Mechanics (2) (3) (4)

Question 1

State the difference between distance and displacement

Define them both aswell

Answer 1

• Distance is a measure of how far an object travels. It is a scalar quantity with magnitude only.
• Displacement is a measure of how far something is from its starting position, along with its direction. It is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction.

Question 2

Define speed and velocity

Answer 2

• The speed of an object is the distance it travels every second.
• The velocity of an object is the rate of change if displacement. Velocity is the speed in a given direction.

Question 3

Define acceleration

Answer 3

• Acceleration is the rate or change of velocity.

Question 4

State the features of a distance-time graph

Answer 4

• the slope = speed
• the y-intercept = initial position
• a straight, diagonal line = constant speed
• a curved line = acceleration
• positive slope = motion in positive direction
• negative slope = motion in negative direction
• a horizontal line = a state of rest
• area under the line means nothing

Question 5

State the features of a displacement-time graph

Answer 5

• the slope = velocity
• the y-intercept = initial position
• a straight, diagonal line = constant velocity
• a curved line = acceleration
• positive slope = motion in positive direction
• negative slope = motion in negative direction
• a horizontal line = a state of rest
• area under the line means nothing

Question 6

State the features of a speed-time graph

Answer 6

• the slope = acceleration
• the y-intercept = initial speed
• a straight, diagonal line = uniform acceleration
• a curved line = non-uniform acceleration
• positive slope = an increase in speed
• negative slope = a decrease in speed
• a horizontal line = motion with constant speed
• area under the curve = distance travelled

Question 7

State the features of a velocity-time graph

Answer 7

• the slope = acceleration
• the y-intercept = initial velocity
• a straight, diagonal line = uniform acceleration
• a curved line = non-uniform acceleration
• positive slope = an increase in velocity in the positive direction
• negative slope = a decrease in ** velocty** in the negative direction
• a horizontal line = motion with constant velocity
• area under the curve = displacement

acceleration is the gradient of a velocity-time graph

Question 8

State the features of an acceleration-time graph

Answer 8

• the slope is meaningless
• the y-intercept = initial acceleration
• a horizontal line = an object undergoing constant acceleration
• area under the curve = change in velocity