Speed and Velocity

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to speed, velocity, distance, displacement, and related concepts from the notes.

Speed

The rate at which an object changes its location; distance traveled per unit time; a scalar quantity.

Rate

A ratio of one quantity to another; a quantity divided by another quantity (e.g., miles per hour, gallons per minute).

Average speed

Total distance divided by total time; direction does not matter.

Distance

The total length of the path traveled; a scalar quantity.

Time

The duration over which motion occurs; a scalar quantity.

Instantaneous speed

The speed at a precise instant; the rate at which distance is being covered at that moment, found by averaging over a very short time interval.

Speedometer

An instrument that measures instantaneous speed; usually has mph and km/h scales and does not indicate direction.

Scalar quantity

A quantity that has magnitude only, with no direction.

Magnitude

The size or amount of a quantity (how much).

Direction

The way in which something is moving; a component of vector quantities.

Velocity

The rate of change of displacement; a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction.

Displacement

The straight-line vector from the starting point to the ending point; has both magnitude and direction.

Vector quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

Net displacement

The overall displacement from the initial position to the final position, taking direction into account.

Average velocity

Net displacement divided by the total time; depends on direction.

Change in velocity

A change in velocity occurs when the speed changes, the direction changes, or both.

Force changing velocity

A force is required to produce a change in either the magnitude or direction of velocity.

Distance vs displacement

Distance is the total length of the path traveled; displacement is the straight-line vector from start to end.