SUBJECT : PHYSICS

FORM :4
CHAPTER : 2, FORCE AND MOTION I
PREPARED BY : TEACHER ALAN CHEW

2.1 LINEAR MOTION

1. Definitions:
Definition
Motion Motion is the change in the position of an object over time.
Linear motion Linear motion is a motion along a straight line or motion in one
dimension.
Rest Rest means the position of an object does not change with time.
Uniform motion Uniform motion means an object moves equal distance at equal time
interval.
Non-uniform motion Non-uniform motion means an object moves unequal distance at
equal time interval or vice versa.

2. Linear motion can be described in terms of distance, displacement, speed, velocity

and acceleration.

3. Example of uniform motion:

4. Example of non-uniform motion:

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 Determining Distance, Displacement, Speed, Velocity and Acceleration
1. Distance (d)
Definition Distance is the length of route covered by an object.

Symbol d

S.I. unit metre

Symbol of S.I. unit m

Physical quantity Base quantity and Scalar quantity

Magnitude Positive value only

2. Displacement (s)
Definition Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial position and
the final position in a specific direction.

Symbol s

S.I. unit metre

Symbol of S.I. unit m

Physical quantity Base quantity and Vector quantity

Magnitude Positive value if displacement in the positive direction.

Negative value if displacement in the negative direction.

* Normally right, east, up, north is positive direction.

* Normally left, west, down, south is negative direction.
* But positive or negative direction depends on the question.
* In SPM, final answer for displacement is always positive, and you need to
mention is the direction …… For example: 15m (in the direction of AB)

Distance travel is 520m.

Start Displacement is 215m (in the direction from start to end).

OR
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End Displacement is 215m (toward southwest).
 Example of question related to negative displacement.
The object we will consider is Ching Ee. If she leaves her room and walk to hallway get a drink and
she walk 6m to where the drink is located. Consider this motion is positive direction. What is her
displacement now?
Ans: 6m (in the direction from classroom to hallway)

Now Ching Xuan WhatsApp her to join him for lunch at the canteen, which is 15m the opposite
direction of hallway. What is her displacement now?
Ans: 6m – 15m = -9m (in the direction from hallway to canteen)

After lunch Ching Ee goes back to her room and study. What is her displacement now?
Ans: -9m + 9m = 0 (return to original position)

What is the distance travel by Ching Ee?

Ans: 6m + 15m + 9m = 30m

Example of SPM question for distance and displacement.

Shi Khai walked 3km due south and then 2km due north. State the
(a) distance travelled by her,
(b) displacement of her now.
Ans:
(a) 3 + 2 = 5km
(b) 3 – 2 = 1m (in the direction of south)

3. Speed
Definition Speed is the rate of change in distance.

Symbol v

S.I. unit metre per second

Symbol of S.I. unit ms-1 or m/s

Physical quantity Derived quantity and Scalar quantity

Magnitude Positive value only

Formulae Distance
Speed =
Time

𝑑
v=
𝑡

3
4. Velocity
Definition Velocity is the rate of change in displacement.

Symbol v * Final velocity is also v * Initial velocity is y

S.I. unit metre per second

Symbol of S.I. unit ms-1 or m/s

Physical quantity Derived quantity and Vector quantity

Magnitude Positive value or negative value depend on displacement.

Formulae Displacement
Velocity =
Time

𝑠
v=
𝑡

Definition Uniform velocity is rate of change in displacement remain the same.

Non-uniform velocity is rate of change in displacement increases or

decreases. It will cause acceleration or deceleration.

Increases

Decreases

Example of SPM question:

Jing Ching walks 24.5m west and them turns and walk 100.0m south in 120s. Calculate
(a) distance (b) displacement (c) speed (d) velocity
Ans: (a) 124.5m (b) 103m (toward southwest) (c) 1ms-1 (d) 0.86ms-1

4
5. Acceleration
- It happens during non-uniform velocity.
Definition Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

Symbol a

S.I. unit metre per second suqare

Symbol of S.I. unit ms-2 or m/s2

Physical quantity Derived quantity and Vector quantity

Magnitude Positive value or negative value depend on different between final

velocity and initial velocity.

Formulae Final velocity−Initial velocty

Acceleration =
Time

𝑣−𝑢
a=
𝑡

Important Description 5ms-2, acceleration of the object is 5ms-1 in a second.

