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  1. AP Calculus
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What is position, s(t)s(t)s(t)?

Location of an object in space at time ttt.

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What is position, s(t)s(t)s(t)?

Location of an object in space at time ttt.

What is velocity, v(t)v(t)v(t)?

Rate of change of position with respect to time; v(t)=s′(t)v(t) = s'(t)v(t)=s′(t).

What is acceleration, a(t)a(t)a(t)?

Rate of change of velocity with respect to time; a(t)=v′(t)=s′′(t)a(t) = v'(t) = s''(t)a(t)=v′(t)=s′′(t).

Define 'displacement'.

Change in position: Δs=sf−si\Delta s = s_f - s_iΔs=sf​−si​.

Define 'distance traveled'.

Total length of the path an object takes.

What is speed?

Magnitude of the velocity; absolute value of velocity.

What is initial position?

The position of an object at time t=0t=0t=0, denoted as s(0)s(0)s(0).

What is initial velocity?

The velocity of an object at time t=0t=0t=0, denoted as v(0)v(0)v(0).

What is the relationship between velocity and position?

Velocity is the derivative of position with respect to time.

What is the relationship between acceleration and velocity?

Acceleration is the derivative of velocity with respect to time.

Explain how integration is used to find position from velocity.

Integrating v(t)v(t)v(t) gives the change in position (displacement). Add the initial position to find the final position.

Explain how integration is used to find velocity from acceleration.

Integrating a(t)a(t)a(t) gives the change in velocity. Add the initial velocity to find the final velocity.

What does the area under the velocity vs. time curve represent?

The area under the v(t)v(t)v(t) curve represents the displacement of the object.

What does the area under the absolute value of velocity vs. time curve represent?

The area under the ∣v(t)∣|v(t)|∣v(t)∣ curve represents the total distance traveled by the object.

Why is absolute value important when finding distance traveled?

It accounts for changes in direction, ensuring all movement contributes positively to the total distance.

Explain the significance of the constant of integration, C, when integrating velocity or acceleration.

C represents the initial condition (position or velocity) needed to find the specific function.

Describe the relationship between a position vs. time graph and a velocity vs. time graph.

The slope of the position vs. time graph at any point gives the velocity at that time.

Describe the relationship between a velocity vs. time graph and an acceleration vs. time graph.

The slope of the velocity vs. time graph at any point gives the acceleration at that time.

What does a horizontal line on a position vs. time graph indicate?

The object is at rest; its velocity is zero.

What does a horizontal line on a velocity vs. time graph indicate?

The object is moving at a constant velocity; its acceleration is zero.

What are the differences between displacement and distance traveled?

Displacement: Change in position, can be negative | Distance Traveled: Total path length, always non-negative.

What are the differences between velocity and speed?

Velocity: Rate of change of position with direction (can be negative) | Speed: Magnitude of velocity (always non-negative).

Compare finding displacement using definite integrals vs. indefinite integrals.

Definite Integral: Directly calculates displacement over an interval | Indefinite Integral: Gives a general position function, requires initial position to find displacement.

Compare finding velocity using derivatives vs. integrals.

Derivatives: Find velocity from position function | Integrals: Find velocity from acceleration function.

Compare average velocity and instantaneous velocity.

Average Velocity: Displacement over a time interval | Instantaneous Velocity: Velocity at a specific moment in time.

Compare positive and negative acceleration.

Positive Acceleration: Velocity is increasing | Negative Acceleration: Velocity is decreasing (deceleration).

Compare constant velocity and constant acceleration.

Constant Velocity: Acceleration is zero, object moves at a steady rate | Constant Acceleration: Velocity changes at a steady rate.

Compare the effect of integrating velocity when v(t)>0v(t)>0v(t)>0 vs v(t)<0v(t)<0v(t)<0.

v(t) > 0: Displacement is positive, object moves in positive direction | v(t) < 0: Displacement is negative, object moves in negative direction.

Compare the meaning of a zero velocity and a zero acceleration.

Zero Velocity: Object is momentarily at rest | Zero Acceleration: Velocity is constant.

Compare the use of initial position and initial velocity in solving motion problems.

Initial Position: Used to find the constant of integration when integrating velocity | Initial Velocity: Used to find the constant of integration when integrating acceleration.