Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
183_notes:displacement_and_velocity [2021/01/28 20:31] – [Motion (Changes of Position)] stumptyl | 183_notes:displacement_and_velocity [2021/02/18 21:17] (current) – [Velocity and Speed] stumptyl | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
//Our job in mechanics is to predict or explain motion. So, all the models and tools that we develop are aimed at achieving this goal.// | //Our job in mechanics is to predict or explain motion. So, all the models and tools that we develop are aimed at achieving this goal.// | ||
- | The simplest model of motion is for an object that moves in a straight line at constant speed. You can use this simple model to build your understanding about the basic ideas of motion, and the different ways in which you will represent that motion. At the end of these notes, you will find the position update formula, which is a useful tool for predicting motion (particularly, | + | The simplest model of motion is for an object that moves in a straight line at constant speed. You can use this simple model to build your understanding about the basic ideas of motion, and the different ways in which you will represent that motion. |
==== Lecture Video ==== | ==== Lecture Video ==== | ||
Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
/* Add a little about distance versus displacement */ | /* Add a little about distance versus displacement */ | ||
- | ==== Velocity and Speed ==== | + | ===== Velocity and Speed ===== |
**Velocity** is a vector quantity that describes the rate of change of the displacement. | **Velocity** is a vector quantity that describes the rate of change of the displacement. | ||
Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
- | === Average Velocity === | + | ==== Average Velocity |
**Average Velocity** (→vavg) describes how an object changes its displacement in a given time. To compute an object' | **Average Velocity** (→vavg) describes how an object changes its displacement in a given time. To compute an object' | ||
Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
- | === Approximate Average Velocity === | + | ==== Approximate Average Velocity |
The average velocity is defined as the displacement over a given time, but what about the // | The average velocity is defined as the displacement over a given time, but what about the // | ||
Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
- | === Instantaneous Velocity === | + | ==== Instantaneous Velocity |
**Instantaneous velocity** (→v) describes how quickly an object is moving at a specific point in time. If you consider the displacement over shorter and shorter Δt's, your computation will give a reasonable approximation for the instantaneous velocity. In the limit that Δt goes to zero, your computation would be exact. Mathematically, | **Instantaneous velocity** (→v) describes how quickly an object is moving at a specific point in time. If you consider the displacement over shorter and shorter Δt's, your computation will give a reasonable approximation for the instantaneous velocity. In the limit that Δt goes to zero, your computation would be exact. Mathematically, | ||
Line 74: | Line 74: | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
- | === Speed === | + | ==== Speed ==== |
**Speed** is a scalar quantity that describes that distance (not the displacement) traveled over an elapsed time. | **Speed** is a scalar quantity that describes that distance (not the displacement) traveled over an elapsed time. |