Physics Chapter 3 Vocab

vector

a quantity that has magnitude and direction

average acceleration

its change in velocity during some measurable time interval divided by that time interval

velocity-time graph

graphs velocity versus time. velocity is plotted on the vertical axis and time is plotted on the horizontal axis

acceleration

the rate at which an object's velocity changes

instantaneous acceleration

change in an object's velocity at an instant of time

displacement

change in position having both magnitude and direction; it is equal to the final position minus the initial position

origin

the point at which both variables in a coordinate system have the value zero

free fall

the motion of an object when gravity is the only significant force acting on it

free-fall acceleration

the acceleration of an object due only to the effect of gravity