-5ms-2, acceleration of the object is -5ms-1 in a second.

OR
-5ms , deceleration of the object is 5ms-1 in a second.
-2

Example:
a) Ming Jun drives a car with velocity 5ms-1 and reaches velocity 20ms-1 in 5s. What is the
acceleration of car?
𝑣−𝑢
a=
𝑡
20 − 5
a=
5
15
a=
5

a = 3ms-2 Ans: Acceleration is 3ms-2.

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b) Ming Jun drives a car with velocity 20ms-1 and reaches velocity 5ms-1 in 5s.
i) What is the acceleration of car?
ii) What is the deceleration of car?
𝑣−𝑢 𝑣−𝑢
bi) a= bii) a=
𝑡 𝑡
5 − 20 5 − 20
a= a=
5 5
−15 −15
a= a=
5 5

a = -3ms-2 a = -3ms-2

Ans: Acceleration is -3ms-2. Ans: Deceleration is 3ms-2.

c) Ming Jun starts to drive a car and reaches velocity of 20ms-1 in 5s. What is the
acceleration of the car?
𝑣−𝑢
a=
𝑡
20 − 0
a=
5
20
a=
5

a = 4ms-2 Ans: Acceleration is 4ms-2.

d) Ming Jun slow down a car from velocity of 20ms -1 until he stop in 5s. What is the
acceleration of the car?
i) What is the acceleration of car?
ii) What is the deceleration of car?
𝑣−𝑢 𝑣−𝑢
di) a= bii) a=
𝑡 𝑡
0 − 20 0 − 20
a= a=
5 5
−20 −20
a= a=
5 5

a = -4ms-2 a = -4ms-2

Ans: Acceleration is -4ms-2. Ans: Deceleration is 4ms-2.

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7
Ticker timer
1. Ticker timer is used to investigate linear motion of objects in the laboratory.
2. It is fitted with ticker tape.
3. Ticker timer use alternative current of frequency 50Hz in 1 second.
4. That mean it will make 50 dots on the ticker paper in 1 seconds.
5. The time interval between two adjacent dots is one tick.
1
1 tick = s 5 ticks = 5 x 0.02 10 ticks = 10 x 0.02
50

= 0.02s = 0.1s = 0.2s

0.02s

6. Example of result from ticker tape.

Example of simple question:

Find the number of ticks and the time interval
between the first dots and the last dot on the ticker
tape. The frequency of the ticker timer is 50 Hz.

Ans:
Number of ticks Time interval =
= =
8
 7. We can use ticker tape to measure velocity and acceleration.
Example from textbook: Now try this yourself:
Question 1: Calculate velocity / uniform velocity

Ans: 71.43 cms-1

* Acceleration = 0

Question 2: Calculate acceleration

Ans: 1875 cms-2

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8. IMPORTANT experiment: textbook pg 32

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Discussion:
1. When one end of the runway is raised up slightly. Trolley moves down freely.

2. When the end of the runway is raised up further. Trolley moves down freely.

3. When the trolley is pushed from the bottom on the runway and move up.

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The ticker tape can be cut, then paste OR draw on graph paper.
* Each 4 ticks can be cut, and paste at graph paper from left to right.

1. When one end of the runway is raised up slightly. Trolley moves down freely.
(i) In this case, it shows uniform velocity.
(ii) The distance of the dots equally distributed.
4
(iii) All lengths of the strips of tape in the chart equal lengths.
3
2 (iv) Calculation of uniform velocity.
𝑠
1 v=𝑡
0 4𝑐𝑚
= 4 x 0.02s

= 50 cms-1

2. When the end of the runway is raised up further. Trolley moves down freely.
(i) In this case, it shows acceleration.
5
(ii) The distance of the dots increase uniformly.
4
(iii) All lengths of the strips of tape in the chart increase uniformly.
3
(iv) Calculation of acceleration.
2
𝑠 𝑠 𝑣−𝑢
1 u= v= a=
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
0
1𝑐𝑚 5𝑐𝑚 (62.5−12.5)cm𝑠−1
= 4 x 0.02s = 4 x 0.02s = 4 x 4x 0.02s

= 12.5 cms-1 = 62.5 cms-1 = 156.25 cms-2

3. When the trolley is pushed from the bottom on the runway and move up.

(i) In this case, it shows deceleration.

