a) Quantities

• define a scalar quantity

• define a vector quantity

• a quantity with magnitude only

• a quantity with magnitude and direction

• define distance

• state what type of quantity distance is

• the length between two points

• scalar

• define speed

• state what type of quantity speed is

• the distance travelled by an object per second

• scalar

• state the formula for average speed

• v = ∆x/∆t

  • average speed (ms^-1) = change in distance (m) / change in time (s)

• describe how to calculate instantaneous speed from a distance-time graph

• draw a tangent to the graph at the given time

• calculate the gradient of the tangent

• define displacement

• state what type of quantity displacement is

• the shortest distance between two points

• vector

• define velocity

• state what type of quantity velocity is

• the displacement travelled by an object per second

• vector

• state the formula for average velocity

• v = ∆s/∆t

  • average velocity (ms^-1) = change in displacement (m) / change in time (s)

• define acceleration

• state what type of quantity acceleration is

• the rate of change of velocity

• vector

• state the formula for acceleration

• a = ∆v/∆t

  • acceleration (ms^-2) = change in velocity (ms^-1) / change in time (s)