AP Physics Review Kinematics Graphs

Front

What is displacement?

Back

Displacement is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of an object, along with the direction.

Front

How is velocity defined in kinematics?

Back

Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time, and it includes both speed and direction.

Front

What does a velocity-time graph represent?

Back

A velocity-time graph shows how an object's velocity changes over time, allowing for the calculation of displacement and acceleration.

Front

What is acceleration?

Back

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, measured in m/s².

Front

What does a horizontal line on a velocity-time graph indicate?

Back

A horizontal line indicates constant velocity, meaning the object is moving at a steady speed without acceleration.

Front

How do you calculate average speed?

Back

Average speed is calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken.

Front

What does a negative acceleration indicate?

Back

Negative acceleration, or deceleration, indicates that an object is slowing down.

Front

What is the significance of the area under a velocity-time graph?

Back

The area under a velocity-time graph represents the displacement of the object over that time interval.

Front

What is the formula for calculating acceleration?

Back

Acceleration (a) can be calculated using the formula: a = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time.

Front

What does a steep slope on a position-time graph indicate?

Back

A steep slope on a position-time graph indicates a high speed of the object.