Introduction to Kinematics and Constant Acceleration

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on kinematics, constant acceleration, Doppler-based velocity sensing, and gravitational free fall.

Motion with Constant Acceleration

Motion resulting from a constant force acting on a mass, described by $F = ma$.

Speed

The absolute value of $\frac{ds}{dt}$, which is always positive.

Velocity

A vector quantity (or projection on a motion axis) that can be positive or negative, whose value does not depend on the initial position of the particle.

Acceleration

The second derivative of position with respect to time, $\frac{d^2 x}{dt^2}$.

Doppler Effect Motion Sensor

An experimental device that emits sound at a frequency inaccessible to the human ear and uses frequency changes to reconstruct velocity, similar to sonar.

Point of Reflection

A point during motion where velocity flips sign, creating a spike down or spike up in acceleration.

Displacement

The sum of small displacement intervals $v(t_i) \times \frac{ds}{dt}$, which in the limit $\frac{ds}{dt} \rightarrow 0$ corresponds to the integral of velocity.

Universality of Free Fall

The principle demonstrated by dropping two spheres of different masses, showing that objects fall to the ground in the same amount of time regardless of mass.

Gravitational Force Near Earth's Surface

A nearly constant force near the surface of the Earth that decreases as position/height increases away from Earth.