Kinematics - Lesson 1 & 2

Average Speed

the total distance travelled divided by the total time taken to travel that distance.

Scalar

A quantity that has magnitude but no direction.

Vav

average speed.

Ad

the distance travelled.

At

the change in time.

SI unit for speed

m/s (km/h) 3.6.

Average Speed Characteristics

Average Speed is a scalar quantity, it has no direction.

Slope of Position-Time Graph

gives us speed.

Velocity

speed with direction.

SI unit for velocity

m/s.

Average Velocity

a vector quantity - it has a direction.

Uniform Motion

motion at a constant speed in a straight line.

Non-Uniform Motion

motion that is not at a constant speed or not in a straight line.

Acceleration

an object experiencing non-uniform motion.

Position-Time Graph

the graph where the y-axis is position, and the x-axis is time.

Constant Velocity

the slope must be constant, therefore the line must be straight.

Zero Velocity

object has velocity of zero.

Object at Rest

object is at a constant positive or negative position.

Positive Slope

indicates constant (non-zero) velocity moving eastward.

Velocity Determination

can be determined from the slope of a position-time graph.

Graph with positive slope

Represents constant (positive) velocity.

Graph with negative slope

Represents constant (negative) velocity.

Kinematics

Study of object motion and movement.

Motion

Change in location of an object.

Distance (d)

Total path length travelled by an object.

SI Unit for Distance

Metre (m) is the base unit.

Direction

Line of movement from a starting point.

Scalar Quantity

Has only magnitude, e.g., distance, speed.

Vector Quantity

Has both magnitude and direction.

Position (a)

Distance and direction from a reference point.

Displacement (Δd)

Change in position of an object.

Displacement Formula

Δd = df - di.

Reference Point

Starting point for measuring position.

Vector Scale Diagram

Diagram using a specific scale for vectors.

Directed Line Segment

Represents a vector with direction.

Tip of Vector

Arrow end indicating vector direction.

Tail of Vector

Starting point of a vector.

Positive Direction

Chosen direction for calculations.

Negative Direction

Opposite of the chosen positive direction.

Total Displacement Calculation

Sum of individual displacements.

Path Independence

Displacement does not depend on path taken.

Vector Addition

Combining vectors to find total displacement.

Distance Travelled

Total length of the path taken.