SYNTHESIS SESSION

MOTION DESCRIPTORS
 LEARNING TARGETS

● - I can differentiate a scalar from a vector quantity.

- I can differentiate the concept of distance from displacement.
- I can determine the magnitude of distance and displacement in a
given situation.
- I can differentiate speed from velocity.
- I can solve for average speed and average velocity.
- I can define what acceleration is.
- I can give the possible states of a body that undergoes
acceleration.
 How is
DISPLACEMENT
different from
DISTANCE?
DISTANCE vs DISPLACEMENT

DISTANCE is a SCALAR QUANTITY

(magnitude ) that refers to “how much
ground an object has covered” during its
motion.
DISTANCE vs DISPLACEMENT

DISPLACEMENT is a VECTOR QUANTITY

(magnitude and direction) that refers to
“how far out of place an object is”; it is the
object’s overall change in position.
Distance = 7m

Displacement = 5m
 When can we say that
the displacement of an
object’s motion is
equal to 0?
The object returns to
its ORIGIN.
 How will you
differentiate SPEED
from VELOCITY?
SPEED vs VELOCITY

SPEED is a SCALAR QUANTITY that refers to “how fast an

object is moving.” Speed can be thought of as the RATE AT
WHICH AN OBJECT COVERS DISTANCE.
 Since the negative implies
direction and speed does not
assign direction, speed can only
be positive or zero.
How do we solve for distance or time?
SPEED vs VELOCITY

VELOCITY is a VECTOR QUANTITY that refers to “the rate at

which an object changes its position.”

Velocity is “speed with direction.”

DIFFERENTIATE
AVERAGE SPEED
from AVERAGE
VELOCITY
AVERAGE SPEED vs
AVERAGE VELOCITY
AVERAGE SPEED is the ratio of the total DISTANCE traveled
by an object over the total time it took to make that certain
motion.
AVERAGE SPEED vs
AVERAGE VELOCITY
AVERAGE VELOCITY is the ratio of the change in position
(displacement) of an object over the total time of travel.
ACCELERATION
How will you know if a
body is accelerating?
ACCELERATION

ACCELERATION is a VECTOR QUANTITY

that is defined as the “rate at which an
object changes its velocity.”