4.1: Introduction to One Dimensional Kinematics
- Page ID
- 24438
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Kinematics is the mathematical description of motion. The term is derived from the Greek word kinema, meaning movement. In order to quantify motion, a mathematical coordinate system, called a reference frame, is used to describe space and time. Once a reference frame has been chosen, we shall introduce the physical concepts of position, velocity, and acceleration in a mathematically precise manner. Figure 4.1 shows a Cartesian coordinate system in one dimension with unit vector \(\hat{\mathbf{i}}\) pointing in the direction of increasing x -coordinate.
