Topic 2 Mechanics Flashcards
Define: displacement.
The distance in a given direction from a fixed origin. It is a vector quantity.
What is the standard index unit for displacement?
m, metres
What is the symbol for displacement?
s
Define: velocity.
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement. It is a vector quantity.
What is the formula for calculating velocity?
v = s / t
- v is velocity in m s-1
- s is change in displacement in m
- t is time in s
What is the standard index unit for velocity?
m s^-1
What is the symbol for velocity?
u = initial velocity v = final velocity
Define: speed.
Speed is the rate of change of distance. It is a scalar quantity.
What is the formula for calculating speed?
v = d/t Where: v is speed in m s^-1 d is distance in m t is time in s
What is the standard index unit for speed?
m s^-1
What is the symbol for speed?
u = initial speed v = final speed
How are speed and velocity different?
Velocity has direction and is a vector quantity whereas speed is a scalar quantity.
Define: acceleration.
The rate of change with time of the velocity vector. It is a vector quantity.
What is the formula for calculating acceleration?
a = v/t
- a is acceleration in m s-2
- v is change in velocity in m s-1
- t is change in time in s
What is the standard unit for acceleration?
m s^-2
What is the symbol for acceleration?
a
What is an instantaneous value of speed?
Speed at a particular moment in time
What is an instantaneous value of velocity?
Velocity at a particular moment in time
What is an instantaneous value of acceleration?
Acceleration at a particular moment in time
What is an average value of speed?
Speed over a period of time.
What is an average value of velocity?
Velocity over a period of time
What is an average value of acceleration?
Acceleration over a period of time
Under which conditions can the equations for uniformly accelerated motion be applied?
Under conditions where the acceleration is constant.
What is the equation of uniformly accelerated motion that involves initial speed, final speed, acceleration and time?
v = u + a t
- v is final velocity in m s-1
- u is initial velocity in m s-1
- a is acceleration in m s-2
- t is time in s