5 (ii) The distance of the dots decrease uniformly.
4 (iii) All lengths of the strips of tape in the chart decrease uniformly.
3
(iv) Calculation of deceleration.
2 𝑠 𝑠 𝑣−𝑢
u=𝑡 v=𝑡 a=
1 𝑡
0 5𝑐𝑚 1𝑐𝑚 (12.5−62.5)cm𝑠−1
= 4 x 0.02s = 4 x 0.02s = 4 x 4x 0.02s

= 62.5 cms-1 = 12.5 cms-1 = -156.25 cms-2

(v) Deceleration is 156.25 cms-2 OR Acceleration is -156.25 cms-2

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9. Another experiment (no ticker tape is require): Textbook page 33 and 34
a) Photogate system and electronic timer can also be used to study linear motions and more accurate
than a ticker time.
Reason 1: No friction in photogate system and electronic timer, but the ticker tape and ticker timer have
friction to affect the motion of the trolley.
Reason 2: Electronic timer can measure the time interval to an accuracy of 0.001 second compared to
0.02 second for a ticker timer.

b) Photogate system and an electronic timer used with a non-motorised trolley moving on an inclined
aluminium runway.

measure time used for acceleration, a

measure time used for final velocity, v

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Note: Size of shutter plane is 5cm
Note: Initial velocity is 0, so no need to minus when find acceleration.

Procedure 3 to 5: measure time used for acceleration, a

Procedure 6 to 8: measure time used for final velocity, v

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 Solving Problems of Linear Motion Using Linear Motion Equations
1. Revision of symbol and S.I. unit:
Base quantity Base quantity symbol S.I. unit S.I. unit symbol
Velocity / Final velocity v metre per second ms-1
Initial velocity u metre per second ms-1
Acceleration a metre per second square ms-2
Time t second s
Displacement s metre m

2. Four linear motion equations:

First linear motion equation Second linear motion equation

Final velocity − Initial velocity Displacement = Average velocity × time

Acceleration = Time taken for change in velocity
𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 + 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑣−𝑢 Displacement = ( ) x time
a= 2
𝑡
1
at = v – u s = 2 (u + v) t -------------------- (2)

v = u + at -------------------- (1)

Third linear motion equation Fourth linear motion equation

Substitute equation (1) into equation (2) Square equation (1)

1 v = u + at
s = 2 (u + v) t
1 v2 = (u + at)2
s = 2 [u + (u + at)] t
v2 = (u + at) (u + at)
1
s = 2 (2u + at) t v2 = u2 + atu + atu + a2t2 From equation 3,
1 2 2 2 2 2
s = ut + 2 at -------------------- (3) v = u + 2atu + a t 1
s = ut + 2 at2
1
v2 = u2 + 2a (ut + 2 at2)

v2 = u2 + 2as -------------------- (4)

Question from textbook: Page 36

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Extra questions:
1. A car accelerate at 4 ms-2 from an initial velocity of 5ms-1 for 10 seconds. What is the distance travelled
by the car? Ans: s = 250 m

2. A truck accelerates from 4ms-1 and reaches a velocity of 28ms-1 after travelling for 64m. What is the
acceleration of the truck? Ans: a = 6 ms-2

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2.2 LINEAR MOTION GRAPH
Displacement-time graph
y-axis is Displacement, s x-axis is Time, t Gradient is velocity, v (ms-1) y- intercept is initial
(m) (s) displacement
* Unit of y-axis ÷ x-axis

Example of plotted graph with question

Five common types of displacement-time graph (with explanation)

Types of graph Type of motion Explanation
Object at rest. - Gradient = 0, mean velocity = 0
- Displacement remain constant for a certain time
- Object at rest

Object moving with - Gradient = positive, mean velocity toward positive

uniform velocity toward direction
positive direction (eg from - Linear graph, mean uniform velocity
home to school) - Object moving with uniform velocity toward positive
direction

Object moving with - Gradient = negative, mean velocity toward opposite

uniform velocity toward direction
opposite direction (eg - Linear graph, mean uniform velocity
from school to home) - Object moving with uniform velocity toward opposite
direction

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 Object moving with - Gradient is positive but increasing, mean acceleration
acceleration (increasing - Curve graph, mean non-uniform velocity (increasing
velocity) velocity)
- Object moving with acceleration (increasing velocity)

