Talk:Physics Study Guide/Linear motion

Have vectors been introduced already when this page is presented? If not, then the implied use of vector notation (bold variables) will make little sense to the students.

I always preferred to start from F=ma since it allows introduction of "real-world" situations. Even without calculus you can introduce pushing a cart, throwing a ball, etc. As written, I fear that the only problem that can be intruduced is droping a ball in one dimension. The next situation (multiple objects, spacecraft, etc) follows more naturally from the force based discussion. I also like to introduce Newton at his point to illustrate that science is a series of "standing on the shoulders of giants" actions.

Evelien: Interestingly enough, I have started a textbook on Physics in Dutch recently, and Newton and Galilei are exactly my starting points. I think I will be watching this English language parallel of my own effort closely in the future. My intended audience is somewhat younger though: >12 or (bright) >10 year olds will be my audience...

1 Displacement, velocity, and acceleration, also known as linear motion or kinematics

The title should NOT merely duplicate the names of subheaders.

--146.244.186.42 04:31, 26 Sep 2004 (UTC)

small comments
1) I guess x(e) should be x(t)

2) you might mention that whenever you use v at a time t or a at a time t you are using the instantaneous forms. 207.67.146.242 21:40, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

3) The graphic showing the Cartesian Coordinates, shows a mistake: the "y" axis actually corresponds to the "z" axis and the shown "z" axis it is actually the "y" axis. Please re-edit the graphic and show the right one, because it is misleading -Sherpa2007

Confusion between Displacement and Direction
Under the section of "Displacement," I found this confusing sentence.

Calculate the distance you traveled along each of these segments, and then add all your results together.

Shouldn't that bold-faced distance actually be displacement, as noted later in paragraph? Please correct me if I am wrong, but it seemed to me that displacement would be the most logical answer.

Further note: the whole sentences about distance and displacement are ill-posed since they fail to note that distance is a scalar whereas displacement is a vector.

Additionally, should it be noticed that displacements are independent of coordinate systems, whereas positions are not?

section: "Constant acceleration" / first Box
The first box in the section "Constant acceleration" currently displays the special case of zero acceleration (dv/dt=0 m s^-2). It should be changed to display the general case of constant acceleration. To do so one could simply switch the "v" with an "a" and adjust the units, or else keep the "v" and exchange the zero with "const." (as this would fit the description given right above the box more closely).

Is anybody interested in this student essay?
I have my students write projects on Wikiversity and Miraheze, and most are of mediocre quality. But this one needs to be published somewhere on a Wikimedia Foundaton wiki:
 * https://wright100.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page

If you are interested, tell me where to put it and how you would like it formatted.--Guy vandegrift (discuss • contribs) 15:14, 7 March 2017 (UTC)