Understanding the Basics of Movement

Physics begins with understanding how and why things move. Motion describes an object's change in position over time, while forces are pushes or pulls that affect that motion.

Key Concepts

• Speed is how fast something moves: \( \text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}} \)
• Velocity is speed in a specific direction.
• Acceleration is a change in velocity.
• Force is what causes acceleration, described by Newton's Second Law: \( F = ma \) (Force = mass × acceleration).

Everyday Examples

• Throwing a ball involves both velocity and acceleration.
• Riding a bike uphill takes more force than riding on flat ground.

Why It Matters

Understanding motion and forces helps us design safer cars, predict sports trajectories, and even plan space missions!