FROST PHYSICS
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Terminology

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.

Path length

Path length is how far the object moved as it traveled from its initial position to its final position.

Speed

Reference Frames

Motion can be described with the terminology above, but describing motion can change based on the reference frame from which you are viewing, and whether or not those frames are moving.  Consider the following animations below.  A drone hovers above a field and the reference frame is the drone. 
Picture

Walking

A person walks and we see them moving at the same speed relative to the drone and the ground.
Picture

Running

The drone is still stationary, but the person is moving faster relative to the ground, so they are moving faster relative to our reference frame.
​
Picture

Walking

Notice the person is walking to the right at the same speed relative to the ground in the first animation, but they appear to be moving as fast they would if they were running in the second animation.
Picture
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  • Home
  • AP Physics 1
    • Lab Portfolios >
      • Sample Lab
      • Hall of Fame
    • Patterns and Measurements
    • Kinematics
    • Forces
    • 2D Motion
    • Energy
    • Momentum
    • Rotation
    • Electrostatics & Circuits >
      • Electric Charge
      • Electric Potential
      • Circuits
      • Ohm's Law
      • Kirchoff's Rules
  • AP Physics C
  • Explore Something New
  • About
  • Contact
    • Digital Portfolios