Topic 2: Kinematics Flashcards
Displacement
The distance travelled in a particular direction from a specified origin.
Velocity
The rate of change of displacement with time. A vector. Unit: ms-1
Speed and Distance
The scalar versions of velocity and displacement
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity with time. A vector. Unit ms-2
Instantaneous
The value of a quantity measured at an instant in time, as opposed to an average quantity measured over a period of time.
Terminal velocity
Air resistance is proportional to speed, so an accelerating object will achieve terminal velocity.
Translational equilibrium
When the net force on an object is zero in all directions (ie no linear acceleration).
Newton’s first law of motion
A body continues to maintain its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force.
Newton’s second law of motion
Resultant foce is proportional to rate of change of momentum
Newton’s third law of motion
Whenever an object A exerts a force on another object B, B simultaneously exerts a force on A with the same magnitude in the opposite direction.
Impulse
The change in momentum. A vector. Unit is Ns
Law of conservation of linear momentum
The momentum of an isolated system remains constant (ie when no external forces are acting). Or, in any isolated system, the change in momentum is zero.
Work
Work is done when a force moves an object in the direction of the force. Work is a scalar quantity.
Kinetic energy
Energy an object has as a result of its motion.
Gravitational potential energy
Energy an object has a result of its position in a gravitational field.
