Answer to Question #166160 in Physics for gibson mkandawire

Question

Define the following terms used in relation to the motion of a body;

(a) distance (b) displacement (c) speed (d) velocity (e) acceleration (f) average velocity

(g) instantaneous velocity

Answer 1

a) Distance is a scalar measure of the interval between two locations measured along the actual path connecting them. 

b) Displacement is a vector measure of the interval between two locations measured along the shortest path connecting them.

c) Speed, being a scalar quantity, is the rate at which an object covers distance. 

d) Velocity is a vector quantity that refers to "the rate at which an object changes its position." 

e) An acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity of an object with respect to time. 

f) Average velocity is displacement divided by time interval of the displacement.

g) The quantity that tells us how fast an object is moving anywhere along its path is the instantaneous velocity, usually called simply velocity.