Kinematics Vocabulary: Scalars, Vectors, Distance, Displacement, Speed, and Velocity

Vocabulary flashcards covering core kinematics concepts: scalars vs vectors, distance vs displacement, speed vs velocity, and instantaneous velocity with tangent line concepts.

Scalar

A quantity described by magnitude only, with no direction (e.g., speed).

Vector

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction and is described by at least two numbers (e.g., displacement, velocity).

Magnitude

The size or length of a vector, ignoring its direction.

Direction

The orientation of a vector, indicating which way it points.

Distance

The total length of the path traveled; a scalar, always nonnegative and path-dependent.

Displacement

The vector representing the change in position from initial to final; depends only on start and end points.

Position

The location of an object in a chosen reference frame; shifting the origin changes coordinates but not physics.

Initial position (x0)

The starting coordinate used to measure displacement.

Time

A parameter that measures progression of motion; change in time (Δt) is used in rate calculations.

Delta t (Δt)

Change in time; the time interval over which motion is considered.

Speed

Distance traveled per unit time; a scalar (magnitude only).

Velocity

The rate of change of position; a vector with magnitude and direction.

Average velocity

Displacement divided by the time interval; the net motion per unit time over a period.

Instantaneous velocity

Velocity at a single moment; the slope of the position–time graph at that point (dx/dt).