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frame of reference

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a choice of coordinate axes that defines the starting point for measuring any quantity, an essential first step in solving virtually any problem in mechanics

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displacement

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Delta(x) of an object is defined as its change in position and is given by Delta (x) = x(f) - x(i), where f and i are subscripts, and where x(i) is the coordinate of the initial position of the car and x(f) is the coordinate of the car's final position. (The indices i and f stand for initial and final, respectively.) SI unit: meter (m)

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vector quantity

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characterized by having both a magnitude and a direction.

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scalar quantity

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has magnitude, but no direction

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speed

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is a scalar quantity having only magnitude

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velocity

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is a vector quantity, having both magnitude and direction

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Average Speed

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The average speed of an object over a given time interval is the length of the path it travels divided by the total elapsed time: average speed = path length/elapsed time ... SI unit: meter per second (m/s) ... This all can be written as v = d/t.

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Average Velocity

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In general, the average velocity of an object during the time interval Delta T is equal to the slope of the straight line joining the initial and final points on a graph of the object's position versus time.

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College Physics Chapter 2

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