Essential Knowledge

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Motion is described with words, diagrams, or graphs. All descriptions show how the position of
something has changed. Based on the shape of the path traveled, we can classify different kinds of
motions: linear motion, circular motion, projectile motion.
All motion is relative. This means that a description of motion depends on the observer's point of view.
The direction of motion in physics can be assigned positive and negative signs. In general we describe
positive motion as up or to the right, and negative
motion as down or to the left.
Distance is a scalar quantity that describes the length of
the pathway traveled by the object in meters (how far).
The symbols used for distance are d, x, s.
Displacement is a vector quantity that describes the
straight-line path (both length and direction) between
the starting and ending points. It may not be the actual
length of the path traveled. It is measured in meters
also. The symbols used are:
, ,
The magnitude of the displacement will always be less
(or equal) to the distance traveled. It cannot be greater.
Speed is how the distance traveled changes over time. Speed is measured in m/s and the symbol for
speed is v.
Velocity is how displacement changes over time. Velocity is also measured in m/s, and the symbol for
velocity is , which shows that you must indicate the direction of travel.
Velocity is a vector, therefore it must be represented as a vector.

Read Ch 2.
pp. 30-32

25 m/s East
To find Speed:
v = s/t
Using the picture to the right as an example:
v = (8-0) m/(2-0) s =8 m/2 s = 4 m/s

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Study and
practice
Read Ch 2
p. 28-29, 31

Average speed or velocity describes how the total distance or displacement changes over an interval
of time. Instantaneous speed or velocity describes how the distance or displacement is changing at a
specific moment in time.
The slope of a position-time graph tells you the velocity of an object. A constant slope indicates a
constant velocity.
The area under a velocity-time graph tells you the net displacement of an object.
Acceleration describes how velocity changes over time (magnitude, direction or both). Because
acceleration involves velocity, acceleration is a vector quantity. Acceleration is measured in m/s 2 and
the symbol for acceleration is
Acceleration can be viewed as the rate of a rate because it describes how quickly something that is
changing is changing (m/s per second).
A horizontal line on an acceleration-time graph indicates that the acceleration is constant. The area
under an acceleration-time graph tells you the change in velocity of the object
The slope of a velocity-time graph tells you the acceleration of the object.
v
0 m/s

5m/s

10 m/s

v
10 m/s

5m/s

0 m/s

A curved line on a position-time graph indicates acceleration because the slope is changing.

Read Ch 2,
pp. 33