Scribd
Upload
8 views2 pages

Climate Change

vrewrewrwer3r3w

Uploaded by

VB Twins
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views2 pages

Climate Change

vrewrewrwer3r3w

Uploaded by

VB Twins
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Defining Kinematics

Kinematics is the study of the motion of points, objects, and groups of objects without
considering the causes of its motion.

learning objectives
 Define kinematics

Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of points, objects and
systems of groups of objects, without reference to the causes of motion (i.e., forces ). The study
of kinematics is often referred to as the “geometry of motion.”

Objects are in motion all around us. Everything from a tennis match to a space-probe flyby of the
planet Neptune involves motion. When you are resting, your heart moves blood through your
veins. Even in inanimate objects there is continuous motion in the vibrations of atoms and
molecules. Interesting questions about motion can arise: how long will it take for a space probe
to travel to Mars? Where will a football land if thrown at a certain angle? An understanding of
motion, however, is also key to understanding other concepts in physics. An understanding of
acceleration, for example, is crucial to the study of force.

To describe motion, kinematics studies the trajectories of points, lines and other geometric
objects, as well as their differential properties (such as velocity and acceleration). Kinematics is
used in astrophysics to describe the motion of celestial bodies and systems; and in mechanical
engineering, robotics and biomechanics to describe the motion of systems composed of joined
parts (such as an engine, a robotic arm, or the skeleton of the human body).

A formal study of physics begins with kinematics. The word “kinematics” comes from a Greek
word “kinesis” meaning motion, and is related to other English words such as “cinema” (movies)
and “kinesiology” (the study of human motion). Kinematic analysis is the process of measuring
the kinematic quantities used to describe motion. The study of kinematics can be abstracted into
purely mathematical expressions, which can be used to calculate various aspects of motion such
as velocity, acceleration, displacement, time, and trajectory.
Kinematics of a particle trajectory: Kinematic equations can be used to calculate the trajectory
of particles or objects. The physical quantities relevant to the motion of a particle include: mass
m, position r, velocity v, acceleration a.

Reference Frames and Displacement

In order to describe an object’s motion, you need to specify its position relative to a convenient
reference frame.

learning objectives
 Evaluate displacement within a frame of reference.

In order to describe the motion of an object, you must first describe its position — where it is at
any particular time. More precisely, you need to specify its position relative to a convenient
reference frame. Earth is often used as a reference frame, and we often describe the position of
objects related to its position to or from Earth. Mathematically, the position of an object is
generally represented by the variable x.

Frames of Reference

There are two choices you have to make in order to define a position variable x. You
have to decide where to put x = 0 and which direction will be positive. This is referred
to as choosing a coordinate system, or choosing a frame of reference. As long as you
are consistent, any frame is equally valid. But you don’t want to change coordinate
systems in the middle of a calculation. Imagine sitting in a train in a station when
suddenly you notice that the station is moving backward. Most people would say that
they just failed to notice that the train was moving — it only seemed like the station
was moving. But this shows that there is a third arbitrary choice that goes into choosing
a coordinate system: valid frames of reference can differ from each other by moving
relative to one another. It might seem strange to use a coordinate system moving
relative to the earth — but, for instance, the frame of reference moving along with a
train might be far more convenient for describing things happening inside the train.
Frames of reference are particularly important when describing an object’s
displacement.

FRAMES OF REFERENCE by Professor Hume and Professor Donald Ivey of the University
of Toronto

In this classic film, Professors Hume and Ivey cleverly illustrate reference frames and
distinguish between fixed and moving frames of reference.

You might also like