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VICPhysicsQuick questions
Unit 2: How does physics help us to understand the world?
Quick questions on Kinematics of one-dimensional motion: VCE Physics Unit 2 Year 11
13short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is position $x$?Show answer
Location of an object along the chosen axis. Vector quantity in higher dimensions but scalar (positive or negative) in one dimension.
What is displacement $\Delta x$?Show answer
Change in position. Vector. Different from distance (a scalar).
What is velocity $v$?Show answer
Rate of change of displacement: $v = \Delta x / \Delta t$. Vector. Sign indicates direction.
What is speed $|v|$?Show answer
Magnitude of velocity. Always non-negative.
What is acceleration $a$?Show answer
Rate of change of velocity: $a = \Delta v / \Delta t$.
What is average vs instantaneous?Show answer
Average is over a finite time interval. Instantaneous is the limit as $\Delta t \to 0$ (the derivative).
What is position-time graph?Show answer
Slope = instantaneous velocity at that moment.
What is velocity-time graph?Show answer
Slope = instantaneous acceleration. Area under the curve = displacement.
What is acceleration-time graph?Show answer
Area under the curve = change in velocity.
What is confusing distance and displacement?Show answer
Distance is the total path length; displacement is the net change in position. They differ when the object reverses direction.
What is sign errors in free fall?Show answer
Set up a positive direction and stick to it. Gravity is opposite the upward direction.
What is wrong suvat equation choice?Show answer
Identify your knowns and choose the equation that contains them plus one unknown.
What is graph misreading?Show answer
On a velocity-time graph, the slope is acceleration (not velocity). The area is displacement.