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, when it comes to constant velocity motion).

Displacement is a vector quantity that describes a change in position.

The displacement vector ($\Delta \vec{r}$) describes the change of an object's position in space (i.e., a change in location). So, you can think of the displacement vector as displacement = change in position = final location - initial location. This change in position is represented in the diagram to the right. Mathematically, we represent the displacement like this:

$$\Delta \vec{r} = \vec{r}_{final}-\vec{r}_{initial} = \vec{r}_f - \vec{r}_i$$

where the subscripts “f” and “i” describe the final and initial locations respectively. You will often find it useful to have subscripts like those used above to distinguish between similar quantities (e.g., positions) that occur at different times (e.g., before some motion occurs and after that motion occurs).

In one dimension, you might consider motion along a specific coordinate axis or, if you like, the number line. In that case, you can still talk about displacement “in the x-direction.” Mathematically, we represent that kind of displacement like this:

$$\Delta x = x_f - x_i$$

Note that this displacement maybe positive, negative, or zero, as this is the component of the displacement vector in the x-direction.

The units of displacement are units of length, which are typically the SI units of meters (m).

Velocity is a vector quantity that describes the rate of change of the displacement.

Average Velocity ($\vec{v}_{avg}$) describes how an object changes its displacement in a given time. To compute an object's average velocity, you will need the position of the object at two different times. You can think of it as average velocity = displacement divided by time elapsed. Mathematically, we can represent the average velocity like this:

$$\vec{v}_{avg} = \dfrac{\Delta \vec{r}}{\Delta t} = \dfrac{\vec{r}_f - \vec{r}_i}{t_f - t_i}$$

In one dimension, you can still think about average velocity in a coordinate direction. In this case, you might consider the number line where displacement to the right is positive and displacement to the left is negative. Mathematically, in the x-direction, you would represent the average velocity in the x-direction like this:

$$v_{x,avg} = \dfrac{\Delta x}{\Delta t} = \dfrac{x_f - x_i}{t_f - t_i}$$

where $t_f - t_i$ is always positive, but $x_f-x_i$ can be positive, negative, or zero because it represents the displacement in the x-direction, which is a vector component.

The average velocity is defined as the displacement over a given time, but what about the arithmetic average velocity? How do the arithmetic average velocity and average velocity compare?

The arithmetic average velocity is an approximation to the average velocity.

$$v_{x,avg} = \dfrac{\Delta x}{\Delta t} \approx \dfrac{v_{ix} + v_{fx}}{2}$$

This equation only hold exactly if the velocity changes linearly with time (constant force motion). It might be a very poor approximation if velocity changes in other ways.

Instantaneous velocity ($\vec{v}$) describes how quickly an object is moving at a specific point in time. If you consider the displacement over shorter and shorter $\Delta t$'s, your computation will give a reasonable approximation for the instantaneous velocity. In the limit that $\Delta t$ goes to zero, your computation would be exact. Mathematically, we represent the instantaneous velocity like this:

$$\vec{v} = \lim_{\Delta t \rightarrow 0} \dfrac{\Delta \vec{r}}{\Delta t} = \dfrac{d\vec{r}}{dt}$$

In one dimension, you can still think about instantaneous velocity in a coordinate direction. Again, consider a number line where displacement to the right is positive and to the left is negative. Mathematically, in x-direction, we represent the instantaneous velocity like this:

$$v_x = \lim_{\Delta t \rightarrow 0} \dfrac{\Delta x}{\Delta t} = \dfrac{dx}{dt}$$