What is kinematics?

• Kinematics?is the branch of mathematics that models and analyses the?motion?of objects
• Common words such as?distance, speed?and?acceleration?are used in kinematics but are used according to their technical definition

What definitions do I need to be aware of?

• Firstly, only motion of an object in a?straight?line?is considered
  • this could be a?horizontal?straight line
    • the?positive?direction would be to the?right
  • or this could be a?vertical?straight line
    • the?positive?direction would be?upwards

Particle

• A?particle?is the general term for an?object
  • some questions may use a?specific?object such as a?car?or a?ball

Are there any other words or phrases in kinematics I should know?

• Certain words and phrases can imply values or directions in kinematicsWhat are the key features of a velocity-time graph?

• The?gradient?of the graph equals the?acceleration??of an object
• A?straight line?shows that the object is?accelerating?at a?constant rate
• A?horizontal?line shows that the object is moving at a?constant velocity
• The?area?between graph and the x-axis tells us the?change in?displacement?of the object
  • Graph?above?the x-axis means the object is moving?forwards
  • Graph?below?the x-axis means the object is moving?backwards

   

• The?total displacement?of the object from its starting point is the sum of the?areas above?the x-axis?minus?the sum of the?areas below?the x-axis
• The?total distance travelled?by the object is the sum of?all?the?areas
• If the graph?touches?the?x-axis?then the object is?stationary?at that time
• If the graph is?above?the?x-axis?then the object has positive velocity and is?travelling forwards
• If the graph is?below?the?x-axis?then the object has negative velocity and is?travelling backwards