Mechanics

Key terms:

1. Scalar
2. Vector
3. Distance
4. Displacement
5. Speed
6. Velocity
7. Acceleration
8. Rate of change
9. Gradient
10. Tangent

A displacement - Time graph:

The gradient at any point of a distance–
time graph is equal to the speed at that
point.
Speed from a curved distance-time graph

Average and instantaneous speed:

Draw a s-t graph for:

 A stationary object

Constant positive velocity

Constant negative velocity

Constant positive acceleration

An object thrown up into the air and

returning to its starting point

Draw a v-t graph for:

Constant positive velocity.

Constant positive acceleration.

 Constant negative acceleration.

Increasing velocity with decreasing

acceleration.

Decreasing velocity with decreasing

acceleration.

Increasing velocity with increasing

acceleration.

An object thrown up into the air and

returning to its starting point.

Switching between graphs

Displacement-time graph to velocity time graph:

A tricky problem:

A runner runs one lap of a track at track at a speed v1.

How fast would they have to run the second lap so that their average speed is 2v1?