Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · Mathematics
Course version: 9MA0 · Version from Mar 2026
Understand and use the language of kinematics: position; displacement;…
Full specification wording
Kinematics: 7.1 Understand and use the language of kinematics: position; displacement; distance travelled; velocity; speed; acceleration.
Kinematics describes motion without considering its causes.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9MA0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 5
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Kinematics describes motion without considering its causes. Position locates a particle relative to a fixed origin, often given as a coordinate or vector. Displacement is the change in position, a vector with both magnitude and direction; distance travelled is the total scalar path length and is never negative. Velocity is the rate of change of displacement, a vector, so a negative velocity indicates motion in the negative direction. Speed is the magnitude of velocity, a scalar, so it cannot be negative. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, a vector, with unit m s⁻²; a particle can accelerate while moving at constant speed if its direction changes, though in straight-line motion acceleration changes the speed.
For example: A particle moving 5 m east then 3 m west has displacement 2 m east but distance travelled 8 m.
What earns the marks
- Define position as location relative to a fixed origin and displacement as change in position, a vector.
- Distinguish distance travelled as the total scalar path length from displacement as a vector change in position.
- Define velocity as the rate of change of displacement and speed as its magnitude, noting velocity is a vector and speed a scalar.
- Define acceleration as the rate of change of velocity, a vector with unit m s⁻².
- Apply the definitions to a simple journey, computing displacement and distance travelled separately.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Using distance travelled and displacement interchangeably.
Put it right: Displacement is the vector change in position while distance travelled is the scalar total path length.
Giving a negative value for speed.
Put it right: Speed is the magnitude of velocity and is non-negative.
Assuming acceleration must change speed.
Put it right: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, so a change in direction also produces acceleration.
Exam tips
- Sketch a simple diagram with a marked origin and direction arrows before calculating.
- State clearly whether an answer is a vector or scalar and include direction where required.
- Check the sign of displacement and velocity against your chosen positive direction.
Try the lesson
The start of the Kinematics: 7.1 Understand and use the language of kinematics: position; displacement; distance travelled; velocity; speed; acceleration. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A cyclist rides 5 km due east and then 3 km due west. State the distance travelled and the displacement from the starting point.
Listen
Kinematics describes motion without considering its causes. Position locates a particle relative to a fixed origin, often given as a coordinate or vector. Displacement is the change in position, a vector with both magnitude and direction; distance travelled is the total scalar path length and is never negative. Velocity is the rate of change of displacement, a vector, so a negative velocity indicates motion in the negative direction. Speed is the magnitude of velocity, a scalar, so it cannot be negative. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, a vector, with unit m s⁻²; a particle can accelerate while moving at constant speed if its direction changes, though in straight-line motion acceleration changes the speed. For example, a particle moving 5 m east then 3 m west has displacement 2 m east but distance travelled 8 m. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Define position as location relative to a fixed origin and displacement as change in position, a vector. Distinguish distance travelled as the total scalar path length from displacement as a vector change in position. Define velocity as the rate of change of displacement and speed as its magnitude, noting velocity is a vector and speed a scalar. Define acceleration as the rate of change of velocity, a vector with unit m s⁻². A common slip: Using distance travelled and displacement interchangeably. Instead, displacement is the vector change in position while distance travelled is the scalar total path length. Exam tip: Sketch a simple diagram with a marked origin and direction arrows before calculating.
Key words
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Displacement
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Distance travelled
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Velocity
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Acceleration
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See every definition
- Displacement
- The change in position, a vector with both magnitude and direction.
- Distance travelled
- The total scalar path length, which is never negative.
- Velocity
- The rate of change of displacement, a vector, so a negative value indicates motion in the negative direction.
- Acceleration
- The rate of change of velocity, a vector, with unit m s⁻².
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