alleryStart learning →What is a reference frame, as used to describe motion?
AAn object's position measured against a coordinate system
BThe total distance an object covers along its path
CThe instrument used to measure an object's speed
DThe force that keeps an object moving in a straight line
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. An object's position measured against a coordinate system
1. A description of motion always needs a background to measure against.
2. That background, a coordinate system for locating objects, is the reference frame.
3. Distance and speed are separate quantities computed once a reference frame is chosen, not the frame itself.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 "Motion in One Dimension", section 2.1 Relative Motion, Distance, and Displacement_
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