A1 Kinematics Flashcards
Define displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
Displacement is the change in position of an object, velocity is the rate of change of displacement, and acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
Explain the difference between distance and displacement.
Distance is the total path length traveled, while displacement is the straight-line distance from the starting point to the endpoint, with direction.
How do you calculate instantaneous and average velocity, speed, and acceleration?
Instantaneous values are measured at a specific moment, while average values are calculated over a time interval (e.g., average velocity = total displacement/time).
Recognize situations where acceleration is uniform and non-uniform.
Uniform acceleration occurs when the change in velocity is constant, while non-uniform acceleration involves varying rates of change in velocity.
What are the conditions for using the equations of motion?
The equations of motion apply only for uniformly accelerated motion.
Define a projectile and resolve its motion into vertical and horizontal components.
A projectile is an object that moves under the influence of gravity, with horizontal and vertical components of velocity independent of each other.
Solve projectile motion problems for horizontal, oblique, and below horizontal projections.
Use kinematic equations for vertical and horizontal components separately (assuming negligible air resistance).
How does air resistance affect the trajectory of a projectile?
Air resistance reduces the maximum height, shortens the time of flight, lowers the final velocity, and affects the acceleration. It also causes the projectile to eventually reach terminal velocity.
