Kinematics · Physics

Describing Motion in One Dimension

Build the language of 1D motion: define position and displacement, interpret velocity and acceleration, and represent motion with diagrams and graphs.

This topic includes

Subtopics to master

Each card can become a nano-lesson cluster (6-step PromptSchola flow).

Core idea

Position, Displacement, and Distance

Learn what “where” means in physics and how direction changes the story.

Position (x) as a coordinate
Displacement (Δx) vs distance traveled
Sign conventions and direction

Rates

Velocity and Acceleration

Turn motion into measurable rates of change.

Average vs instantaneous velocity
Average vs instantaneous acceleration
Signs, speeding up, slowing down

Representation

Motion Diagrams

Visualize motion step-by-step to see velocity and acceleration patterns.

Dot diagrams (equal time spacing)
Velocity arrows
Acceleration cues

Graph skills

Motion Graphs

Read motion from graphs and extract meaning from slopes and areas.

Position–time graphs
Velocity–time graphs
Acceleration–time graphs

Practice

Practice & Exercises

Reinforce 1D motion with quick checks, graph interpretation, and mixed mini-sets.

Distance vs displacement drills
Velocity/acceleration sign reasoning
Graph slope & area questions
Motion-diagram interpretation
Exam-style mixed problems