CP Physics: Graphical Analysis of Motion

Vocabulary flashcards covering kinematics concepts, vector versus scalar quantities, and graphical motion analysis for position-time and velocity-time graphs.

Vector

A physical quantity that possesses both magnitude and direction and is represented by an arrow. Such as velocity, displacement, and acceleration

Scalar

A physical quantity that has magnitude but no directional component, such as speed or distance.

Position

The specific location of an object relative to an established reference point.

Displacement

The change in position of an object ($\Delta d = d_2 - d_1$), represented as the straight-line distance from the starting position to the ending position with direction.

Speed

A scalar measurement calculated as distance traveled divided by time elapsed.

Average Velocity

A vector quantity calculated as the total displacement divided by the elapsed time ($\frac{\Delta d}{\Delta t}$).

Acceleration ($\vec{a}$)

A vector quantity that reveals how fast an object's velocity is changing, calculated using the formula $\vec{a} = \frac{v_2 - v_1}{t_2 - t_1}$.

Slope of a Position-Time Graph

A graphical calculation ($\frac{\Delta d}{\Delta t}$) that yields the object's velocity.

Slope of a Velocity-Time Graph

A graphical calculation ($\frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$) that yields the object's acceleration.

Area Under a Velocity-Time Graph

The geometric region bounded beneath a velocity-time curve and the time axis, which calculates the object's displacement.

Tangent Line on a Position-Time Graph

A straight line touching a curved position-time graph at a single point; changing slopes of consecutive tangent lines reveal that the object is accelerating (speeding up or slowing down).

Horizontal Segment on a Position-Time Graph

A flat section where the slope is zero ($v = 0\,\text{m/s}$), indicating that the object is stationary, motionless, or at rest.

Intersection on a Position-Time Graph

The point in time where two motion curves cross, indicating that both objects occupy the exact same position at that moment.

Intersection on a Velocity-Time Graph

The point in time where two motion curves cross, indicating that both objects are traveling with the exact same velocity at that moment.

Time-Axis Intercept on a Velocity-Time Graph

A point where velocity equals zero ($v = 0\,\text{m/s}$) while crossing from positive to negative (or vice versa), signifying that the object has momentarily stopped to reverse its direction.

Slowing Down (Velocity-Time Graph)

Intervals during motion where the graph line approaches the horizontal time axis ($v = 0$), showing that the magnitude of velocity is decreasing.