Chapter 2 - Describing Motion

Question 1

what is speed?

Answer 1

the distance travelled by an object per unit of time

Question 2

what is average speed?

Answer 2

the speed calculated from total distance travelled divided by total time taken

Question 3

what is the function of light gates?

Answer 3

allow the speed of an object passing between them to be calculated electronically

Question 4

what is the function of an interrupt card?

Answer 4

allows the speed of an object passing through a light gate to be calculated; a timer starts when the card breaks the beam and stops when the beam is no longer broken

Question 5

what is the equation used to calculate speed?

Answer 5

speed = distance
time

Question 6

what is acceleration?

Answer 6

the rate of change of an object’s velocity

Question 7

what is velocity?

Answer 7

the speed of an object in a stated direction

Question 8

what is a vector quantity?

Answer 8

quantity that has both magnitude (size) and direction

Question 9

what is a scalar quantity?

Answer 9

quantity that has only magnitude (size)

Question 10

what is the equation used to calculate acceleration?

Answer 10

acceleration = change in velocity
time taken