Kinematics: Position, Velocity, and Acceleration

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering one-dimensional kinematics, including position, distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, and motion graph interpretations.

Position

Where an object is located relative to a reference point, typically measured in meters ($m$), which can be positive or negative depending on direction.

Distance

The total path or amount of ground traveled by an object; a scalar quantity with no direction that is always positive.

Displacement

The overall change in position of an object; a vector quantity that includes direction and can be positive, negative, or zero.

Scalar

A physical quantity that has magnitude but no direction, such as distance.

Vector

A physical quantity that possesses both magnitude and direction, such as displacement, velocity, or acceleration.

Speed

The rate at which ground is covered, calculated as $\frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}$.

Velocity

Speed with direction, defined as $\frac{\text{displacement}}{\text{time}}$; a vector quantity that can be positive or negative depending on the direction of motion.

Positive Velocity

A state of motion indicating that an object is moving in the positive direction.

Negative Velocity

A state of motion indicating that an object is moving in the negative direction.

Slope of a Position-Time Graph

The change in position divided by change in time ($\text{slope} = \frac{\text{rise}}{\text{run}} = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$), which represents velocity ($v$).

Curved Line on a Position-Time Graph

Indicates that the slope is changing over time, meaning velocity is changing and the object is undergoing acceleration ($a \neq 0$).

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity over time ($a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$), measured in units of $m/s^2$, which has direction as a vector quantity.

Slope of a Velocity-Time Graph

The change in velocity divided by change in time ($\text{slope} = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$), which represents acceleration ($a$).

Speeding Up

The condition of motion that occurs when velocity and acceleration share the same sign (both positive or both negative).

Slowing Down

The condition of motion that occurs when velocity and acceleration have opposite signs (one positive and one negative).

Horizontal Line on a Position-Time Graph

A graph feature indicating a zero slope ($v = 0$), which means the object is stopped.

Horizontal Line on a Velocity-Time Graph

A graph feature indicating a zero slope ($a = 0$), which means the object is moving at constant velocity.

Kinematics Chain

The fundamental relationship of motion graphs where the slope of position yields velocity, and the slope of velocity yields acceleration ($\text{Position} \rightarrow \text{Velocity} \rightarrow \text{Acceleration}$).