1.2 Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration

Describe a change in an object’s position.

• When using the object model, the size, shape, and internal configuration are ignored. The object may be treated as a single point with extensive properties such as mass and charge.
• Displacement is the change in an object’s position. Relevant equation: TOPIC 1.2 Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration

Describe the average velocity and acceleration of an object.

• Averages of velocity and acceleration are calculated considering the initial and final states of an object over an interval of time.
• Average velocity is the displacement of an object divided by the interval of time in which that displacement occurs. Relevant equation: 
• Average acceleration is the change in velocity divided by the interval of time in which that change in velocity occurs. Relevant equation:  AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description Kinematics UNIT 1
• An object is accelerating if the magnitude and/or direction of the object’s velocity are changing.
• Calculating average velocity or average acceleration over a very small time interval yields a value that is very close to the instantaneous velocity or instantaneous acceleration. AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description Kinematics UNIT 1