Physics Unit 2

Front

What is speed about?

Back

Speed is about how much distance is traveled in a period of time. It's a scalar measured in meters per second (m/s).

Front

What is velocity about?

Back

Velocity is about how much an object is displaced in a period of time.

It's a vector, so direction matters.

Its units are meters per second (m/s).

Front

How are speed and velocity similar? How are they different?

Back

Both are measures of "how fast?" with units of m/s.

Speed is distance over time. It is always positive since it's a scalar.

Velocity is displacement over time. It's a vector, so it can be positive or negative.

Front

How are average and instantaneous speeds different?

Back

Instantaneous speed describes motion at a specific instant.

Average speed describes motion over an interval or period of time.

Front

The slope of a position-time graph indicates _______________.

Back

VELOCITY

Slope is a rate of change, and velocity is the rate at which an object's location changes.

Constant slope means constant velocity.

Changing slope means changing velocity. (A d-t graph that gets steeper means the motion is getting faster)

Front

The area under a velocity-time graph indicates an object's _________.

Back

DISPLACEMENT

Adding up the areas of triangles and rectangles on a v-t graph is a way to determine how far an object traveled.

Front

What is force? Why is it a vector?

Back

A force is any push or pull on an object.

Since a push is in a different direction than a pull, forces are vectors.

Front

What is kinetic energy about?

Back

Kinetic Energy is associated with an object's motion.

The formula is KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^{2}.

Front

What factors affect the amount of KE an object has? Which has a bigger effect on the amount of KE?

Back

Mass & speed

Speed affects it more because the formula for KE says you have to square the velocity.

Front

What is potential energy?

Back

Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or state.

Gravitational potential energy is the energy of elevation: GPE = mgh

Elastic potential energy is the energy of deforming an object: EPE = \frac{1}{2}kx^{2}.