Motion with Constant Acceleration

Front

Acceleration Noun

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[ak-sel-uh-rey-shuhn]

Back

Acceleration

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The rate at which an object's velocity changes over time, which can involve a change in speed or direction.

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Example: This formula triangle shows how to calculate acceleration (a) by dividing velocity (v) by time (t), a key mathematical relationship for motion.

Front

Velocity Noun

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[vuh-los-i-tee]

Back

Velocity

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A vector quantity that specifies the rate of change of an object's position, indicating both its speed and direction.

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Example: This diagram shows the formula triangle for velocity (v), which is calculated by dividing displacement (d) by time (t).

Front

Position Noun

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[puh-zish-uhn]

Back

Position

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The specific location of an object in space, usually defined relative to a fixed reference point or origin.

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Example: This diagram shows an object's position as its specific location (like -2 or 5) on a number line, which acts as a coordinate system.

Front

Displacement Noun

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[dis-pleys-muhnt]

Back

Displacement

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The change in an object's position, represented as a vector quantity pointing from the initial to the final position.

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Example: This diagram shows that even after traveling a 5 km distance to school and back, the total displacement is zero because the starting and ending positions are the same.

Front

Uniform Motion Noun

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[yoo-nuh-fawrm moh-shuhn]

Back

Uniform Motion

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Movement of an object at a constant velocity, meaning it travels in a straight line with an unvarying speed.

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Example: This distance-time graph shows a straight line, meaning an object covers equal distances in equal time intervals, which is the definition of uniform motion.

Front

Parabola Noun

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[puh-rab-uh-luh]

Back

Parabola

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The characteristic U-shaped curve of a position-time graph for an object moving with constant, non-zero acceleration.

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Example: A basketball thrown towards a hoop follows a curved path called a parabola due to the constant downward pull of gravity.

Front

Average Acceleration Noun

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[av-er-ij ak-sel-uh-rey-shuhn]

Back

Average Acceleration

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The total change in an object's velocity divided by the total time interval over which that change occurred.

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Example: A car slowing down for a speed hump is an example of negative acceleration, as its velocity decreases over time.

Front

Instantaneous Acceleration Noun

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[in-stuhn-tey-nee-uhs ak-sel-uh-rey-shuhn]

Back

Instantaneous Acceleration

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The acceleration of an object at a single, specific moment in time, found by the slope of a velocity-time graph.

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Example: This velocity-time graph shows that instantaneous acceleration at a specific moment is the slope of the tangent line to the curve at that point.

Front

Initial Velocity (vᵢ) Noun

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[ih-nish-uhl vuh-los-i-tee]

Back

Initial Velocity (vᵢ)

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The velocity of an object at the beginning of a specific time interval, often denoted as the starting point.

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Example: This image shows the kinematic formula used to calculate an object's initial velocity (Vi) when its final velocity, constant acceleration, and time are known.

Front

Final Velocity (vf) Noun

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[fahy-nl vuh-los-i-tee]

Back

Final Velocity (vf)

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The velocity of an object at the end of a specific time interval, often denoted as the ending point.

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Example: This diagram shows the formula for constant velocity (v=d/t), which is used when an object's speed and direction do not change.