AP Physics 1 Flashcards: Representing Motion

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Representing Motion, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 1.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface?

Answer: $9.8 \text{ m/s}^2$ downward. Standard gravitational acceleration near Earth's surface.

Flashcard 2: Determine the velocity from a position-time graph.

Answer: Velocity = slope of the line. Rise over run gives velocity value.

Flashcard 3: What does a negative slope on a velocity-time graph indicate?

Answer: Negative acceleration (deceleration). Velocity decreasing over time.

Flashcard 4: What is the formula for uniform circular motion velocity?

Answer: $v = \frac{2\pi r}{T}$. Circumference divided by period.

Flashcard 5: State the formula to calculate displacement with constant acceleration.

Answer: $\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2$. Kinematic equation combining initial velocity and acceleration.

Flashcard 6: What is the unit of acceleration in SI units?

Answer: Meters per second squared ($\text{m/s}^2$). Rate of change of velocity per unit time.

Flashcard 7: What is the definition of speed?

Answer: Speed is the magnitude of velocity. Scalar quantity without direction.

Flashcard 8: What indicates an object is accelerating?

Answer: A change in velocity. Velocity magnitude or direction changes.

Flashcard 9: State the formula for average speed.

Answer: Average speed = $\frac{\text{total distance}}{\text{total time}}$. Total path length divided by elapsed time.

Flashcard 10: State the unit of displacement in SI units.

Answer: Meters (m). Standard SI unit for distance and position.

Flashcard 11: Define terminal velocity.

Answer: The constant velocity reached when drag force equals gravitational force. Drag force balances gravitational force.

Flashcard 12: What is the significance of zero velocity?

Answer: The object is at rest. No motion occurring at that instant.

Flashcard 13: What is represented by the slope of a velocity-time graph?

Answer: The slope represents acceleration. Rate of change of velocity.

Flashcard 14: What does a horizontal line on a position-time graph represent?

Answer: Constant position; no motion. Zero velocity means stationary object.

Flashcard 15: What does the area under a velocity-time graph represent?

Answer: The area represents displacement. Velocity times time equals displacement.

Flashcard 16: Define displacement.

Answer: Displacement is the change in position of an object. Vector quantity showing straight-line distance and direction.

Flashcard 17: State the formula for centripetal acceleration.

Answer: $a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}$. Acceleration directed toward circle center.

Flashcard 18: What does a horizontal line on a position-time graph represent?

Answer: Constant position; no motion. Zero velocity means stationary object.

Flashcard 19: What is the formula for acceleration?

Answer: $a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$. Change in velocity divided by change in time.

Flashcard 20: What is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface?

Answer: $9.8 \text{ m/s}^2$ downward. Standard gravitational acceleration near Earth's surface.

Flashcard 21: What is relative velocity?

Answer: Velocity of an object as observed from another moving object. Motion measured from moving reference frame.

Flashcard 22: What does the term 'deceleration' refer to?

Answer: Negative acceleration. Acceleration opposite to velocity direction.

Flashcard 23: What does a horizontal line on a velocity-time graph represent?

Answer: Constant velocity; zero acceleration. No change in velocity over time.

Flashcard 24: What is the formula for uniform circular motion velocity?

Answer: $v = \frac{2\pi r}{T}$. Circumference divided by period.

Flashcard 25: What is the formula for average velocity?

Answer: $v_{avg} = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$. Change in position divided by change in time.

Flashcard 26: What is the formula for average velocity?

Answer: $v_{avg} = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$. Change in position divided by change in time.

Flashcard 27: What is the unit of acceleration in SI units?

Answer: Meters per second squared ($\text{m/s}^2$). Rate of change of velocity per unit time.

Flashcard 28: Find the displacement from a velocity-time graph.

Answer: Displacement = area under the curve. Area calculation gives total displacement.

Flashcard 29: Determine the acceleration from a velocity-time graph.

Answer: Acceleration = slope of the line. Slope of velocity-time graph gives acceleration.

Flashcard 30: Determine the velocity from a position-time graph.

Answer: Velocity = slope of the line. Rise over run gives velocity value.

Flashcard 31: What does it mean if an object has zero displacement?

Answer: The object returned to its initial position. Final position equals starting position.

Flashcard 32: Determine the acceleration from a velocity-time graph.

Answer: Acceleration = slope of the line. Slope of velocity-time graph gives acceleration.

Flashcard 33: State the equation for motion with initial velocity and acceleration.

Answer: $x = x_0 + v_i t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2$. Complete kinematic equation with all terms.

Flashcard 34: State the equation for motion with initial velocity and acceleration.

Answer: $x = x_0 + v_i t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2$. Complete kinematic equation with all terms.

Flashcard 35: What does a parabolic curve on a position-time graph signify?

Answer: Constant acceleration. Quadratic time dependence indicates constant acceleration.

Flashcard 36: What does a parabolic curve on a position-time graph signify?

Answer: Constant acceleration. Quadratic time dependence indicates constant acceleration.

Flashcard 37: What does the term 'deceleration' refer to?

Answer: Negative acceleration. Acceleration opposite to velocity direction.

Flashcard 38: What is the equation for motion under constant velocity?

Answer: $x = x_0 + vt$. Position equals initial position plus velocity times time.