Object moving with - Gradient is positive but decreasing, mean deceleration

deceleration (decreasing - Curve graph, mean non-uniform velocity (decreasing
velocity) velocity)
- Object moving with deceleration (decreasing velocity)

Extra info to find gradient of curve line:

1. Draw a tangent (line that only touch one part of graph)
2. Get two coordinates from the line.
𝑦−𝑦
3. Gradient = 𝑥−𝑥

4. Example 1:

Find the gradient of graph at tangent A

Coordinate = ( , ) and ( , )

Gradient =

5. Example 2:

Find the gradient of graph at tangent

Coordinate = ( , ) and ( , )

Gradient =

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 Velocity-time graph
y-axis is Velocity, x-axis is Gradient is acceleration, a (ms-2) Area under graph is displacement, s (m)
v (ms-1) Time, t (s)
* Unit of y-axis ÷ x-axis * Unit of y-axis X x-axis

y-intercept is initial velocity

Example of plotted graph with question

Five common types of velocity-time graph (with explanation)

Types of graph Type of motion Explanation
Object moving with - Gradient = 0, mean acceleration = 0
uniform velocity - Velocity remain constant for a certain time
- Object moving with uniform velocity

Object moving with - Gradient = positive, mean acceleration

uniform acceleration - Linear graph, mean uniform acceleration
- Object moving with uniform acceleration

Object moving with - Gradient = negative, mean deceleration

uniform deceleration - Linear graph, mean uniform deceleration
- Object moving with uniform deceleration

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 Object moving with - Gradient is positive but increasing, mean acceleration
increasing acceleration - Curve graph, mean non-uniform acceleration
(increasing acceleration)
- Object moving with increasing acceleration

Object moving with - Gradient is positive but decreasing, mean acceleration

decreasing acceleration - Curve graph, mean non-uniform acceleration
(decreasing acceleration)
- Object moving with decreasing acceleration

Acceleration-time graph
y-axis is Acceleration, a (ms-2) y-axis is Area under graph is velocity, V (ms-1) y-intercept is initial
Time, t (s) acceleration
* Unit of y-axis X x-axis

Example of plotted graph with question:

1. What is the initial acceleration of the graph?
Ans:

2. What is the acceleration at 4th seconds?

Ans:

3. What is the velocity from 0s to 4s?

Ans:

Three common types of acceleration-time graph (with explanation)

Types of graph Type of motion Explanation
Object moving with zero - Gradient = 0, mean acceleration = 0
acceleration - Acceleration remain 0 for a certain time
- Object moving with zero acceleration

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 Object moving with - Gradient = 0, mean acceleration = y-intercept
uniform acceleration - Acceleration remain constant for a certain time
- Object moving with uniform acceleration

Object moving with - Gradient = positive, mean increasing

uniform acceleration - Linear graph, mean uniform acceleration
increasing - Object moving with uniform acceleration increasing

Analysis of Displacement-Time Graph to Determine Distance, Displacement and Velocity

y-axis is Displacement, s x-axis is Time, t Gradient is velocity, v (ms-1) y- intercept is initial
(m) (s) displacement
* Unit of y-axis ÷ x-axis

Example of graph:

Possible questions for displacement:

1. What is the initial displacement？
Ans: s = 0m

2. What is the displacement from A to B?

Ans: s = 120m
Possible questions for distance:
1. What is the distance from A to B? 3. What is the displacement from A to C?
Ans: d = 120m Ans: s = 120m

2. What is the distance from A to C? 4. What is the displacement from A to D?

Ans: d = 120m Ans: s = 0m

3. What is the displacement from A to D? 5. What is the displacement from A to F?

Ans: d = 120 + 120 = 240m Ans: s = -60m

4. What is the total distance travelled? 21

Ans: d = 120 + 120 + 60 = 300m
 Possible questions for velocity:
1. What is the velocity from A to B / 0 to 5s? 2. What is the velocity from B to C / 5 to 8s?
Ans: (0, 0) (5, 120) Ans: (5, 120) (8, 120)

120 − 0 120 − 120

v= v=
5−0 8−5
= 24 ms-1 = 0 ms-1

3. What is the velocity from C to D / 8 to 12s? 4. What is the velocity from D to E / 12 to 14s?
Ans: (8, 120) (12, 0) Ans: (12, 0) (14, 0)

