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Practice choosing and applying the correct suvat formula.
v=u+at
v^2=u^2+2as
s=ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2
s=\frac{1}{2}(u+v)t

## Summary/Background

In the exam, start by writing down these important formulae:
v=u+at
s=ut+\frac{1}{2}at^2
s=vt-\frac{1}{2}at^2
v^2=u^2+2as
s=\frac{1}{2}(u+v)t

Kinematics is a branch of mechanics which describes the motion of objects without the consideration of the masses or forces that bring about the motion. In contrast, dynamics is concerned with the forces and interactions that produce or affect the motion.
Kinematics studies how the position of an object changes with time. Position is measured with respect to a set of coordinates. Velocity is the rate of change of position. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Velocity and Acceleration are the two principal quantities which describe how position changes.

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## Glossary

### acceleration

the rate of change of velocity with time. It is a vector quantity with magnitude and direction.

### dynamics

The study of the motion of an object or system of objects.

### kinematics

The study of the motion of an object or system of objects, without reference to the actions of masses or forces.

### rate of change

the derivative; a measurement of how a function changes when its input changes.

### suvat

an acronym used in Mechanics for the constant acceleration formulae, where s is displacement, u is initial velocity, v is final velocity, a is acceleration and t is time.

### union

The union of two sets A and B is the set containing all the elements of A and B.

### velocity

the rate of change of displacement. It is a vector quantity with magnitude and direction.

Full Glossary List

## This question appears in the following syllabi:

SyllabusModuleSectionTopicExam Year
AQA A-Level (UK - Pre-2017)M1KinematicsConstant acceleration-
AQA AS Maths 2017MechanicsKinematics and UnitsConstant Acceleration Formulae-
AQA AS/A2 Maths 2017MechanicsKinematics and UnitsConstant Acceleration Formulae-
CCEA A-Level (NI)M1KinematicsConstant acceleration-
CIE A-Level (UK)M1KinematicsConstant acceleration-
Edexcel A-Level (UK - Pre-2017)M1KinematicsConstant acceleration-
Edexcel AS Maths 2017MechanicsConstant Acceleration MotionConstant Acceleration Formulae-
Edexcel AS/A2 Maths 2017MechanicsConstant Acceleration MotionConstant Acceleration Formulae-
OCR A-Level (UK - Pre-2017)M1KinematicsConstant acceleration-
OCR AS Maths 2017MechanicsWorking with MotionConstant Acceleration Formulae-
OCR MEI AS Maths 2017MechanicsWorking with MotionConstant Acceleration Formulae-
OCR-MEI A-Level (UK - Pre-2017)M1KinematicsConstant acceleration-
Pre-U A-Level (UK)MechKinematicsConstant acceleration-
Universal (all site questions)KKinematicsConstant acceleration-
WJEC A-Level (Wales)M1KinematicsConstant acceleration-