Reference Points
What is a reference point?
A reference point is a stationary object or location used to determine the position of another object.
What does "change in position" mean?
It refers to the difference in an object's location from one point in time to another.
If you walk 3m east and then 4m west, what is your total displacement?
The total displacement is 1m west (3m east - 4m west).
What is speed?
Speed is the distance traveled per unit of time.
What type of graph shows speed?
A distance-time graph shows speed as the slope of the line.
How do reference points help in motion?
They provide a basis for comparison to describe an object's position relative to something else.
If an object moves from (2, 3) to (5, 7), what is the change in position?
The change in position is (5-2, 7-3) = (3, 4).
What happens when displacements are in opposite directions?
They subtract from each other to find the resultant displacement.
How is speed calculated?
Speed = Distance / Time.
How do you interpret a distance-time graph?
The slope indicates speed; a steeper slope means higher speed.
Give an example of a reference point in daily life.
A tree, a building, or a landmark can serve as reference points.
Define displacement.
Displacement is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position, including direction.
How can you represent displacements graphically?
By using arrows where the length represents magnitude and the direction indicates movement.
What is constant speed?
Constant speed means an object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time.
What does a flat line on a distance-time graph represent?
It represents no movement; the object is stationary.
How do you choose a reference point?
Choose a point that is stationary and easy to identify for measuring movement.
How does displacement differ from distance?
Distance is the total path traveled, while displacement is the straight-line distance between two points.
If I walk 4 m east then walk an additional 3 m north, what is my displacement?
5 m northeast
How does changing speed affect motion?
Changing speed can alter the time taken to cover a distance and affect acceleration.
How can you determine speed from a distance-time graph?
By calculating the slope of the line (rise/run).
Explain the importance of relative motion.
It describes how the motion of an object can change depending on the observer's frame of reference.
Describe a scenario where distance is greater than displacement.
10 m
Explain the difference between average speed and instantaneous speed.
Explain the significance of the slope on a distance-time graph.
The slope indicates the speed of the object; a higher slope means higher speed.