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Physics with Calculus: Key Concepts and Graph Analysis

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What does a position vs. time graph with a horizontal line indicate about the object's motion?
    The object is at rest because its position does not change over time.
  • How is constant velocity represented on a position vs. time graph?
    By a straight line with a constant positive or negative slope.
  • What does a curved position vs. time graph indicate about the object's motion?
    The object is accelerating, meaning its velocity is changing over time.
  • Describe the motion of an object between 0 and 5 seconds if the position vs. time graph shows a curve increasing from 20 m to 108 m.
    The object is accelerating positively, increasing its velocity over this interval.
  • What does a positive slope on a position vs. time graph between 5 and 14 seconds indicate?
    The object is moving with a constant positive velocity.
  • What does a negative slope on a position vs. time graph between 14 and 29 seconds indicate?
    The object is moving with a constant negative velocity.
  • What does a horizontal line on a position vs. time graph between 29 and 32 seconds indicate?
    The object is at rest during this time interval.
  • What does a steep positive slope on a position vs. time graph between 32 and 33 seconds indicate?
    The object is moving with a high positive velocity.
  • How would the velocity vs. time graph look for an object accelerating from rest between 0 and 5 seconds?
    The velocity vs. time graph would show a curve increasing from zero velocity upwards.
  • How is constant positive velocity represented on a velocity vs. time graph?
    By a horizontal line above the time axis.
  • How is constant negative velocity represented on a velocity vs. time graph?
    By a horizontal line below the time axis.
  • What does a zero velocity on a velocity vs. time graph indicate?
    The object is at rest.
  • How is acceleration represented on a velocity vs. time graph?
    By a line with a nonzero slope; positive slope means positive acceleration, negative slope means negative acceleration.
  • What is the formula for average velocity?
    Average velocity = \(\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}\), where \(\Delta\) x is displacement and \(\Delta\) t is time interval.
  • What is the formula for acceleration?
    Acceleration = \(\frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}\), where \(\Delta\) v is change in velocity and \(\Delta\) t is time interval.
  • What does a positive acceleration mean in terms of velocity?
    Velocity is increasing over time.
  • What does a negative acceleration mean in terms of velocity?
    Velocity is decreasing over time.
  • How can you determine if an object is speeding up or slowing down from a velocity vs. time graph?
    If velocity and acceleration have the same sign, the object is speeding up; if opposite signs, it is slowing down.
  • What is displacement?
    Displacement is the change in position of an object, a vector quantity with direction.
  • What is the difference between speed and velocity?
    Speed is scalar and only magnitude; velocity is vector and includes direction.