AP Physics 1 Flashcards: Displacement Velocity And Acceleration

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Displacement Velocity And Acceleration, 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: State the formula for average velocity.

Answer: $v_{avg} = \frac{\text{displacement}}{\text{time}}$. Displacement divided by time interval.

Flashcard 2: Which physical quantity is described by the slope of a position-time graph?

Answer: Velocity. Rate of change of position with respect to time.

Flashcard 3: If an object is thrown upwards, what is its acceleration at the highest point?

Answer: $9.8 \text{ m/s}^2$ downward. Gravity acts continuously downward throughout flight.

Flashcard 4: What does a flat line on a position-time graph indicate?

Answer: No movement. Zero slope indicates constant position.

Flashcard 5: If velocity is zero, what can be said about displacement?

Answer: Displacement may be zero or non-zero. Zero velocity doesn't determine displacement value.

Flashcard 6: What happens to the velocity when acceleration is zero?

Answer: Velocity remains constant. Zero rate of change means constant value.

Flashcard 7: What is the result of integrating acceleration with respect to time?

Answer: Velocity. Integration of acceleration yields velocity.

Flashcard 8: How does velocity change when acceleration is constant and non-zero?

Answer: Linearly. Constant acceleration produces linear velocity change.

Flashcard 9: Identify the SI unit of velocity.

Answer: Meter per second (m/s). Standard unit for rate of change of position.

Flashcard 10: Find the displacement for $v_i = 10 \text{ m/s}$, $a = 0$, and $t = 3 \text{ s}$.

Answer: $s = 30 \text{ m}$. Using $s = v_i t = 10(3)$ with no acceleration.

Flashcard 11: Find the acceleration given $v_i = 5 \text{ m/s}$, $v_f = 15 \text{ m/s}$, and $t = 2 \text{ s}$.

Answer: $a = 5 \text{ m/s}^2$. Using $a = \frac{\Delta v}{t} = \frac{10}{2}$.

Flashcard 12: What does zero acceleration indicate about velocity?

Answer: Velocity is constant. Zero rate of change means no velocity change.

Flashcard 13: Describe the velocity-time graph for an object with constant acceleration.

Answer: Straight line with a slope. Constant acceleration produces linear velocity graph.

Flashcard 14: What is the instantaneous velocity at the peak of a projectile's trajectory?

Answer: $0 \text{ m/s}$ (Vertical component). Only vertical component is zero at maximum height.

Flashcard 15: Describe the motion when acceleration is zero.

Answer: Constant velocity. Zero acceleration means velocity doesn't change.

Flashcard 16: Find the average acceleration given $\text{change in velocity} = 10 \text{ m/s}$ and $t = 5 \text{ s}$.

Answer: $a_{avg} = 2 \text{ m/s}^2$. Using $a_{avg} = \frac{\Delta v}{t} = \frac{10}{5}$.

Flashcard 17: What is the formula for final velocity squared in uniformly accelerated motion?

Answer: $v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2as$. Kinematic equation relating velocities and displacement.

Flashcard 18: What does a horizontal line on a velocity-time graph indicate?

Answer: Constant velocity. Zero acceleration means no change in velocity.

Flashcard 19: What is the effect on velocity if acceleration is opposite to velocity?

Answer: Velocity decreases. Opposing acceleration causes deceleration.

Flashcard 20: What is the formula for average acceleration?

Answer: $a_{avg} = \frac{\text{change in velocity}}{\text{time}}$. Change in velocity divided by time interval.

Flashcard 21: State the formula for average velocity.

Answer: $v_{avg} = \frac{\text{displacement}}{\text{time}}$. Displacement divided by time interval.

Flashcard 22: State the formula for instantaneous acceleration.

Answer: $a = \frac{dv}{dt}$. Derivative of velocity with respect to time.

Flashcard 23: If a car decelerates, what is the sign of its acceleration relative to velocity?

Answer: Opposite sign. Deceleration means acceleration opposes velocity direction.

Flashcard 24: Find the displacement when $v_i = 0$, $a = 2 \text{ m/s}^2$, and $t = 3 \text{ s}$.

Answer: $s = 9 \text{ m}$. Using $s = \frac{1}{2}at^2 = \frac{1}{2}(2)(3^2)$.

Flashcard 25: If velocity and acceleration have the same sign, what happens to speed?

Answer: Speed increases. Same direction means acceleration adds to speed.

Flashcard 26: Find the final velocity when $v_i = 0$, $a = 4 \text{ m/s}^2$, and $t = 2 \text{ s}$.

Answer: $v_f = 8 \text{ m/s}$. Using $v_f = v_i + at = 0 + 4(2)$.

Flashcard 27: What is the relationship between initial velocity and displacement when acceleration is zero?

Answer: Directly proportional. With zero acceleration, $s = v_i t$.

Flashcard 28: If an object is thrown upwards, what is its acceleration at the highest point?

Answer: $9.8 \text{ m/s}^2$ downward. Gravity acts continuously downward throughout flight.

Flashcard 29: What does a negative value for displacement indicate?

Answer: Movement in the opposite direction. Negative indicates direction opposite to reference.

Flashcard 30: What is the formula for displacement with uniform acceleration?

Answer: $s = v_i t + \frac{1}{2}at^2$. Kinematic equation for position with constant acceleration.