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College Physics for AP® Courses 2e

Glossary

College Physics for AP® Courses 2eGlossary

acceleration: the rate of change in velocity; the change in velocity over time

acceleration due to gravity: acceleration of an object as a result of gravity

average acceleration: the change in velocity divided by the time over which it changes

average speed: distance traveled divided by time during which motion occurs

average velocity: displacement divided by time over which displacement occurs

deceleration: acceleration in the direction opposite to velocity; acceleration that results in a decrease in velocity

dependent variable: the variable that is being measured; usually plotted along the $y$ -axis

displacement: the change in position of an object

distance: the magnitude of displacement between two positions

distance traveled: the total length of the path traveled between two positions

elapsed time: the difference between the ending time and beginning time

free-fall: the state of movement that results from gravitational force only

independent variable: the variable that the dependent variable is measured with respect to; usually plotted along the $x$ -axis

instantaneous acceleration: acceleration at a specific point in time

instantaneous speed: magnitude of the instantaneous velocity

instantaneous velocity: velocity at a specific instant, or the average velocity over an infinitesimal time interval

kinematics: the study of motion without considering its causes

model: simplified description that contains only those elements necessary to describe the physics of a physical situation

position: the location of an object at a particular time

scalar: a quantity that is described by magnitude, but not direction

slope: the difference in $y$ -value (the rise) divided by the difference in $x$ -value (the run) of two points on a straight line

time: change, or the interval over which change occurs

vector: a quantity that is described by both magnitude and direction

y-intercept: the $y -$ value when $x$ = 0, or when the graph crosses the $y$ -axis

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- Authors: Gregg Wolfe, Erika Gasper, John Stoke, Julie Kretchman, David Anderson, Nathan Czuba, Sudhi Oberoi, Liza Pujji, Irina Lyublinskaya, Douglas Ingram
- Publisher/website: OpenStax
- Book title: College Physics for AP® Courses 2e
- Publication date: Jul 19, 2022
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-ap-courses-2e/pages/1-connection-for-ap-r-courses
- Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-ap-courses-2e/pages/2-glossary

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