Chapter 2: Motion Along a Straight Line

Particle

represents an object’s position

Average velocity

vector quantity whose x-component is the change in x divided by the time interval

Average x-velocity

x-component of displacement, Δx, divided by the time interval Δt during which the displacement occurs.

x-t graph

graph of the dragster’s position as a function of time

Instantaneous velocity

velocity at a specific instant of time or specific point along the path.

Speed

denote distance traveled divided by time, on either an average or an instantaneous basis

Motion diagram

shows the particle’s position at various instants

Acceleration

describes the rate of change of velocity with time

Average acceleration

a vector quantity whose x-component a_av-x equals Δv_x, the change in the x-component of velocity, divided by the time interval Δt

Constant acceleration

The simplest kind of accelerated motion is straight-line motion with ___________.

Free fall

is the motion of an object under the influence of gravitational force only, with no other forces acting on it (like air resistance).

Acceleration due to gravity

The constant acceleration of a freely falling body, denoted its magnitude with the letter g.