0 − 120 0−0
v= v = 14 − 12
12 − 8
= -30 ms-1 = 0 ms-1

5. What is the velocity from E to F / 14 to 20s?

Ans: (14, 0) (20, -60)

−60 − 0
v = 20 − 14
= -10 ms-1

Analysis of Velocity-Time Graph to Determine Distance, Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration

y-axis is Velocity, x-axis is Gradient is acceleration, a (ms-2) Area under graph is displacement, s (m)
v (ms-1) Time, t (s)
* Unit of y-axis ÷ x-axis * Unit of y-axis X x-axis

y-intercept is initial velocity

Example of graph:
Possible questions for distance:
1. What is the distance from 0 to 50s?
Ans: d = 50 x 10 = 500m

2. What is the distance from 50 to 70s?

Ans: d = ½ x (10 + 20) x 20 = 300m

3. What is the distance from 0 to 70s?

Ans: d = 500 + 300 = 800m

4. What is the distance from 70 to 100s?

Ans: d = ½ x 30 x 20 = 300m

5. What is the distance from 120 to 150s?

Ans: d = ½ x 30 x 9 = 135m

6. What is the total distance travelled?

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Ans: 500 + 300 + 300 + 135 = 1235m
Possible questions for displacement: Possible questions for acceleration / deceleration:
1. What is the displacement from 0 to 50s? 1. What is the acceleration from 0 to 30s?
Ans: s = 50 x 10 = 500m Ans: (0, 10) (30, 10)
10 − 10
2. What is the displacement from 50 to 70s? a = 30 − 0
Ans: s = ½ x (10 + 20) x 20 = 300m = 0 ms-2

3. What is the displacement from 0 to 70s? 2. What is the acceleration from 0 to 50s?
Ans: s = 500 + 300 = 800m Ans: (0, 10) (50, 10)
10 − 10
4. What is the displacement from 70 to 100s? a = 50 − 0
Ans: s = -½ x 30 x 20 = -300m = 0 ms-2

5. What is the displacement from 0 to 100s? 3. What is the acceleration from 50 to 70s?
Ans: s = 500 + 300 – 300 = 500m Ans: (50, 10) (70, 20)
20 − 10
6. What is the displacement from 50 to 100s? a = 70 − 50
Ans: s = 300 – 300 = 0m = 0.5 ms-2

7. What is the displacement from 120 to 150s? 4. What is the acceleration from 70 to 100s?
Ans: s = -½ x 30 x 9 = -135m Ans: (70, 20) (100, 0)
0 − 20
8. What is the total displacement from 0 to 150s? a = 100 − 70
Ans: s = 500 + 300 – 300 -135m = 965m = -0.67 ms-2

5. What is the acceleration from 100 to 120s?

Possible questions for velocity / speed: Ans: (100, 0) (120, 0)
1. What is the initial velocity? 0−0
Ans: 10 ms-1 a = 120 − 100
= 0 ms-2
2. What is the velocity at 70th second?
Ans: 20 ms-1 6. What is the acceleration from 120 to 150s?
Ans: (120, 0) (150, -9)
3. What is the velocity at 110th second? −9 − 0
Ans: 0 ms-1 a = 150 − 120
= -0.3 ms-2
4. What is the average speed?
Total distance
Ans: Average speed = Time
1235m
= 150s
= 8.23 ms-1

5. What is the average velocity?

Total displacement
Ans: Average velocity = Time
965m
= 150s
= 6.43 ms-1 23
Converting and Sketch Graphs
1. Displacement-time graph ⇌ Velocity-time graph
2. Velocity-time graph → Acceleration-time graph
3. Displacement-time graph ⇌ Velocity-time graph → Acceleration-time graph

From displacement-time graph to velocity-time graph

* To find velocity, use gradient of displacement-time graph.
Question:

Ans:

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From velocity-time graph to displacement-time graph
* To find displacement, use area under the graph of velocity-time graph.

From velocity-time graph to acceleration-time graph

* To find acceleration, use gradient of velocity-time graph.
Question: Ans:

Ans for displacement-time graph: Ans for acceleration-time graph:

25
Solving Problems Involving Linear Motion Graphs
1. This is actually the same with page 21 to 25.
Question 1:

Answer 1:

26
Question 2:

Answer:

27