Unit 2: Kinematics Vocabulary Flashcards
Displacement Definition
a vector quantity that shows how far an object is from its starting point of motion
Distance Definition
a scalar quantity that tells the length of a path taken by an object
Magnitude Definition
size or amount
Resultant Vector Definition
the vector representing the displacement when two or more vectors are added together; also called the displacement vector
Scalar Definition
the numerical value, with associated units, of magnitude
Vector Deifinition
the numerical value, with associated units, that has magnitude and direction
Average Speed Definition
the distance divided by the time elapsed independent of variations in speed during the time interval
Displacement(2) Definition
a vector (including information about both magnitude and direction) which describes the shortest distance between the initial and final positions, and includes direction ΔDx = (x)final − (x)initial and ΔD(y) = (y)final − (y)initial
Distance(2) Definition
a scalar (not including information about direction, just magnitude) which describes the length of a given route
Speed Definition
a scalar; distance/time = speed
Velocity Definition
a vector; v = Δx/Δt ; where D (Δx) is displacement and t is time
Acceleration Definition
the rate of change of velocity
Horizontally-launched Projectile Definition
a projectile launched with an initial velocity that has no vertical component
Projectile Definition
an object projected by an external force that continues to move by its own inertia
Range Definition
the horizontal distance traveled by a projectile
