Kinematics Vocabulary

Front 1

acceleration

Back 1

This is a VECTOR property that helps to descrive the motion of an object. The acceleration is the time derivative of the velocity (this is an instantaneous variable)

Front 2

average variables

Back 2

These are variables that result when you find the change of an instantaneous variable over an interval of time

Front 3

average acceleration

Back 3

this is the average value of the acceleration over an interval of time. Because of the Fundamental Theorum of Calc, the average acceleration is the change in the velocity divided by the associated time interval (change in time)

Front 4

average speed

Back 4

total distance traveled divided by the change in time. Note: this is not the same as the magnitude of the average velocity;think about it.

Front 5

average velocity

Back 5

this is the average value of the velocity over an interval of time. because of the FTo'C, the average velocity is the displacement divided by the time it took for the displacement to occur (change in time)

Front 6

change of a variable

Back 6

the final value of the variable minus the initial value of the variable

Front 7

displacement

Back 7

change of position over a specific interval of time. this is a VECTOR

Front 8

distance

Back 8

how far something travels. to find this for a specific time interval you would integrate the speed over that time interval. if the velocity does not change direction, then the distance is just the magnitude of the displacement

Front 9

extended object

Back 9

realistic description of an object: we take into account that the object can rotate. In Phys 1 the object is called "rigid" meaning it does not deform or break

Front 10

instantaneous variables

Back 10

these are variables that have a value at a specific point in time

Front 11

particle

Back 11

For a particle, its position and velocity give a complete description of the particle. It does not rotate, spin, break, bend or do anything but move around

Front 12

position

Back 12

describes where an object is lovated in your reference frame (coordinate system). Three numbers are required to specify position in 3D, two in 2D and one in 1D. All #s can be positive or negative. Note: This means in 2D and 3D, position is a VECTOR

Front 13

reference frame

Back 13

the coordinate system you are using to measure physical quantities. consists of an origin (where you call zero) and then as many axes as you need: one for 1D two for 2D etc. the position along each axis tells you exactly where an object is from the origin

Front 14

speed

Back 14

magnitude of the velocity. another instantaneous variable

Front 15

velocity

Back 15

this is a VECTOR property that helps to describe the motion of an object. the velocity is the time derivative of he position. graphically it is the slope of the position curve at some time (instantaneous variable)