What is the difference between distance and displacement ?

Distance is the total length between two points and is a scalar quantity. Displacement is the distance from a fixed point in a specified direction and is a vector quantity.

What is the difference between speed and velocity ?

Speed is the total distance travelled per unit of time and is a scalar quantity. Velocity is the rate of change of displacement and is a vector quantity.

Define acceleration .

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object.

Define instantaneous velocity .

Instantaneous velocity is the velocity of an object at a specific point in time.

How is average velocity calculated?

Average velocity is calculated by dividing the total displacement by the total time taken.

The instantaneous velocity at a point on a displacement-time graph is found by drawing a .......... at that point and calculating its gradient.

The instantaneous velocity at a point on a displacement-time graph is found by drawing a tangent at that point and calculating its gradient.

True or False? Instantaneous velocity is always equal to average velocity.

False. They are only equal when an object moves at a constant velocity . Otherwise, the instantaneous velocity at a specific moment can differ from the average velocity over the whole journey.

On a displacement-time graph , what does the gradient represent?

On a displacement-time graph , the gradient represents the velocity of the object.

On a velocity-time graph , a straight line represents .......... acceleration, while a curved line represents .......... acceleration.

On a velocity-time graph , a straight line represents uniform acceleration, while a curved line represents non-uniform acceleration.

What does the area under the curve represent on a velocity-time graph ?

The area under the curve on a velocity-time graph represents the displacement (or distance travelled) of the object.

True or False? The area under the curve on an acceleration-time graph represents the distance travelled.

False. The area under the curve on an acceleration-time graph represents the change in velocity , not the distance travelled.

What does a horizontal line on an acceleration-time graph represent?

A horizontal line on an acceleration-time graph represents an object undergoing constant acceleration .

A displacement-time graph can show both positive and negative values, whereas a .......... graph can only show positive values.

A displacement-time graph can show both positive and negative values, whereas a distance-time graph can only show positive values.

What does the area under the curve represent on a displacement-time graph ?

The area under the curve on a displacement-time graph is meaningless — it does not represent a useful physical quantity.

What does a negative gradient on a displacement-time graph indicate?

A negative gradient indicates a negative velocity , meaning the object is moving backwards .

True or False? The area under a displacement-time graph is equal to the distance travelled.

False. The area under a velocity-time graph is equal to the distance travelled . The area under a distance-time graph is meaningless.

True or False? The area under a velocity-time graph is equal to the change in displacement.

True. The area under a velocity-time graph is equal to the change in displacement .

True or False? At the highest point of a bouncing ball's motion, both its velocity and its acceleration are zero.

False. The ball's velocity is momentarily zero at the highest point, but its acceleration (due to gravity, g ) remains constant and directed downwards .

When a bouncing ball rebounds from the ground, assuming no energy loss, how does its speed compare to just before impact?

Its speed (magnitude) remains the same — only the direction of the velocity reverses instantaneously.

A LevelPhysicsOCRFlashcards3. Forces & MotionKinematics

Kinematics (OCR A Level Physics): Flashcards

Exam code: H556

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What is the difference between distance and displacement?

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Cards in this collection (21)

What is the difference between distance and displacement?
Distance is the total length between two points and is a scalar quantity. Displacement is the distance from a fixed point in a specified direction and is a vector quantity.
What is the difference between speed and velocity?
Speed is the total distance travelled per unit of time and is a scalar quantity. Velocity is the rate of change of displacement and is a vector quantity.
Define acceleration.
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object.
Define instantaneous velocity.
Instantaneous velocity is the velocity of an object at a specific point in time.
How is average velocity calculated?
Average velocity is calculated by dividing the total displacement by the total time taken.
The instantaneous velocity at a point on a displacement-time graph is found by drawing a .......... at that point and calculating its gradient.
The instantaneous velocity at a point on a displacement-time graph is found by drawing a tangent at that point and calculating its gradient.
True or False?
Instantaneous velocity is always equal to average velocity.
False.
They are only equal when an object moves at a constant velocity. Otherwise, the instantaneous velocity at a specific moment can differ from the average velocity over the whole journey.
On a displacement-time graph, what does the gradient represent?
On a displacement-time graph, the gradient represents the velocity of the object.
On a velocity-time graph, a straight line represents .......... acceleration, while a curved line represents .......... acceleration.
On a velocity-time graph, a straight line represents uniform acceleration, while a curved line represents non-uniform acceleration.
What does the area under the curve represent on a velocity-time graph?
The area under the curve on a velocity-time graph represents the displacement (or distance travelled) of the object.
True or False?
The area under the curve on an acceleration-time graph represents the distance travelled.
False.
The area under the curve on an acceleration-time graph represents the change in velocity, not the distance travelled.
What does a horizontal line on an acceleration-time graph represent?
A horizontal line on an acceleration-time graph represents an object undergoing constant acceleration.
A displacement-time graph can show both positive and negative values, whereas a .......... graph can only show positive values.
A displacement-time graph can show both positive and negative values, whereas a distance-time graph can only show positive values.
What does the area under the curve represent on a displacement-time graph?
The area under the curve on a displacement-time graph is meaningless — it does not represent a useful physical quantity.
What does a negative gradient on a displacement-time graph indicate?
A negative gradient indicates a negative velocity, meaning the object is moving backwards.
True or False?
The $y$ intercept of a displacement-time graph is equal to the initial displacement.
True.
The $y$ intercept of a displacement-time graph is equal to the initial displacement.
True or False?
The area under a displacement-time graph is equal to the distance travelled.
False.
The area under a velocity-time graph is equal to the distance travelled. The area under a distance-time graph is meaningless.
True or False?
The $y$ intercept of a velocity-time graph is equal to the initial displacement.
False.
The $y$ intercept of a velocity-time graph is equal to the initial velocity.
True or False?
The area under a velocity-time graph is equal to the change in displacement.
True.
The area under a velocity-time graph is equal to the change in displacement.
True or False?
At the highest point of a bouncing ball's motion, both its velocity and its acceleration are zero.
False.
The ball's velocity is momentarily zero at the highest point, but its acceleration (due to gravity, g) remains constant and directed downwards.
When a bouncing ball rebounds from the ground, assuming no energy loss, how does its speed compare to just before impact?
Its speed (magnitude) remains the same — only the direction of the velocity reverses instantaneously.

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