Motion Lingo
Terms
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- Quantities in physics, such as mass, volume, and speed, which are fully described by magnitude alone
- scalar
- The horizonal axis on a graph on which the independent variable is plotted.
- x-axis
- A vector quantity which describes the rate at which an object changes its position. Also referred to as "speed with direction."
- velocity
- A scalar quantity which refers to "how much ground an object has covered" during its motion.
- distance
- The rate at which an object changes its velocity, meaning there is a change in speed, direction, or both.
- acceleration
- A point, assumed to be stationary, used to describe motion.
- frame of reference
- Refers to the duration of an action.
- time
- The vertical axis on a graph on which the dependent variable is plotted.
- y-axis
- A scalar quantity which refers to "how fast an object is moving."
- speed
- Refers to the way position changes relative to a starting point. May be indicated by the terms: north, south, positive, negative, up, or down.
- direction
- A vector quanity which refers to how far out of place an object is, or the object's change in position.
- displacement
- A quantity that has magnitude and direction.
- vector
- Refers to where an object is.
- position
- The degree of exactness with which an operation is performed or a measurement stated.
- precision
- Freedom from mistake or error; degree of conformity of a measure to a standard or a true value.
- accuracy
- The accepted measurement system of the scientific community, based on the meter, the kilogram, and the second.
- SI/metric
- Standar system of measurement used in daily activities in the United States.
- USCS
- The speed of an object at a specific moment.
- instantaneous speed
- The factor in an experiment that the researcher chooses to vary at specific intervals; is plotted on the x-axis.
- independent variable
- The total distance traveled divided by the total time of travel.
- average speed
- Refers to the degree of inclination or steepness of a line.
- slope
- The factor whose value changes a the result of a change in the independent variable and is plotted on the y-axis.
- dependent variable
- Refers to size and is expressed as a numerical value.
- magnitude
- Total displacement divided by the time interval.
- average velocity
- The velocity of an object at a specific moment.
- instantaneous velocity
- Type of motion that describes an object that is not accelerating.
- constant velocity
- A speed that does not change, such as a steady speed.
- constant speed
- Acceleration of an object a particular moment.
- instantaneous acceleration
- Type of motion that describes the steady change in velocity over time.
- constant velocity
- A simplified description of a physical system intended to capture the essential aspects of the system in a sufficiently simple form.
- model
- An assumption to be tested; a statement of a problem to be solved, expressed as a question.
- hypothesis
- A plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena.
- theory
- A specific measure of quantity (as of length, time, heat or value) used as a standard of measurement.
- unit
- An act of recognizing and noting a fact or occurrence; often involving measurement with instruments.
- observation
- An operation carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law.
- experiment
- A statement of an order or relation of phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions.
- law
- Set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of quanity, weight, extent, value or quality.
- standard
- Used to check, test or verify experiemnts; usually not itself manipulated during the experiment.
- control
- Something invariable or unchanging.
- constant
- A falling object which experiences no friction is in this type of motion and accelerates at a rate of 9.8 m/s2.
- freefall