Motion, Scalars and Vectors

Abstract

$$\begin{gathered} Velocity=\frac{{distance\;travelled\;in\;a\;specified\;direction\;\left( {i.e.\;displacement} \right)}}{{time\;taken}}\quad \quad \left( {Unit\;m/s} \right) \hfill \\ Acceleration=\frac{{change\;in\;velocity}}{{time\;taken\;for\;change}}\quad \quad \left( {Unit\;m/{{s}^{2}}} \right) \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$

The gradient of a displacement-time graph is the velocity. The gradient of a velocity-time graph is the acceleration. The area under a velocity-time graph is the distance travelled (N.B. the velocity axis must start from zero).