Speed & Motion

motion

A change in position over time.

position

The location of an object.

distance

Measures the space (i.e. how far) between two things

time

The interval over which change occurs (standard interval = 1 sec).

Average speed

Total distance/Total time

speed

A measure of how far something moves in a given amount of time.

acceleration

The rate of change of velocity of an object over time, indicating how quickly an object speeds up or slows down.

balanced forces

Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in a net force of zero and no change in motion of an object.

unbalanced forces

Forces that are not equal and opposite, resulting in a net force that causes an object to accelerate or change its motion.

reference point

A stationary object or location used for comparison to determine if another object is in motion or at rest.