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p1 Motion

The document covers key concepts in physics related to motion, including definitions and formulas for speed, velocity, and acceleration. It explains the differences between scalar and vector quantities, and how to interpret distance-time and speed-time graphs. Additionally, it outlines the syllabus requirements for understanding these concepts and their applications in motion analysis.

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11 views4 pages

p1 Motion

The document covers key concepts in physics related to motion, including definitions and formulas for speed, velocity, and acceleration. It explains the differences between scalar and vector quantities, and how to interpret distance-time and speed-time graphs. Additionally, it outlines the syllabus requirements for understanding these concepts and their applications in motion analysis.

Uploaded by

dphysicsugc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IGCSE Double Award Extended Coordinated Science

Physics 1 - Motion

​Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration

You need to know ​that speed is:


- how fast an object covers a distance (how fast an object is moving)

If an object is moving in a ​straight line,​ you can find its speed by using the formula:
- Speed = total distance travelled ÷ total time taken
- s=d÷t
- Unit for distance = metres (​m​), unit for time = seconds (​s​), unit for speed = metres per second (​m/s​)
- Speed is what we call a ​scalar ​quantity
- Scalar quantities only have a numerical value.
- Mass, volume, and speed are scalar quantities because they fully described by a single number
- e.g. mass = 5g, volume = 100cm​3​, speed 10m/s.
- If an object moved 10m in 5 seconds, its speed is,
- 10m ÷ 5s = ​2 m/s

You need to know ​that velocity is:


- How fast an object changes position

Velocity is a​ vector​ quantity, which means it is fully described by two values, the numerical value and​ the direction.
- Unlike speed (s), velocity is denoted by the letter v.
- Velocity is like speed with a direction, how fast an object covers a distance in a certain direction.
- If a car was moving at 10m/s forwards, and another car was moving at 10m/s backwards
- These two cars have the​ same speeds, ​but ​different velocities
- Because velocity considers the direction as well.
- In an object moved 25m forwards in 10 seconds, its speed is,
- 25m forwards ÷ 10s = ​2.5m/s forwards
- Since velocity is a vector quantity, both the numerical value and the direction must be given

You need to know ​that acceleration is:


- How fast an object changes speed or velocity (rate of change in velocity)

Acceleration can calculated using the formula:


- Acceleration = total ​change​ in speed ÷ total time taken
- a = Δs ÷ t ​ (where change in speed is ​final speed - initial speed​)
- Unit for speed = metres per second (​m/s​), unit for time = seconds (​s​),
- unit for acceleration = metres per second per second ( m/s /s ) which is simplified to
- metres per second squared (m/s​2​). We use m/s​2
- In an object was moving at 25m/s, and changed its speed to 50m/s in 10 seconds, its acceleration is
- (final speed - initial speed) ÷ time (50 - 25)m/s ÷ 10s = ​2.5m/s​2
If the speed is decreasing, (e.g. from 50m/s ​down ​to 25m/s) we call this​ deceleration.
- We can see that the value of acceleration will be ​negative​.
- We can either say ​2.5m/s​2​ deceleration​, or ​-2.5m/s​2​ acceleration​. (negative acceleration used more often)
Distance-time and Speed-time Graphs

You need to know ​how to interpret ​distance-time graphs​ and ​speed-time graphs.

Distance-time graph
- Time is plotted on the x axis
- Displacement​ from the starting point in plotted against the y-axis,
- This means at y value of 0, the object is at the starting point

- The ​gradient​ of the graph, is calculated by ​rise over run​, which is ​distance / time.
- This is the formula for speed, so: Gradient of a distance-time graph = speed of the object
- This means the gradient, the speed can be positive or negative (meaning it is a velocity)
- Where positive is the forwards direction, and negative is the backwards direction
- Meaning ​negative speed (velocity)​ means the ​reverse​ ​direction

- The steepness of the gradient also tells us the value of the velocity
- Steeper the gradient, higher the value, so: ​Steeper gradient = faster speed
- The gradient tells us the speed, so what if the ​gradient is 0​?
- This means ​no speed​, which means the object is ​not moving (stationary)​.

- A curved gradient​, instead of a straight line, means there is non-constant velocity


- Velocity is changing which​ means:​ ​there is acceleration (or deceleration)
Speed-time graph
- Time is plotted on the x axis
- Speed​ of the object is plotted against the y-axis,
- This means at y value of 0, the object is at speed 0m/s.

- The ​gradient​ of the graph, is calculated by ​rise over run​, which is ​speed / time.
- Which is formula for acceleration: gradient of a speed-time graph = acceleration of the object
- This means the gradient, the acceleration can be positive or negative.
- Where positive is the acceleration, and negative is the deceleration.
- Again, the acceleration is constant if the gradient is straight,
- If it is a curve, it is accelerating non-uniformly.

- Same as the distance time graph, steeper gradient means faster acceleration.
- However, a gradient of 0 ​does not mean stationary​, it means​ constant velocity
- Because there is ​no acceleration.

- We can find the​ total distance​ travelled from a speed-time graph by


- finding the area underneath the graph​.
- To the find area, we would need to multiply velocity by time, and this means
- velocity x time = distance.
The syllabus says you should be able to, (SO check if you can):
- Define speed and calculate average speed from: total distance / total time
- Distinguish between speed and velocity.
- Recognise linear motion for which the acceleration is constant and calculate the acceleration.
- Recognise motion for which the acceleration is not constant.
- Demonstrate a qualitative understanding that acceleration is related to changing speed.
- Plot and interpret a speed-time graph and a distance-time graph.
- Recognise from the shape of a speed-time graph when a body is:
- at rest
- moving with constant speed
- moving with changing speed.
- Calculate the area under a speed-time graph to work out the distance travelled for motion with constant
acceleration.

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