Kinematics Hacks, Vocabulary, and Tricks
(Ultimate Guide)
Core Vocabulary
• Displacement (∆x): Change in position, vector quantity.
Example: Displacement (∆x): Change in position, vector quantity. explained in context.
• Distance: Path length traveled, scalar quantity.
Example: Distance: Path length traveled, scalar quantity. explained in context.
• Velocity (v): Speed with direction.
Example: Velocity (v): Speed with direction. explained in context.
• Speed: Magnitude of velocity, no direction.
Example: Speed: Magnitude of velocity, no direction. explained in context.
• Acceleration (a): Rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
Example: Acceleration (a): Rate of change of velocity with respect to time. explained in context.
• Deceleration: Negative acceleration.
Example: Deceleration: Negative acceleration. explained in context.
• Average Velocity (v_avg): Total displacement / Total time.
Example: Average Velocity (v_avg): Total displacement / Total time. explained in context.
• Instantaneous Velocity: Velocity at a specific instant.
Example: Instantaneous Velocity: Velocity at a specific instant. explained in context.
• Uniform Motion: Constant velocity motion (a=0).
Example: Uniform Motion: Constant velocity motion (a=0). explained in context.
• Projectile: Object under free fall with initial velocity components.
Example: Projectile: Object under free fall with initial velocity components. explained in context.
Equation Tricks
• Big 3 SUVAT equations:
Example: Big 3 SUVAT equations: explained in context.
• 1. v = u + at
Example: 1. v = u + at explained in context.
• 2. s = ut + 0.5at²
Example: 2. s = ut + 0.5at² explained in context.
• 3. v² = u² + 2as
Example: 3. v² = u² + 2as explained in context.
• Pick equation based on missing variable.
Example: Pick equation based on missing variable. explained in context.
• If time is missing → use v² = u² + 2as.
Example: If time is missing → use v² = u² + 2as. explained in context.
• If acceleration is missing → use s = (u+v)/2 * t.
Example: If acceleration is missing → use s = (u+v)/2 * t. explained in context.
• If final velocity is missing → use s = ut + 0.5at².
Example: If final velocity is missing → use s = ut + 0.5at². explained in context.
Problem Solving Hacks
• Always define positive direction first.
Example: Always define positive direction first. explained in context.
• Break 2D problems into horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components.
Example: Break 2D problems into horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components. explained in context.
• Use symmetry in projectile motion: time up = time down (if same level).
Example: Use symmetry in projectile motion: time up = time down (if same level). explained in
context.
• At maximum height → v_y = 0.
Example: At maximum height → v_y = 0. explained in context.
• Range trick: R = (u² sin 2θ)/g.
Example: Range trick: R = (u² sin 2θ)/g. explained in context.
• Never mix average speed with average velocity unless displacement = distance.
Example: Never mix average speed with average velocity unless displacement = distance.
explained in context.
Advanced Shortcuts
• Acceleration from graph slope: v-t graph slope = a.
Example: Acceleration from graph slope: v-t graph slope = a. explained in context.
• Area under v-t graph = displacement.
Example: Area under v-t graph = displacement. explained in context.
• For uniformly accelerated motion, midpoint speed = average speed.
Example: For uniformly accelerated motion, midpoint speed = average speed. explained in context.
• Shortcut: If dropped from rest, distance in nth second = u + (a/2)(2n-1).
Example: Shortcut: If dropped from rest, distance in nth second = u + (a/2)(2n-1). explained in
context.
• Quick check: Units must match (dimensional analysis).
Example: Quick check: Units must match (dimensional analysis). explained in context.
Memory Tricks
• SUVAT → (s,u,v,a,t).
Example: SUVAT → (s,u,v,a,t). explained in context.
• Use 'All Silly Vultures Are Tired' to recall variables.
Example: Use 'All Silly Vultures Are Tired' to recall variables. explained in context.
• Projectile motion is two independent 1D motions.
Example: Projectile motion is two independent 1D motions. explained in context.
• Graph → slope = derivative, area = integral.
Example: Graph → slope = derivative, area = integral. explained in context.
• If confused, reduce problem to simpler dimensions first.
Example: If confused, reduce problem to simpler dimensions first. explained in context.
Hack 68: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 69: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 70: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 71: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 72: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 73: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 74: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 75: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 76: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 77: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 78: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 79: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 80: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 81: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 82: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 83: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 84: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 85: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 86: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 87: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 88: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 89: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 90: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 91: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 92: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 93: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 94: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 95: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 96: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 97: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 98: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 99: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 100: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 101: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 102: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 103: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 104: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 105: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 106: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 107: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 108: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 109: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 110: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 111: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 112: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 113: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 114: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 115: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 116: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 117: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 118: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 119: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 120: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 121: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 122: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 123: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 124: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 125: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 126: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 127: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 128: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 129: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 130: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 131: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 132: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 133: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 134: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 135: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 136: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 137: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 138: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 139: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 140: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 141: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 142: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 143: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 144: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 145: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 146: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 147: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 148: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 149: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 150: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 151: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 152: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 153: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 154: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 155: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 156: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 157: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 158: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 159: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 160: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 161: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 162: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 163: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 164: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 165: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 166: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 167: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 168: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 169: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 170: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 171: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 172: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 173: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 174: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 175: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 176: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 177: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 178: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 179: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 180: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 181: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 182: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 183: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 184: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 185: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 186: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 187: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 188: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 189: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 190: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 191: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 192: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 193: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 194: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 195: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 196: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 197: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 198: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.
Hack 199: Remember to visualize the motion before solving.