=mx+b

general equation for linear relationship graph

directly

how does y vary with x in a direct linear relationship

straight diagonal line

the graph shape of a direct linear relationship

y=mx²+b

general equation for direct quadratic relationship

y varies directly with x

how does y vary with x in a quadratic relationship

parabola

what is the graph shape of a quadratic relationship

one variable varies inversely with the other

how do the variables of an inverse relationship vary

y=mx

what is the general equation of an inverse relationship

hyperbola

what is the graph shape of an inverse relationship

title (x vs. y), label the x and y axis, best fit line

what are the good graph qualities

best fit line

line/curve that hypothetically follows the data points

can show what went wrong in labs

why do we graph

increasing from left to right

what is positive slope

decreasing from left to right

what is negative slope

read the y-axis

how do you find position on a p vs. t graph

add based on the y-axis

how do you find the distance on a p. vs. t graph

subtract final - initial

how do you find the displacement on a p vs. t graph

read the x-axis

how do you find time on a p vs. t graph

calculate the slope

how do you find velocity on a p vs. t graph

calculate the slope of the tangent line drawn

how do you find instantaneous velocity on a p vs. t graph

displacement/time

how do you find average velocity on a p vs. t graph

distance/time

how do you find average speed on a p vs. t graph

at rest

negative constant velocity (p vs. t)

positive constant velocity (p vs t)

changing velocity with constant acceleration (p vs t)

two objects moving at the same velocity

two objects passing each other

constant velocity

negative constant velocity

positive constant acceleration

negative constant acceleration

changing (increasing) acceleration

calculate the area between the graph line and x-axis

how do you find the distance on a v vs. t graph

calculate the area between the graph and x-axis but include the negative numbers

how do you find the displacement on a v vs. t graph

read the x-axis

how do you find the time on a v vs. t graph

read the y-axis

how do you find the velocity on a v vs. t graph

calculate the slope

how do you find the acceleration on a v vs. t graph

calculate the slope at the tangent line drawn

how do you find the instantaneous acceleration on a v vs. t graph

displacement/time

how do you find the average velocity on a v vs. t graph

distance/time

how do you find the average speed on a v vs. t graph