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Position
To describe the motion of an object, you must first be able to
describe its position (x): where it is at any particular time.
These cyclists in Vietnam can be
described by their position relative
to buildings or a canal. Their motion
can be described by their change in
position, or displacement, in a
frame of reference. What is our
most common frame of reference?
Displacement
If an object moves
relative to a frame of
reference, the objects
position changes. This
change in position is
called displacement.
Total distance
Average speed = s =
Elapsed time
Average Acceleration
Average acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes:
v v1 - v 0
a=
t t1 - t 0
Where a is average acceleration, v is velocity, and t is time.
(The bar over the a means average acceleration.)
and:
These are all the equations we have derived for
constant acceleration. The correct equation for a
problem should be selected considering the
information given and the desired result.
Summary table of the 4 kinematic equations:
Equation x v vo a t
1 No Yes Yes Yes Yes
To be answered
next chapter!
3.5 FINDING VELOCITY & DISPLACEMENT FROM ACCELERATION