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Forces and motion key terms
Study Forces and motion with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.
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key terms
Resource type
Topic
Forces and motion
Key terms
Distance
The total length of the path traveled by an object, regardless of its direction.
Direction
The line along which something moves or points, indicating the path of an object's movement.
displacement
Distance moved in a particular direction from a starting point.
distance
How far an object moves regardless of direction.
Speed
The distance travelled per unit time, typically measured in metres per second (m/s).
Distance
The total length of the path travelled by an object, regardless of direction.
velocity
The speed of an object in a specific direction.
speed
The distance traveled per unit of time, regardless of direction.
distance
The total length of the path traveled by an object, regardless of direction.
speed
The rate at which an object covers distance, calculated as distance traveled per unit time.
speed
The distance travelled per unit time, typically measured in metres per second (m/s).
distance
The total length of the path travelled by an object, regardless of direction.
Distance
The total length of the path traveled by an object, regardless of direction.
Speed
The rate at which an object covers distance, calculated as distance traveled per unit time.
Distance
The total length of the path traveled by an object, regardless of direction.
Speed
The distance traveled per unit of time, indicating how fast an object is moving.
metre
The base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 100 centimeters.
kilometre per hour
A unit of speed expressing the number of kilometers traveled in one hour.
average speed
The total distance traveled divided by the total time taken.
instantaneous speed
The speed of an object at a specific moment in time.
Velocity
The speed of an object in a specific direction.
Direction
The line along which something moves or points, indicating the path of motion.
speed
The distance travelled per unit time, measured in metres per second (m/s).
distance
The total length of the path travelled by an object, regardless of direction, measured in metres (m).
Distance-time graph
A graphical representation showing the distance an object has traveled over time.
Stationary
An object is stationary when it is not moving, represented by a horizontal line on a distance-time graph.
distance-time graph
A graphical representation showing the distance an object travels over time.
constant speed
A speed that does not change over time, represented by a straight sloping line on a distance-time graph.
gradient
The slope of a line on a graph, representing the rate of change of a quantity.
speed
The distance traveled per unit of time, indicating how fast an object is moving.
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