
1: I can explain how to determine if an object is in
motion.

2: I can differentiate between distance and
displacement.

3: I can differentiate between speed and velocity.

4: I am able to manipulate and use speed and
velocity formulas to solve problems.

5: I can define acceleration.

6: I can use and manipulate the formula for
acceleration to solve problems.

Change in position in relation to a
reference point or stationary object
Distance follows the actual path
 Displacement is always a straight line
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
Speed is the distance traveled divided
by the time interval during which the
motion occurred
 Normally, objects do not travel at a
constant speed
 Average Speed - total distance
total time

D
S
T

Will always be a distance unit / a time
unit
› Ex. Cars: mi./h
› Jets: km/h
› Snails: cm/s
› Falling objects: m/s

What is the speed of a car that travels 30
miles in 2 hours?
15 mi/hr.

How long will it take a car to go 220 miles
traveling 55 mph?
4 hours

If a car is traveling at 35 m/hr for 6 hours,
how far will it travel?
210 miles
D
S
T
Denver
Phoenix
Speed = Slope = Rise/
Rise
Distance (km)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Slope = Rise/Run
= 1 km/1 hr
= 1 km/hr
Slope = Rise/Run
= 0 km/1 hr
= 0 km/hr
Rise = 2 km
Run = 1 hr
Rise = 0 km
Run = 1 hr
Slope = Rise/Run
= 2 km/1 hr
= 2 km/hr
Rise = 1 km
Run = 1 hr
1
2
3
4
Time (hr)
5
6
7
Velocity is the speed of an object in a
particular direction
 Imagine two bicyclers leave the same
building at the same time. The both cycle at
10km/hr for 5 minutes. Why don’t they end up
at the same place?

Same as speed, but also includes
direction
 Example:

› A plane travels south at 540 miles/hour.
› Johnny walks 1 block/ minute towards the
school
D
V
T

The combination of two different velocities
acting at the same time
15 m/s
+
15 m/s
-
1 m/s
1 m/s
=
16 m/s
=
14 m/s

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity
changes over time
› An object accelerates if its speed, direction, or
both change
Unit: m/s2
 Average acceleration =
final velocity – starting velocity
time it takes to change velocity
ΔV

a
T
As velocity increases, so does acceleration
 As velocity decreases, so does acceleration
 When direction changes, so does
acceleration
 When there is a constant velocity, there is no
acceleration
 Increasing velocity - positive acceleration
 Decreasing velocity - negative accelerationdeceleration



A roller coaster’s velocity at the top of a hill is
10m/s. Two sec later it reaches the bottom of
the hill with a velocity of 26 m/s. What is the
acceleration of the roller coaster?
Vf-Vo
T
26-10
2
8 m/s/s
ΔV
a T
Slope is the acceleration. A straight line is
constant acceleration
14
12
Speed (m/s)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0
1
2
3
Time (s)
4
5
6