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AP Physics - Kinematics Vocab

Instructions:

Answer 14 questions in 15 minutes.
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Match each statement with the correct term.
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This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Kinematic
Speeding up - slowing down or changing direction)
The study of motion in one dimension
The speed at an instant in time. Right now. Your speedometer reading when you glance it at.
An example of motion in 2 dimensions (both x and y simultaneously)

2. Instantaneous speed
The speed at an instant in time. Right now. Your speedometer reading when you glance it at.
A scalar quantity (no direction specified) that shows the rate that distance d is covered.
Start a problem by asking 'What is the object doing?' - 'What is causing it to do that?' - What direction is it moving in (if two find x and y components)? Is it moving at constant v (this includes v = 0)? Is it accelerating? Force? Energy change? Se
If the same speed is maintained over the entire trip. Constant speed/velocity means no acceleration.

3. Velocity
Speeding up - slowing down or changing direction)
A scalar quantity (no direction specified) that shows the rate that distance d is covered.
A vector quantity consisting of magnitude and direction. Displacement x divided by time.
An example of motion in 2 dimensions (both x and y simultaneously)

4. Average speed
The total distance divided by the total time for the entire trip.
If acceleration is present (Question contains terms such as: starts from rest - final velocity of - accelerates - comes to rest - etc.) - then you must use the three Kinematic equations
Speeding up - slowing down or changing direction)
The slope is the change in y divided by the change in x. (Otherwise known as 'the rise over the run'.)

5. Distance
Total distance traveled from start to finish - Is a scalar quantity (no direction)
If acceleration is present (Question contains terms such as: starts from rest - final velocity of - accelerates - comes to rest - etc.) - then you must use the three Kinematic equations
The study of motion in one dimension
A scalar quantity (no direction specified) that shows the rate that distance d is covered.

6. Speed
Shortest distance between the beginning and ending point in the problem. Is a vector quantity (has direction)
A vector quantity consisting of magnitude and direction. Displacement x divided by time.
A scalar quantity (no direction specified) that shows the rate that distance d is covered.
If acceleration is present (Question contains terms such as: starts from rest - final velocity of - accelerates - comes to rest - etc.) - then you must use the three Kinematic equations

7. Acceleration
Shortest distance between the beginning and ending point in the problem. Is a vector quantity (has direction)
Speeding up - slowing down or changing direction)
If the same speed is maintained over the entire trip. Constant speed/velocity means no acceleration.
The slope is the change in y divided by the change in x. (Otherwise known as 'the rise over the run'.)

8. Projectile Motion
An example of motion in 2 dimensions (both x and y simultaneously)
Total distance traveled from start to finish - Is a scalar quantity (no direction)
When there is no acceleration
If acceleration is present (Question contains terms such as: starts from rest - final velocity of - accelerates - comes to rest - etc.) - then you must use the three Kinematic equations

9. Displacement
If acceleration is present (Question contains terms such as: starts from rest - final velocity of - accelerates - comes to rest - etc.) - then you must use the three Kinematic equations
An example of motion in 2 dimensions (both x and y simultaneously)
A vector quantity consisting of magnitude and direction. Displacement x divided by time.
Shortest distance between the beginning and ending point in the problem. Is a vector quantity (has direction)

10. Constant speed or velocity
When there is no acceleration
If the same speed is maintained over the entire trip. Constant speed/velocity means no acceleration.
A scalar quantity (no direction specified) that shows the rate that distance d is covered.
Speeding up - slowing down or changing direction)

11. How to calculate slope on a straight line graph
The slope is the change in y divided by the change in x. (Otherwise known as 'the rise over the run'.)
If acceleration is present (Question contains terms such as: starts from rest - final velocity of - accelerates - comes to rest - etc.) - then you must use the three Kinematic equations
Shortest distance between the beginning and ending point in the problem. Is a vector quantity (has direction)
Speeding up - slowing down or changing direction)

12. Key words or hints that a kinematic equation must be used
If the same speed is maintained over the entire trip. Constant speed/velocity means no acceleration.
Speeding up - slowing down or changing direction)
If acceleration is present (Question contains terms such as: starts from rest - final velocity of - accelerates - comes to rest - etc.) - then you must use the three Kinematic equations
When there is no acceleration

13. The only time the average velocity equation can be used
The speed at an instant in time. Right now. Your speedometer reading when you glance it at.
A scalar quantity (no direction specified) that shows the rate that distance d is covered.
When there is no acceleration
The slope is the change in y divided by the change in x. (Otherwise known as 'the rise over the run'.)

14. Kinematics Problem Solving Strategy
A vector quantity consisting of magnitude and direction. Displacement x divided by time.
Start a problem by asking 'What is the object doing?' - 'What is causing it to do that?' - What direction is it moving in (if two find x and y components)? Is it moving at constant v (this includes v = 0)? Is it accelerating? Force? Energy change? Se
The slope is the change in y divided by the change in x. (Otherwise known as 'the rise over the run'.)
A scalar quantity (no direction specified) that shows the rate that distance d is covered.

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AP Physics - Kinematics Vocab

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