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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
gradient
The slope of a line on a graph, representing the rate of change of a quantity.
speed
The distance travelled per unit time, typically measured in metres per second (m/s).
tangent
A straight line that touches a curve at a single point without crossing it.
curved distance-time graph
A graph that represents the distance travelled by an object over time, showing changing speed.
curved distance-time graph
A graph that shows how the distance travelled by an object changes over time, indicating that the object's speed is changing.
changing speed
A situation where the speed of an object increases or decreases over time, as represented by the curvature of a distance-time graph.
Distance-time graph
A graph that shows the distance an object has traveled over a period of time, with distance on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis.
Gradient
The slope of a line on a graph, representing the rate of change; in a distance-time graph, it indicates the speed of the object.
Distance-time graph
A graphical representation showing the distance an object travels over time.
Gradient
The slope of a line on a graph, representing the rate of change of one variable with respect to another.
Distance
The total length of the path traveled by an object, regardless of direction.
Time
The duration in which events occur, measured in seconds.
gradient
The slope of a line on a graph, representing the rate of change of one variable with respect to another.
distance-time graph
A graph that shows the distance an object has traveled over a period of time, where the x-axis represents time and the y-axis represents distance.
acceleration
The rate of change of velocity of an object.
velocity
The speed of an object in a specific direction.
acceleration
The rate of change of velocity of an object.
change in velocity
The difference between the final velocity and the initial velocity of an object.
acceleration
The rate of change of velocity of an object.
change in velocity
The difference between the final velocity and the initial velocity of an object.
acceleration
The rate of change of velocity of an object.
change in velocity
The difference between the final velocity and the initial velocity of an object.
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity of an object.
Velocity
The speed of an object in a given direction.
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity, measured in metres per second squared (m/s²).
Metres per second squared
The unit of measurement for acceleration, indicating how much velocity changes per second.
acceleration
The rate of change of velocity of an object.
velocity
The speed of an object in a given direction.
deceleration
A decrease in velocity over time, indicating a reduction in speed in a specified direction.
negative acceleration
Acceleration that results in a decrease in the speed of an object, often referred to as deceleration.
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