Kinematics Flashcards
Distance, Displacement, Speed, Velocity, Acceleration (7 cards)
Define Kinematics
Study of motion without looking at forces causing the motion
Distance
Displacement
Speed
Velocity
Acceleration
Describe distance.
Actual path followed by a moving object
Scalar
Metres (m)
Describe displacement.
Shortest distance between 2 points
Straight line
Vector
Metres (m)
Describe speed.
Scalar
ms -1
Moving object’s speed usually changes unless constant speed
Average speed = distance/time
Describe velocity.
Velocity = Displacement/Time
Vector
ms -1
Describe acceleration.
Rate of change of velocity
Acceleration = change in velocity / time
a = v-u / t
Vector
ms -2
Describe motion in a circle.
Distance around full circle = 2 pi r
Displacement around full circle = 0
Velocity = 0
Acceleration = 0