2.1 & 2.2 & 2.

3 lessons summary

Motion is the change in position of an

object with respect to its surroundings
in a given interval of time.
To measure motion, you must choose a
frame of reference. A frame of
reference is a system for specifying the
precise location of objects in space and
time.

Distance is the total movement of an object without any

regard to direction. Distance is a scalar quantity (only
magnitude and no direction).
The SI unit of distance is the meter, m.

Displacement is a change in
position. Displacement is a
vector quantity (magnitude and
direction).
Displacement is not always
equal to the distance traveled.
The SI unit of displacement is
the meter, m.
Δx = xf – xi
Displacement = final position – initial position

Important note: The only case in which displacement and

distance are equal is when the object is moving in a straight
line.
Speed is a scalar quantity (only magnitude and no direction)
that refers to "how fast an object is moving." Speed is
measured as the ratio of distance to the time in which the
distance was covered.
The SI unit of speed is meter per second (m/s).

Equation for speed:

Velocity is the rate at which the displacement changes.

Velocity (v) is a vector (magnitude and direction) quantity.
The SI unit of velocity is meter per second (m/s).

Equation for velocity:

Important note: To convert from km/h to m/s we use this rule:

÷ 3.6
Km/h (kilometer per hour) m/s (meter per second)

Average speed is equal to the total distance traveled divided

by the time interval.

Average velocity is the total displacement divided by the

time interval during which the displacement occurred.

change in position displacement

average velocity = =
change in time time interval

The instantaneous velocity is the velocity of an object at some

instant or at a specific point in the object’s path.

The position-time graph is used to determine the velocity or

average velocity of an object in a graph.
 Cases of velocity in a position-time graph:

position position position C

position position

Dv E

In the graph of A
the velocity is
zero because the
object didn’t
change its
displacement or
we can say it is at rest.
In the graph of B the velocity is constant and positive because
the object is moving at a straight line and slope is positive.
In the graph of C the velocity is constant and negative
because the object is moving at a straight line and slope is
negative.
In the graph of D and E the velocity is non-constant because
the object isn’t moving at a straight line.

Important note: To calculate the average velocity of an object

in a position-time graph (constant velocity), we calculate the
slope.
We can’t calculate the average velocity in non-constant
position time graph, but we can calculate the instantaneous
velocity by drawing a straight line that is tangent to the point
and calculating its slope.

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes over time.

An object accelerates if its speed, direction, or both change.
Acceleration has direction and magnitude. Thus, acceleration
is a vector quantity.
The SI unit of acceleration is meter per second squared (m/ s2).

Equation for acceleration:

v v f  vi
aavg  
 f i

The velocity-time graph is used to determine the acceleration

or average acceleration of an object in a graph.
 Cases of acceleration in a velocity-time graph:

(Retardation)

Important note: To calculate the average acceleration of an

object in a velocity-time graph (constant acceleration), we
calculate the slope.
How to know if the object is speeding up or slowing down?
When velocity changes by the same amount during each time
interval, acceleration is constant.

These equations use the following symbols:

Δx = displacement
vi = initial velocity
vf = final velocity
Δt = time interval
a = acceleration