PHYS 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: One Direction, Paul Irwing, Ob River
15 Dec 2015
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Document Summary
Kinematics: the name for the mathematical description of motion. Kinematic variables (such as position and velocity) are measured with respect to a coordinate system, an axis that you impose on a system. Position-versus-time graph: a continuous curve that shows an object"s position as a function of this. A graph is an abstract representation of motion. Velocity is a vector; it has both a magnitude and a direction. We use an arrow labeled with the symbol to represent the magnitude and direction. Speed is the magnitude of the velocity vector and is always positive. For motion along horizontal line, the definition of velocity can be written as: If is positive, x is increasing, the object is moving to the right, and gives a positive value for velocity. If is negative, x is decreasing, the object is moving to the left, and gives a negative value for velocity. A faster speed corresponds to a steeper slope.
