Intro to Motion Standards 1.1, 1.2

Scalars and Vectors A Scalar quantity has magnitude (measure of size) alone. A Vector quantity has both a magnitude and a direction.

Distance versus Displacement Distance refers to "how much ground an object has covered" during its motion. Displacement refers to "how far out of place an object is"; it is the object's overall change in position.

Example: A physics teacher walks 4 meters East, 2 meters South, 4 meters West, and finally 2 meters North. The distance covered was 12 m, but the displacement is 0 m.

Speed Speed refers the rate at which an object covers a distance. Speed = distance/time Unit used: meters/second or m/s

Velocity Velocity is the rate at which an object changes its position. Units are the same as speed.

Acceleration Acceleration is the rate at which velocity is changing. The change can be in magnitude, direction, or both. or Δ = change Vf = final velocity Units = m/s2 Vi = Initial velocity