Flashcard 39: What does the area under a velocity-time graph represent?

Answer: The area represents displacement. Velocity times time equals displacement.

Flashcard 40: What does a slope on a position-time graph indicate?

Answer: The slope indicates velocity. Slope equals change in position over time.

Flashcard 41: What is the formula for acceleration?

Answer: $a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$. Change in velocity divided by change in time.

Flashcard 42: What is the formula for velocity squared in terms of acceleration and displacement?

Answer: $v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x$. Time-independent kinematic equation.

Flashcard 43: What is the equation for motion under constant velocity?

Answer: $x = x_0 + vt$. Position equals initial position plus velocity times time.

Flashcard 44: What is represented by the slope of a velocity-time graph?

Answer: The slope represents acceleration. Rate of change of velocity.

Flashcard 45: What does a negative slope on a velocity-time graph indicate?

Answer: Negative acceleration (deceleration). Velocity decreasing over time.

Flashcard 46: What is instantaneous velocity?

Answer: Velocity at a specific moment in time. Velocity at one specific instant.

Flashcard 47: Define displacement.

Answer: Displacement is the change in position of an object. Vector quantity showing straight-line distance and direction.

Flashcard 48: Identify the unit of velocity in SI units.

Answer: Meters per second ($\text{m/s}$). Rate of change of position per unit time.

Flashcard 49: What does a slope on a position-time graph indicate?

Answer: The slope indicates velocity. Slope equals change in position over time.

Flashcard 50: What is the definition of speed?

Answer: Speed is the magnitude of velocity. Scalar quantity without direction.

Flashcard 51: Identify the meaning of a negative velocity.

Answer: Motion in the opposite direction. Indicates movement opposite to positive direction.

Flashcard 52: What does it mean if an object has zero displacement?

Answer: The object returned to its initial position. Final position equals starting position.

Flashcard 53: State the formula for centripetal acceleration.

Answer: $a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}$. Acceleration directed toward circle center.

Flashcard 54: What does the term 'instantaneous speed' refer to?

Answer: The speed at a specific moment in time. Speed measured at one instant.

Flashcard 55: Identify the relationship between velocity and speed.

Answer: Velocity is speed with direction. Velocity includes directional information.

Flashcard 56: State the unit of displacement in SI units.

Answer: Meters (m). Standard SI unit for distance and position.

Flashcard 57: What does a curve on a position-time graph indicate?

Answer: Changing velocity; acceleration. Non-linear position indicates changing velocity.

Flashcard 58: State the formula to calculate displacement with constant acceleration.

Answer: $\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2$. Kinematic equation combining initial velocity and acceleration.

Flashcard 59: What is uniform motion?

Answer: Motion with constant velocity. Speed and direction remain constant.

Flashcard 60: Identify the unit of velocity in SI units.

Answer: Meters per second ($\text{m/s}$). Rate of change of position per unit time.

Flashcard 61: What is the formula to find the final velocity with constant acceleration?

Answer: $v_f = v_i + a t$. Kinematic equation for uniformly accelerated motion.

Flashcard 62: What indicates an object is accelerating?

Answer: A change in velocity. Velocity magnitude or direction changes.

Flashcard 63: Identify the meaning of a negative velocity.

Answer: Motion in the opposite direction. Indicates movement opposite to positive direction.

Flashcard 64: What does a steeper slope on a position-time graph mean?

Answer: A steeper slope indicates higher velocity. Greater slope means faster speed.

Flashcard 65: What is the significance of zero velocity?

Answer: The object is at rest. No motion occurring at that instant.

Flashcard 66: What is the formula for velocity squared in terms of acceleration and displacement?

Answer: $v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x$. Time-independent kinematic equation.

Flashcard 67: What does the term 'instantaneous speed' refer to?

Answer: The speed at a specific moment in time. Speed measured at one instant.

Flashcard 68: When is an object in free fall?

Answer: When only gravity is acting on it. Air resistance is negligible compared to gravity.

Flashcard 69: When is an object in free fall?

Answer: When only gravity is acting on it. Air resistance is negligible compared to gravity.

Flashcard 70: Define terminal velocity.

Answer: The constant velocity reached when drag force equals gravitational force. Drag force balances gravitational force.

Flashcard 71: What does a horizontal line on a velocity-time graph represent?

Answer: Constant velocity; zero acceleration. No change in velocity over time.

Flashcard 72: What does a curve on a position-time graph indicate?

Answer: Changing velocity; acceleration. Non-linear position indicates changing velocity.

Flashcard 73: What is the formula to find the final velocity with constant acceleration?

Answer: $v_f = v_i + a t$. Kinematic equation for uniformly accelerated motion.

Flashcard 74: What does a steeper slope on a position-time graph mean?

Answer: A steeper slope indicates higher velocity. Greater slope means faster speed.

Flashcard 75: What is relative velocity?

Answer: Velocity of an object as observed from another moving object. Motion measured from moving reference frame.

Flashcard 76: Identify the relationship between velocity and speed.

Answer: Velocity is speed with direction. Velocity includes directional information.

Flashcard 77: What is instantaneous velocity?

Answer: Velocity at a specific moment in time. Velocity at one specific instant.

Flashcard 78: Find the displacement from a velocity-time graph.

Answer: Displacement = area under the curve. Area calculation gives total displacement.