Measuring Motion
Different types of motion in physics
Speed
- Definition: Distance traveled by an object divided by the time taken to travel that distance.
- Measured in meters per second(m/s)
- Formula for speed: S=d/t
- Since objects don't usually travel at a constant speed you typically just give average speed.
Velocity
- Definition: speed of an object in a specific direction.
- The formula for velocity is v=d/t.
- An object's velocity is constant if the direction or speed doesn't change.
- The velocity will change if the direction or speed changes.
- There is also resultant velocity- the combined velocity of different objects in motion.
- Speed and velocity are NOT the same.
Acceleration
- Definition: A measure of how much the velocity changes in a certain amount of time.
- An object accelerates if its direction,speed, or both change.
- There is positive acceleration (increase in velocity) and negative acceleration (decrease in in velocity.)
- The faster the change in velocity is, the great acceleration there is.
Work
- Definition: When a force causes an object to move in the direction that force is applied over a distance(or force) that stops the movement.
- The formulas for work is W=Fd.
- Work is measured in joules(J).
- If there is no movement over a distance the is no work.
- There is positive work- when motion and force are in the same direction and negative work- when motion and force are in opposite directions.