Measuring Motion

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to measuring motion, including definitions of motion, speed, velocity, and displacement.

Motion

When an object changes its position with respect to a frame of reference.

Frame of Reference

A stationary object used to compare the motion of another object.

Displacement

The shortest distance in a line from the starting point to the ending point.

Distance

How far an object moves along a path.

Speed

The distance traveled in a certain amount of time.

Instantaneous Speed

The speed of an object at a particular moment in time.

Velocity

The speed and direction an object is moving.

Reference Direction

Describes the direction of an object's motion such as north, south, east, or west.

Resultant Velocity

The combined velocity of two or more objects considering their speeds and directions.

Pythagorean Theorem

A mathematical equation used to calculate the displacement when the distance is not in a straight line.