Describing Motion Flashcards
What is a scalar quantity?
● A quantity that only has a magnitude
● A quantity that isn’t direction
dependent
What is a vector quantity?
Aquantity that has both a magnitude and
an associated direction.
How can a vector quantity be
represented?
Using vector arrows
How do vector arrows represent vectors?
● The length of the arrow represents the
magnitude
● The arrow points in the associated
direction
Give three examples of vector quantities.
- Velocity
- Displacement
- Force
Give examples of scalar quantities.
● Temperature ● Time ● Mass ● Speed ● Distance ● Energy
What is velocity?
The speed of an object in a specific
direction.
Give an equation relating average speed, distance
and time.
average speed = distance / time
On a distance/time graph, what value does the
gradient of the line represent?
The speed
On a displacement/time graph, what value does the
gradient of the line represent?
The velocity
What must be done to calculate speed at
a given time from a distance-time graph
for an accelerating object?
● Draw a tangent to the curve at the
required time
● Calculate the gradient of the tangent
State the equation for the average
acceleration of an object. Give
appropriate units.
Acceleration = (Change in Velocity)/(Time
Taken)
Acceleration (m/s²), Velocity (m/s), Time (s)
Give an equation relating final velocity
with initial velocity, displacement and
acceleration.
v^2 = u
^2 + 2as
How can the distance travelled by an object be
calculated from a velocity-time graph?
It is equal to the area under the graph.
On a velocity/time graph what does the
gradient of the graph represent?
The acceleration
