Index
  HyperPhysics***** Mechanics Go Back





Description of Motion in One Dimension

Motion is described in terms of displacement (x), time (t), velocity (v), and acceleration (a). Velocity is the rate of change of displacement and the acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. The average velocity and average acceleration are defined by the relationships:
A bar above any quantity indicates that it is the average value of that quantity. If the acceleration is constant, then equations 1,2 and 3 represent a complete description of the motion. Equation 4 is obtained by a combination of the others. Click on any of the equations for an example.
Index
  HyperPhysics***** Mechanics Go Back





Distance, Average Velocity and Time

The case of motion in one dimension (one direction) is a good starting point for the description of motion. Perhaps the most intuitive relationship is that average velocity is equal to distance divided by time: 		Index
  HyperPhysics***** Mechanics Go Back





Distance, Average Velocity and Time

The case of motion in one dimension (one direction) is a good starting point for the description of motion. A basic type of calculation may be explored here by substituting numbers and then clicking on the bold text of the quantity you wish to calculate. Make only one substitution at a time and click the desired quantity -- then you can repeat with other substitutions.
m = m/s * s = ( m/s + m/s) * time/2
Index
  HyperPhysics***** Mechanics Go Back





Forms of Motion Equations

Index
  HyperPhysics***** Mechanics  Go Back





Forms of Motion Equations

Index
  HyperPhysics***** Mechanics Go Back





Motion Example

m/s m/s m
In this example, the items labeled on the diagram are considered primary: if one of them is changed, the others remain the same. The data in the boxes may be changed, and the calculation will be done when you click outside the box, subject to the constraints described.
Distance x = m
Initial velocity v0 = m/s
Final velocity v = m/s
Average velocity = m/s
Acceleration a = m/s^2
Time t = s
 Index
  HyperPhysics***** Mechanics Go Back