Describing Motion

• How do vector arrows represent vectors?

  The length of the arrow represents the magnitude, the arrow points in the associated direction.
• Examples of vector quantities

  Velocity, displacement, force
• Give examples of scalar quantities

  Temperature, time, mass, speed, distance, energy
• What does the gradient of a distance/time graph show?

  The speed
• What does the gradient of a displacement/time graph show?

  The velocity
• What must be done to calculate speed at a given time from a distance-time graph for an accelerating object?

  Draw a tangent to the curve at the required time, calculate the gradient of the tangent.
• Acceleration (m/s2) =

  Velocity / Time
• How can the distance travelled by an object be calculated from a velocity-time graph?

  It is equal to the area under the graph.
• What is the gradient on a velocity/time graph?

  The acceleration
• Speed of sound

  330 m/s
• Typical value for human walking speed

  1.5 m/s
• Typical value for human running speed

  3 m/s
• Typical value for human cycling speed

  6 m/s
• Acceleration of object in free fall

  10 m/s2