This document defines and explains key concepts related to motion, speed, velocity, and acceleration in physics. It defines motion as the changing distance between objects based on a reference point. Speed is defined as the distance traveled over time, while velocity includes both speed and direction of motion. Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity over time, which can refer to increasing or decreasing speed or changing direction. Examples and calculations are provided for each term.

1. Physics
Motion, Speed, Velocity &
Acceleration

2. Motion 1
 What is motion? How do you know if
something is “in motion?”

3. Motion 2
 Motion is the changing distance
between two objects.
 You can tell if something is “in motion”
based on a reference point.
 Reference point: A place or object used
for comparison to determine if something
is in motion.

4. Motion 3
 Are we moving right now? Yes? No?
 How do you know?
 What is your reference point?
**Technically, we are doing both moving
AND not moving depending on your
reference point!

5. Speed 1
 What is speed?
 How do you know what “speed” you are
going?
 Is speed fast or slow? Or both?

6. Speed 2
 Speed is the amount of distance an
object travels in any given amount of
time.
 We calculate speed like this:
Speed = Distance / Time
Average speed is just:
total distance / total time

7. Velocity 1
 What is velocity?
 Is velocity the same thing as speed?
 How do I know what an objects velocity
is?

8. Velocity 2
 Velocity is speed with direction.
 When dispatch contacts a police officer
to let them know where a suspect
is, they will give them a velocity: “the
perpetrator is on walnut st. traveling at
40mph north.”
 What else do we use velocity to
describe?

9. Velocity 3
 Change in velocity can be due to two
things:
 1. Change in speed
 2. Change in direction
 (it can be one or both)

10. Acceleration 1
 What is acceleration?
 What does it mean to accelerate?
 What is the opposite of accelerate?

11. Acceleration 2
 Acceleration is the rate at which velocity
changes with time.
 If velocity requires both speed and
direction, then acceleration also
requires both speed and direction.
 Therefore… acceleration refers to
increasing speed, decreasing speed or
changing direction!

12. Acceleration 3
 Increasing speed: When an objects
speed increases, it is accelerating.
 Decreasing speed: When an objects
speed decreases, it is deccelerating or
has negative acceleration.
 Changing direction: If the direction
changes so does the acceleration- even
if the speed stays the same!!!

13. Acceleration 4
 Calculating acceleration: you must figure
out the change in velocity per unit time.
Acceleration= Final velocity - Initial Velocity
time
The units used for Acceleration are meters
per second per second or m/s2