Studied by 3 people
Distance
how far an object moves along its path
Displacement
how far an object has travelled from its starting point
Speed
the rate of change of distance
The equation linking average speed, distance travelled and time taken
Average speed = distance travelled ÷ time taken
The equation linking average speed, initial speed and final speed
Average speed = (initial speed + final speed) ÷ 2
The equation linking acceleration, final speed, initial speed and time taken
acceleration = (final speed – initial speed) ÷ time taken
Unit for speed and velocity
Metres per second (m/s)
Unit for distance
Metres (m)
Unit for time
Seconds (s)
Unit for acceleration/ rate of change of speed
Metres per second squared (m/s²)
Typical walking speed
Approx. 1.5 metres per second (m/s)
Typical running speed
Approx. 3 metres per second (m/s)
Typical cycling speed
Approx. 6 metres per second (m/s)
Typical speed of a car
Approx. 25 metres per second (m/s)
Typical speed of a train
Approx. 50 metres per second (m/s)
Typical speed of an aeroplane
Approx. 250 metres per second (m/s)
Speed of sound in air
Approx. 330 metres per second (m/s)
Distance-time graph
A graph with distance on the y-axis and time on the x-axis
Horizontal line on a distance-time graph
Represents a stationary object
Inclined line on a distance-time graph
Represents an object moving at a constant speed
Curved line on a distance-time graph
Represents an object that is accelerating/ decelerating
How to calculate the speed of an object from a graph
Gradient of a distance-time graph
Finding speed from a non-linear distance-time graph
Draw a tangent to the curve and find the gradient of the tangent
Velocity-time graph
A graph with velocity on the y-axis and time on the x-axis
Horizontal line on a velocity-time graph
Represents an object moving at a constant speed
Inclined line on a velocity-time graph
Represents an object accelerating at a constant rate
How to calculate the acceleration of an object from graph
Gradient of a velocity-time graph
How to calculate the distance-travelled by an object from graph
Area under a velocity-time graph
Finding distance travelled from a non-linear velocity-time graph
Can be found by counting the squares beneath the line
Velocity
The speed of an object in a particular direction
The equation linking average velocity, displacement and time
Average velocity = displacement ÷ time
The equation linking average velocity, initial velocity and final velocity
Average velocity = (initial velocity + final velocity) ÷ 2
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity over a specific time
The equation linking acceleration, final velocity, initial velocity and time
Acceleration = (final velocity – initial velocity) ÷ time
Retardation
When an object is slowing down and its acceleration has a negative value
Note 
Flashcard (135)