Applications to Kinematics (DP IB Analysis & Approaches (AA)): Revision Note

Kinematics using Vectors

What is kinematics?

• Kinematics is the use of mathematics to model motion in objects

• These are common terms used in kinematics:

  • Displacement describes the location of an object with respect to a fixed starting point

  • Velocity describes how the displacement changes over time

  • Acceleration describes how the velocity changes over time

• A vector for the velocity describes the direction an object is moving in

• The speed of an object is the magnitude of its velocity

How can I model motion with constant velocity using vectors?

• The formula for the position vector of an object is

  • is the position vector of the starting point

  • is the velocity for the constant velocity

  • is the time since the object first left the starting point

• An object moves in a straight line if the velocity is constant