1.1 Distance,displacement, speed & acceleration

What is distance?

The total length travelled by an object, regardless of direction.

What is displacement?

The distance travelled in a straight line from the starting point to the finishing point, including direction.

What is speed?

The distance travelled per unit time.

What is velocity?

Speed in a given direction.

What is acceleration?

The rate of change of velocity.

What equation is used to calculate speed?

Speed = distance ÷ time

What equation is used to calculate acceleration?

Acceleration = (final velocity − initial velocity) ÷ time

What units are used for speed

• Speed is metres per second (m/s).

whats the difference between speed and velocity

• speed is a scalar quantity as it only has a magnitude

• velocity is a vector quantity as it has a direction and a magnitude

whats the difference between distance and displacement

distance is a scalar quantity as it only have a magnitude

displacement is a vector quantity as it has a magnitude and a direction

formula for velocity

velocity = displacement/time

what are the units for acceleration

m/s²

SUVAT equation (no time given)

v² = u² +2as

what does s mean in physics equation ( not suvat )

distance or displacement

what does u mean in physics equations

initial velocity

what does v mean in physics equation

final velocity

what does a mean in a physics equation

acceleration or deceleration if negative

what does s mean in suvat or velocity equations

displacement