Scalars, Vectors, Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Scalars and Vectors, Speed and Velocity, Graphing Uniform Motion, and Acceleration concepts.

Scalar

A quantity described by magnitude only (no direction). Examples: time, mass, distance, speed.

Vector

A quantity described by both magnitude and direction. Examples: velocity, displacement, acceleration.

Distance

Total ground covered during motion; a scalar quantity measured in meters.

Displacement

Change in position; a vector quantity where direction matters; measured in meters.

Speed

Rate of motion; distance travelled per unit time; a scalar quantity.

Velocity

Rate of displacement; speed with direction; a vector quantity.

Acceleration

Rate of change of velocity over time; a vector quantity; a = Δv/Δt; units m/s^2.

Time interval

Duration over which motion is analyzed; a scalar quantity.

Kinematics

The branch of physics that describes motion using quantities like distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration.

Uniform motion

Motion with constant velocity (constant speed and direction).

Distance-time graph

Graph of distance vs. time; the slope represents speed for uniform motion.

Velocity-time graph

Graph of velocity vs. time; the slope represents acceleration; the area under the graph gives displacement.

Slope (distance-time graph)

Rise over run; for distance-time graphs, slope equals speed.

Slope (velocity-time graph)

Rise over run; for velocity-time graphs, slope equals acceleration.

Area under velocity-time graph

Represents displacement (total distance traveled over the time interval).

Displacement vs Distance

Displacement is the straight-line change in position (vector); distance is the total ground covered (scalar).

Free fall

Motion under gravity only; acceleration due to gravity is g ≈ 9.81 m/s^2 downward.

Acceleration due to gravity

Acceleration of an object in free fall near Earth’s surface; approximately -9.81 m/s^2 (downward).

Fundamental SI units

Base units used in physics: meter (m), second (s), kilogram (kg); examples include newton (N) and joule (J).

Δ (Delta)

Symbol meaning change in a quantity (Δx = x2 − x1, etc.).

Instantaneous speed

Speed of an object at a specific moment, often found from the slope of a distance-time graph at a point.

Average speed

Total distance traveled divided by total time; scalar quantity.

Average velocity

Total displacement divided by total time; vector quantity.

Position

A location in reference to a chosen origin; a vector quantity that indicates where an object is.

Reference frame

A system of observers and coordinates used to describe motion (implied in displacement and direction).