Definitions
Vectors- Show magnitude and direction
Scalars- Only show magnitude
Position- Object's location with respect to a particular coordinate system (generally in m)
Velocity- Change in position per unit of time (generally in m/s)
Acceleration- Change in velocity per unit of time (generally in m/s/s or m/s^2)
Displacement- Change in position (Final position - Initial position) = Vector
Distance- Magnitude of displacement vector = Scalar
Path length- How far object moved as it traveled from its initial position to its final position = Scalar
Vectors- Show magnitude and direction
Scalars- Only show magnitude
Position- Object's location with respect to a particular coordinate system (generally in m)
Velocity- Change in position per unit of time (generally in m/s)
Acceleration- Change in velocity per unit of time (generally in m/s/s or m/s^2)
Displacement- Change in position (Final position - Initial position) = Vector
Distance- Magnitude of displacement vector = Scalar
Path length- How far object moved as it traveled from its initial position to its final position = Scalar
Average Speed = Always positive
Average Velocity= Can be positive or negative
Instantaneous Velocity= Slope at a point on a position vs. time graph or a point on a velocity vs. time graph
Graphs
Position vs. Time
Position vs. Time
- x-axis = Time (t)
- y-axis = Positon (x)
- Slope = Velocity (v)
- Steepness= Magnitude = Speed
- Sign= Direction (position going towards -∞ or ∞)
- y-intercept = Initial position (position when time is 0)
- Xf- X0 (subtracting two positions) = Displacement
- Position = Velocity • Time + Initial Position
- X= Vt + X0
- Straight line= Constant velocity
- Concave up = Speeding up
- Concave down = Slowing down
Velocity vs. Time
- x-axis = Time (t)
- y-axis = Velocity (v)
- Slope = Acceleration (a)
- Sign= Direction (going towards -∞ or ∞)
- Area under the graph= Displacement (change in position)
- y-intercept = Initial velocity (velocity when time is 0)
- Vf- V0 (subtracting two velocities) = Change in velocity
- Velocity = Acceleration • Time + Initial Velocity
- Velocity = Acceleration • Time + Initial velocity
- Flat line = Constant velocity
- Velocity values getting more positive or more negative= Speeding up
- Velocity values going towards 0 (from positive or negative direction = Slowing down
Acceleration vs. Time
- x-axis = Time (t)
- y-axis = Acceleration (a)
- Area under the graph= Change in velocity
- y-intercept = Initial acceleration (acceleration when time is 0)
Motion Maps
Dots= Location for equal time intervals
Velocity vectors= Velocity at each time interval
Constant velocity- Dots are evenly spaced
Slows down - Dots get closer together
Speeds up- Dots get farther apart
Dots= Location for equal time intervals
Velocity vectors= Velocity at each time interval
Constant velocity- Dots are evenly spaced
Slows down - Dots get closer together
Speeds up- Dots get farther apart
Kinematic Equations
Write down known variables and what you are looking for, and use this information to pick the correct kinematic equation. Then you can plug in values and solve!