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 does the term 'deceleration' refer to?

Answer: Negative acceleration. Acceleration opposite to velocity direction.

Flashcard 2: 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 3: Identify the relationship between velocity and speed.

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

Flashcard 4: Determine the acceleration from a velocity-time graph.

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

Flashcard 5: 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 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: When is an object in free fall?

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

Flashcard 8: Define displacement.

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

Flashcard 9: What is the definition of speed?

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

Flashcard 10: 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 11: Identify the relationship between velocity and speed.

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

Flashcard 12: What indicates an object is accelerating?

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

Flashcard 13: What is the formula for acceleration?

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

Flashcard 14: What is the equation for motion under constant velocity?

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

Flashcard 15: What is represented by the slope of a velocity-time graph?

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

Flashcard 16: What does it mean if an object has zero displacement?

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

Flashcard 17: State the formula for centripetal acceleration.

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

Flashcard 18: State the unit of displacement in SI units.

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

Flashcard 19: What does a slope on a position-time graph indicate?

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

Flashcard 20: Define terminal velocity.

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

Flashcard 21: What is the formula for uniform circular motion velocity?

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

Flashcard 22: What does a negative slope on a velocity-time graph indicate?

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

Flashcard 23: What does a curve on a position-time graph indicate?

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

Flashcard 24: 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 25: Determine the acceleration from a velocity-time graph.

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

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: Find the displacement from a velocity-time graph.

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

Flashcard 28: What does a parabolic curve on a position-time graph signify?

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

Flashcard 29: What is relative velocity?

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

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

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