Kinematics

Uniform Motion
How can uniform motion be
expressed and how can it be
calculated?
What is the difference betw-
een a vector and a scalar?
What is uniform acceleration
and how can it be calculated?
How is instantaneous accel-
eration different and how can
It be calculated?
What are the three different
types of graphs and what
do the different parts repre-
sent?
I. Any object moving at a constant velocity
II. When graphed, the line of best fit represents the average speed
a. y = mx + b; where “m” is the constant (slope) and “b” is the initial
value
b. velocity = displacement / time (m/s)
Vectors and Scalars
I. A vector is a measurement that has a direction component
a. Velocity and displacement are vector quantities (e.g. 5 km/h [S])
II. Speed and distance are scalar quantities (e.g. 15 m away)
Uniform Acceleration
I. Accelerated motion (non-uniform) occurs when an object travelling in a
straight line changes its speed uniformly with time
II. Non-uniform acceleration occurs when an object changes its speed in a
non-uniform fashion
III. Acceleration can be calculated (vector quantity)
a. Average acceleration = change of velocity / time interval (m/s2) or
can be = (final velocity) – (initial velocity) / time interval
b. Instantaneous acceleration is the acceleration at a particular instant
and can be found using tangent lines on graphs. This will appear as
a curved slope on a graph
Graphs
I. Position-time graphs
a. The slope of the graph equals velocity
b. When the velocity is changing, the slope is a curve
II. Velocity-time graphs
a. The area underneath any section of the graph equals displacement
b. The slope of the graph equals average acceleration
II. Acceleration-time graphs
a. The acceleration is zero when the motion is uniform
b. Represented by a horizontal line when motion is non-uniform
c. The slope equals the change in acceleration over time
To draw a tangent, choose a point on the graph, and then draw a straight
line that does not touch any other part of the graph

Uniform motion is motion at a constant velocity. * velocity = displacement / time * Uniform

acceleration is when an object changes its velocity uniformly. * aav = Δv / Δt * or * aav = vf – vi / Δt *
Instantaneous acceleration is the acceleration of an object at a certain instance during non-uniform
acceleration; this can be found by drawing tangent lines and calculating the slope of the tangent.
Position-time graphs, velocity-time graphs, and acceleration-time graphs can all represent those
three quantities using slopes and shapes of the line or curve of best fit.
 Kinematics

Acceleration Due to gravity

What is acceleration due to
gravity?
What are the five kinematics
equations and when is it
appropriate to use them?
What are vector scale
diagrams?
What are the methods used to
determine a resultant vector?
How do you add and subtract
vectors?
How is average velocity
determined?
What is relative motion?
I. Earth’s gravity accelerates any free falling object at a constant rate of
9.81 m/s2 assuming negligible air resistance
Kinematics Equations
I. Each equation is to be used when 3 pieces of information have been
given and the fourth is to be calculated. One variable will be omitted
a. a = vf – vi / Δt
b. Δd = vi Δt + ½ a Δt2
c. Δd = (vi + vf) Δt / 2
d. vf2 = 2 a Δd + vi2
e. Δd = vf Δt – ½ a Δt2
Vector Scale Diagrams
I. When a vector arrow points in a direction that is not one of the 4 main
directions (N, S, E, W), it is referenced by an angle from the closest
main direction
II. It is necessary to draw the size of your arrow to a certain scale like
1 cm = 1 km
Adding and Subtracting Vectors
I. To add, this is done head-to-tail and the resultant vector is the vector
that connects the tail of the first vector to the head of the second vector
a. When using a scale diagram, the resultant vector can be determined
using a ruler and a protractor
b. The resultant vector can also be determined using simple trig, trig
laws, and the Pythagorean theorem
II. To subtract, simply add the compliment of the second vector to the first;
(compliment of a vector is the original facing the other way)
Average Velocity and Relative Motion
I. The average velocity can be determined by calculating the resultant
displacement by the time interval: vav = ΔdR / Δt
II. Relative motion can occur when there are various frames of motion like
Walking on a boat, moveable walkways, swimming in a current, etc.
a. The resultant velocities vary depending on the observer’s location
b. A boat travels 25 km/h [S], man walks 5 km/h [N], then R = 25 -5,
and the resultant velocity is 20 km/h [S]

Any object in freefall experiences an acceleration of 9.81 m/s2 (down), neglecting air resistance.
There are 5 major kinematic equations: * a = vf – vi / Δt *, * Δd = vi Δt + ½ a Δt2 *, * Δd = (vi + vf) Δt / 2 *,
* vf2 = 2 a Δd + vi2 *, and * Δd = vf Δt – ½ a Δt2 *. Vector diagrams can be drawn to scale and the
resultant vector can be determined using a ruler and protractor. Another method is mathematics.
Average velocity can be determined: * vav = ΔdR / Δt *. Relative motion can occur when there is more
than one frame of motion.