Learning Targets

2.01A - I know the difference between position, distance, and displacement (change in position) and I can determine each.

Can You...

  • Define and differentiate the following terms

Vector:

Physical quantity which has a value (magnitude) and a direction. Examples:
  • Velocity
  • Displacement
  • Acceleration

Scalar: 

Physical quantity which has a value, but NO DIRECTION.  Examples:
  • Time
  • Mass
  • Temperature

Position: 

Position is an object's location with respect to a particular coordinate system.
  • I would think of this as an address. It tells you where something is, but not how to get there. ​

Distance: 

Distance is the magnitude (length) of the displacement vector

Displacement (Change in Position): 

Displacement is a vector that starts from an object's initial position and ends at its final position.

Speed: 

​How much distance is travelled in a certain amount of time.

​Velocity: 

​How much your position changes in a certain amount of time.

​Acceleration:

How much velocity changes in a certain amount of time. 
  • If velocity increases (positive acceleration), it becomes more positive.  If an object has a positive velocity, it would speed up to make the velocity more positive.  But if velocity is negative, it would have to slow down to make the velocity more positive.
  • If velocity decreases (negative acceleration), it becomes more negative.  If an object has a positive velocity, it would slow down to make the velocity more negative.  But if velocity is negative, it would have to speed up to make the velocity more negative.