Chapter 2: Kinematics

Vectors and ScalarsPage 1

Kinematics defines motion without considering its causes. Key to this are vectors (quantities with magnitude and direction, such as displacement and velocity) and scalars (quantities with only magnitude, such as distance, time, and speed). Displacement (Δx) is the change in position (xf - xo), while distance traveled is the total length of the path taken.

Velocity and SpeedPage 1

Average speed is distance divided by the time interval, while average velocity is displacement divided by the time interval. Instantaneous velocity and speed represent rates of motion at a specific point in time.

AccelerationPage 1

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time. It is a vector quantity. Positive acceleration occurs when an object speeds up in the positive direction or slows down in the negative direction, while negative acceleration occurs when an object speeds up in the negative direction or slows down in the positive direction.

Free Fall and GravityPage 1

Free-fall is motion under the influence of gravity alone. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.80 m/s², acting downward. All objects in free-fall accelerate at the same rate, regardless of mass, neglecting air resistance.

Graphical AnalysisPage 1

Graphs of motion provide visual representations: the slope of a position-time graph represents velocity, and the slope of a velocity-time graph represents acceleration. The area under a velocity-time graph represents displacement.