(ODK) Module Overview - One Dimensional Kinematics

One Dimensional Kinematics

Image of a man on a bicycle with the words: One Dimensional Kinematics, motion graphs, acceleration, velocity, displacement, frame of reference

Introduction

How would you describe the motion of a car, a rocket, or a rock? Kinematics is the study of motion. At this point we don't care why things move, we only care about how to describe the motion of any object. We will discover that motion requires an understanding of position, displacement, velocity, and acceleration. We will look at the difference between distance and displacement, and velocity from speed. Acceleration will be introduced as well as the kinematic equations used to solve mathematically for different variables.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

  • What is a frame of reference and how does it change the way we see motion?
  • What is the difference between displacement and distance, and between velocity and speed?
  • When can I use the equation for average velocity?
  • How do we use the four kinematic equations to solve for unknown motion variables?
  • What is the meaning of the slope and area for displacement, velocity, and acceleration graph?

 

Key Terms

  1. Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity which can be due to a change in speed or direction, a=(v-v 0)/(t-t0).

  2. Area Under the Graph: The calculated area between the graph line and the x axis.

  3. Average Speed: Total distance divided by total time.

  4. Average Velocity: Total displacement divided by total time.

  5. Displacement: The straight line distance from start to finish, defined as LaTeX: \DeltaΔx=(x-x0).

  6. Distance: The path length from start to finish.

  7. Frame of Reference: The object or location defined as not being motion, usually the ground or floor.

  8. Instantaneous Velocity: The speed and direction of an object at any given time.

  9. Kinematics: The study of the motion of objects.

  10. Slope: The rise of a graph divided by the run.

  11. Speed: The rate of change of distance, or S=d/t.

  12. Velocity: The rate of change of displacement, v ave=(x-x0)/(t-t0).

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