The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words

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written by Tom Henderson

This interactive tutorial explores the language of kinematics, the science of describing the motion of objects using words, diagrams, graphs, and equations. It contains four sections: scalars/vectors, distance/displacement, speed/velocity, and acceleration. The author uses real-world applications to help learners connect the physics terms with everyday life. Animations and interactive question-and-answer sets give students practice with immediate feedback.

Editor's Note: This item is part of The Physics Classroom collection, a comprehensive set of tutorials, animations, labs, and support materials for teachers and learners. Originally developed for high school physics students, the collection can also serve as content support for K-8 teachers.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1a.cfm

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Motion in One Dimension General Physics - Measurement/Units	- High School - Lower Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Curriculum support = Tutorial

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Lesson Plan - Activity - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended User:: Learner
Formats:: text/html
image/gif
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2001 Tom Henderson
Keywords:: Acceleration, Kinematics, Motion, Position, Velocity, scalar, vector
Record Creator:: Metadata instance created April 8, 2004 by Matthew Meizlish
Record Updated:: February 2, 2013 by Caroline Hall
Other Collections:: The PSRC

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This resource is part of 3 Physics Front Topical Units.

Topic: Measurement and the Language of Physics
Unit Title: Physics Terminology

To a beginning student, the unfamiliar language of physics can seem like a foreign tongue. This tutorial, part of the respected Physics Classroom collection, is an interactive introduction to some basic terminology. It focuses on scalars, vectors, distance, and displacement.

Link to Unit:

Topic: Kinematics: The Physics of Motion
Unit Title: Graphing

This set of lessons investigates the language of kinematics (the physics of motion). It is designed to help students understand that the scientific meaning of words like "velocity" and "acceleration" is different from their use in everyday language.

Link to Unit:

Topic: Kinematics: The Physics of Motion
Unit Title: Motion in More Than One Dimension

Kinematics is the science of describing the motion of objects using words, diagrams, numbers, graphs, and equations. The goal of any study of kinematics is to develop sophisticated mental models which serve to describe (and ultimately, explain) the motion of real-world objects.

Links to Units:

Physical Sciences K-8 Motion in More Than One Dimension Unit

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<a href="http://www.thephysicsfront.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=1343">Henderson, Tom. The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words. 2001.</a>

AIP Format

T. Henderson, The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words (2001), WWW Document, (http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1a.cfm).

AJP/PRST-PER

T. Henderson, The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words (2001), <http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1a.cfm>.

APA Format

Henderson, T. (2001). The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words. Retrieved May 25, 2013, from http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1a.cfm

Chicago Format

Henderson, Tom. The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words. 2001. http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1a.cfm (accessed 25 May 2013).

MLA Format

Henderson, Tom. The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words. 2001. 25 May 2013 <http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1a.cfm>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Tom Henderson", Title = {The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words}, Volume = {2013}, Number = {25 May 2013}, Year = {2001} }

Refer Export Format

%A Tom Henderson
%T The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words
%D 2001
%U http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1a.cfm
%O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source
%A Henderson, Tom
%D 2001
%T The Physics Classroom: Describing Motion with Words
%V 2013
%N 25 May 2013
%9 text/html
%U http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1a.cfm

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