Kinematics Flashcards
Scalar quantities
Only magnitude e.g. distance, speed, mass, energy, time
Vector quantities
Both magnitude and direction e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration and force
Distance, SI unit
Total length covered by moving object, along the path taken. Metre (m)
Displacement, SI unit
Straight-line distance covered by moving object. regardless of path taken. Metre (m)
Speed, SI unit
Speed is the distance moved per unit time. Metre per second (m/s)
Formula for speed
Total distance/Total time
Velocity, SI unit
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement. Metre per second (m/s)
Formula for velocity
Total displacement/Total time
Acceleration, SI unit
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Metre per second square (m/s^2)
Formula for acceleration
Change in velocity/Time taken
Uniform acceleration
Uniform acceleration is the constant rate of change of velocity.
Velocity in graphs
Velocity is given by the gradient of a displacement-time graph
Displacement in graphs
Displacement is given by calculating area under a velocity-time graph over the time period `
Acceleration due to gravity
Acceleration due to gravity near earth is about 10m/s^2
Free fall
Free fall only happens in vacuum. The only force acting on it is its weight. Direction of force and motion is downwards
