2. • Distance vs. Displacement
Distance
 the total path traveled. no direction (scalar)
d=A+B+C+D+E
C
B
D symbol for distance
E
x = resultant
A
R symbol for
displacement
(sometimes y)
Displacement
 from the very beginning to the very end.
includes direction so it is a vector

3. • Speed vs. Velocity
Speed (v)  distance divided by time (no direction, scalar)
Velocity (v)  displacement divided by time (vector)
equation measured in
x meters m
v= = =
t second s

4. Heather and Matt walk with an average
velocity of 0.98 m/s eastward. If it takes
them 34 min to walk to the store, what is
their displacement?
Step 1: Draw a picture.
Step 2: Write out givens.
Givens:
v = 0.98 m/s 60 s
t = 34 min x = 2040 s
1min
Step 3: Convert units if necessary
Step 4: Write out equation. x = v t
Step 5: Substitute. x = (0.98)(2040)
Step 6: Solve.
x = 2000 m

5. • Some key points:
• Remember: Velocity
includes magnitude and
direction
• In one dimension,
speed and velocity are
calculated the same way.

6. • Acceleration
 change in velocity
How fast you change how fast you’re going
can change two ways: either change the symbol is “a”
magnitude or the direction.
unit is m/s2
Acceleration can be found as follows:
a = vf– vi / t 5 total variables
This equation says that
Acceleration = final velocity – initial velocity x – displacement
divided by
time
vi – initial velocity
vf – final velocity
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/k
inema/avd.cfm a – acceleration
t – time

7. A sailboat starts from 0 m/s (rest) and
accelerates at a rate of 0.21 m/s2 for 3
seconds.
a. find the magnitude of
the boat’s final velocity

8. • More key points:
• Acceleration and velocity are NOT,
NEVER HAVE BEEN, and NEVER WILL BE,
the same thing.
• http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/ki
nema/acceln.cfm
• Acceleration is the rate of
CHANGE in velocity.
• So, velocity is a rate; a change in distance over
time.
• Acceleration is a rate; a change in velocity
• over time. Speeding up, slowing down, turning