Motion

Motion is movement. 

Topics in the area of motion that we will study are found below:

Reference Points

References points are objects or points which we consider to be stationary in a given investigation.  We can then use these stationary points to compare with our object of interest. 

 Average Speeds

To calculate the speed of an object, students will learn the formula Speed=Distance/Time.  They will also be challenged to understand that this calculation gives us an average speed of the object in question.  A any specific moment in during the time in question, the object may have been travelling faster or slower that the average speed indicates.

Distance vs Time 

Average Velocities

Velocities differ from speeds in one very important way.  Velocities include the direction of the motion in addition to its speed.  Since the direction of the motion is importantm velocities are prefered for use in physics problems,

Displacement vs Time

Accelerations

Changes in velocites either increases or decreases are called accelerations.  In physics, even decreases are a form of acceleration (negative acceleration).  Describing and calculating accelerations (particularly constant accelerations)  help describe a changing motion

Velocity vs.Time