Misconceptions — Kinematics — Notes

#	✗ Wrong Belief	✓ Correct Understanding
1	Velocity at the highest point of a projectile is zero	Only the vertical component is zero; horizontal component $u\cos\theta$ remains constant
2	Distance and displacement are always equal	Equal only for straight-line motion in one direction; differ when path curves or reverses
3	A body with zero velocity has zero acceleration	A ball at peak height: v = 0 but a = g = 9.8 m/ $s^{2}$ downward
4	Heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones	All objects in free fall have the same acceleration g (ignoring air resistance)
5	In uniform circular motion, there is no acceleration	Speed is constant but direction changes; centripetal acceleration $a_c = v²/r$ exists toward centre
6	The range of a projectile is maximum at 90°	Maximum range occurs at 45°; $R_{max} = u²/g$
7	$s_n = u + a(2n-1)/2$ gives total displacement	It gives displacement DURING the nth second only; not cumulative displacement
8	Negative acceleration always means deceleration	Negative a with negative v means speeding up in the negative direction (acceleration, not deceleration)
9	A projectile's speed is minimum at the top	True; speed = $u\cos\theta$ at peak — minimum but not zero
10	Area under x-t graph gives displacement	Area under v-t graph gives displacement; slope of x-t graph gives velocity