Physics Concepts: Motion, Speed, and Velocity

These flashcards focus on key vocabulary and concepts related to motion, speed, velocity, and acceleration as covered in the physics lecture.

Position

Location of an object at a given time.

Distance

The spatial length between two positions.

Position vs Time Graph

Graph that shows an object's motion in relation to time.

Steeper graph

Indicates faster movement.

Average Speed

Ratio of distance traveled to time taken.

Velocity

How fast and in which direction an object is moving.

Negative Slope

Indicates no movement.

Fundamental Quantities

Basic measurements such as length, mass, and time.

SI unit for Length

Meter [m].

SI unit for Mass

Kilogram [kg].

SI unit for Time

Second [s].

Unit conversion

Process of changing one unit of measurement to another.

Power of 10

A method for expressing very large or small numbers.

Acceleration

Rate at which an object’s velocity changes.

Vector Quantity

A measurement that has both magnitude and direction.

Scalar Quantity

A measurement that has only magnitude.

Uniform Acceleration Motion

Motion where acceleration remains constant.

Rise

The vertical change on a graph.

Run

The horizontal change on a graph.

Slope of Velocity Graph

Indicates the acceleration of an object.

Direction

The path along which something moves.

Time Position Graph

Graph plotting time against position.

Rate of acceleration

How quickly an object speeds up or slows down.

Constant Speed

Speed that does not change over time.

Change in Position

The difference in position of an object over time.

Motion

A change in an object's position with respect to time.

Graph Interpretation

Understanding what a graph indicates about motion.

Object Accelerates

When the speed or direction of an object changes.