Kinematics equations

Definition

Kinematics equations are a set of mathematical formulas that describe the motion of objects in terms of displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time. They allow us to calculate unknown quantities based on known values.

Analogy

Think of kinematics equations as a recipe for motion. Just like following a recipe helps you create a delicious dish by combining different ingredients in specific amounts, using kinematics equations allows you to "cook up" the motion of an object by plugging in known values and solving for unknowns.

Related terms

One-dimensional motion: This term refers to the motion that occurs along a straight line, with movement only in one direction.

Vector quantities: These are physical quantities that have both magnitude (size) and direction, such as displacement and velocity.

Acceleration: Acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It can be positive (speeding up), negative (slowing down), or zero (constant speed).