Describing Motion Flashcards
What is a scalar quantity?
A quantity that only has a magnitude
What is a vector quantity?
A quantity 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 arrow points in the associated direction
Give three examples of vector quantities
Velocity, Displacement, Force
Give three examples of scalar quantities
Time, Mass, Speed
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 the speed at a given time from a distance/time graph from 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/s^2), Velocity (m/s), Time (s)
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
State a typical value for the speed of sound
330 m/s
