FHSST Physics/Vectors/Summary

Summary of Important Quantities, Equations and Concepts

Table 3.1: Summary of the symbols and units of the quantities used in Vectors

Quantity	Symbol	S.I. Units			Direction
Displacement	${\overrightarrow {s}}$	m			yes
Velocity	${\overrightarrow {u}}$ ${\overrightarrow {v}}$	m.s−1			yes
Distance	d	m			-
Speed	v	m.s−1			-
Acceleration	${\overrightarrow {a}}$	m.s−2			yes

Vector: A vector is a measurement which has both magnitude and direction.

Displacement: Displacement is a vector with direction pointing from some initial (starting) point to some final (end) point and whose magnitude is the straight-line distance from the starting point to the final point.

Distance: The distance traveled is the length of your actual path.

Velocity: Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time.

Acceleration: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.

Resultant: The resultant of a number of vectors is the single vector whose effect is the same as the individual vectors acting together