Motion

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental terms and equations related to straight-line motion, accelerated motion, graphical representation, and uniform circular motion as presented in the lecture notes.

Motion

Change in position of an object with time, described by distance moved or displacement.

Reference Point

A fixed point chosen to describe the location or motion of an object; also called the origin.

Origin (in kinematics)

Selected reference point from which positions or displacements are measured.

Distance

Total path length travelled by an object; a scalar quantity needing only magnitude.

Displacement

Shortest straight-line distance from initial to final position of an object; a vector quantity with magnitude and direction.

Uniform Motion

Motion in which equal distances are covered in equal intervals of time.

Non-uniform Motion

Motion in which unequal distances are covered in equal intervals of time.

Speed

Rate of motion; distance travelled per unit time. (v = s⁄t).

Average Speed

Total distance travelled divided by total time taken for the trip.

Velocity

Speed of an object in a specified direction; displacement per unit time.

Average Velocity

Total displacement divided by total time taken; for uniform acceleration, (u + v)⁄2.

Acceleration

Rate of change of velocity per unit time; a = (v – u)⁄t.

Uniform Acceleration

Acceleration that remains constant in magnitude and direction over time.

Non-uniform Acceleration

Acceleration that changes in magnitude or direction (or both) with time.

Odometer

Device fitted in automobiles to record the total distance travelled.

Distance–Time Graph

Plot of distance on the y-axis against time on the x-axis; slope gives speed.

Velocity–Time Graph

Plot of velocity versus time; slope gives acceleration and area under the curve gives displacement.

Equation of Motion (1)

v = u + at — gives final velocity after time t for uniform acceleration.

Equation of Motion (2)

s = ut + ½at² — gives distance travelled in time t under uniform acceleration.

Equation of Motion (3)

v² – u² = 2as — relates velocity and displacement without explicit time.

SI Unit of Speed

Metre per second (m s⁻¹).

SI Unit of Acceleration

Metre per second squared (m s⁻²).

Uniform Circular Motion

Motion of an object moving at constant speed along a circular path; velocity direction changes continuously.

Circumference (kinematics context)

Total length of a circular path; C = 2πr, used to find speed in circular motion (v = 2πr⁄t).