Mechanics: Kinematics

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What is the definition of velocity?

Velocity is the speed of an object in a given direction.

Differentiate between speed and velocity.

Speed is a scalar quantity indicating how fast an object is moving, while velocity is a vector quantity indicating speed and direction.

What is displacement?

Displacement is the change in position of an object, measured as a vector from the initial to the final position.

How do you calculate average velocity?

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

What is acceleration?

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

Give the equation of motion for uniformly accelerated motion.

The equation is v = u + at, where v is final velocity, u is initial velocity, a is acceleration, and t is time.

What is the significance of the slope in a velocity-time graph?

The slope of a velocity-time graph represents acceleration.

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

The area under a velocity-time graph represents displacement.

What is the difference between instantaneous velocity and average velocity?

Instantaneous velocity is the velocity at a specific moment, while average velocity is calculated over a time interval.

Define free fall.

Free fall is the motion of an object subject only to gravitational force, neglecting air resistance.

What is the numerical value of acceleration due to gravity on Earth?

The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.81 m/s².

How does air resistance affect the motion of a falling object?

Air resistance opposes the motion, reducing acceleration and terminal velocity.

How is instantaneous speed calculated from a distance-time graph?

Instantaneous speed is calculated by determining the slope of the tangent to the curve at a given point on a distance-time graph.

Explain projectile motion.

Projectile motion is the curved path an object follows when thrown or propelled near the Earth's surface, influenced by gravity and initial velocity.

What is uniform motion?

Uniform motion refers to motion at a constant speed in a straight line, where the acceleration is zero.