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Chapter 2 - Describing Motion (Notes) (PHYSICS IGCSE)

by SAIFAN

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2K views8 pages

Chapter 2 - Describing Motion (Notes) (PHYSICS IGCSE)

by SAIFAN

Uploaded by

notblacknig
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHYSICS IGCSE

CHAPTER 2: DESCRIBING MOTION

Motion means movement. It is the physical movement or


change in position of an object.
DISTANCE AND DISPLACEMENT:
Distance: Distance is the total length travelled by an
object, between two points, irrespective of the direction
of motion. It is a scaler quantity.
Displacement: Displacement is the total distance moved
by an object in a particular direction. It is the position of
an object in reference to its origin or previous point.
Since distance and displacement are both lengths, their
units of measurements will be in meters, centimeters etc.
SPEED AND VELOCITY:
The speed of an object is the distance moved by an
object per unit of time. It is also defined as the rate of
change of distance. Units of speed are meters per second
(m/s) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Methods to
determine speed rely on making two important
measurements – (a) the total distance travelled between
two points (b) the total time taken to travel between
these two points
Formula for speed or the average speed of an object:
Speed = Distance/Time
v = d/t
Average speed: Average speed is the speed calculated
from total distance travelled divided by total time taken.
It is basically the same as speed and is calculated in the
same way, using the same formula.
Instantaneous speed: Instantaneous speed is the
apparent speed at any moment, such as the speed shown
at a speedo meter.
There are quite a few experiments you can do to find the
speed of a moving object. One of these ways is using
light gates, connected to an electronic timer, to measure
the speed of a moving object. (Check our figure 2.4, page
21 in physics book). This experiment shows how the
speed of a moving object can be measured using light
gates, infra-red beams and interrupt cards. Check the
diagram on page 21 and read the explanation of the
diagram through page 21 to 22, thoroughly. Note that it
shows TWO experiments, using similar apparatus and
neither of them are part of one same experiment. One
experiment is using a peg and infra-red beams of light
gates, connected to timers. The other experiment is using
an interrupt card and infra-red beams of light gates,
connected to timers.
It is also important to remember that you can rearrange
formulas to find the other values. Like from the speed
formula (v=d/t) , you can find distance (d=t x s) and time
(t=d/s) as well, assuming that the other two values are
given. Using the triangle method is the easiest and most
efficient way of finding the formula for other values, using
one known formula:
d

v t

Velocity: Velocity is the measure of the speed and


direction of an object while it’s moving. It is basically the
speed of an object in a specific direction. Velocity can
change even if the speed is constant, since you just
change directions. It is the change in displacement per
unit time. Its unit is same as speed (m/s and km/h).
Formula for velocity or average velocity of an object:
Velocity = Displacement/Time
V = d/t
A body’s velocity is uniform or constant, if it moves at a
steady speed in a straight line. Velocity is not uniform if
the body moves in a curved path.
ACCELERATION:
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, in relation
to time. It can also be defined as the subtraction of final
speed by initial speed, per unit time. Units of acceleration
are meter per second squared (m/s^2) and kilometer per
hour squared (km/h^2).
Formula for acceleration of an object:
Acceleration = Change in Velocity/Change in Time
a= V/ t
Or another easier formula for acceleration is:
Acceleration = Final Speed – Initial Speed/ Time
a = v – u/t
Rearranging of the above formula gives you:
v=u+axt
Since acceleration is a vector quantity, its magnitude and
direction should be stated. For motion in a straight line,
the magnitude of velocity equals the speed, and the
magnitude of the acceleration equals the speed change
in unit time.
Acceleration is positive if the velocity increases (meaning
a positive value), and acceleration is negative if the
velocity decreases (meaning a negative value). If the
acceleration is negative, it is called decelerating or
retardation, meaning object is slowing down.
DISTANCE OR DISPLACEMENT TIME GRAPH:
The distance time graph shows you the distance
travelled, and time taken by an object. So, from the
distance time graph, the speed of an object can be
measured as well. The displacement time graph shows
you the displacement of an object and the time taken by
an object. So, from the displacement/distance time
graphs, the velocity/speed of an object can be measured
as well. Let’s say the distance/ displacement on the
graph shows 20m and time shows 10s, so by using the
formula of the gradient (gradient = change in y/ change
in x) we can find the speed/velocity as well (speed or
velocity = distance or displacement/ time). So, the
answer will be 2m/s (20m/10s).
Distance or Uniform Motion/
Rest/Stationary
Displacement

Time

Acceleratio Deceleratio
n n

VELOCITY AND SPEED TIME GRAPHS:


The speed time graph shows the speed of an object and
the time taken by an object. The velocity time graph
shows the velocity of an object and the time taken by an
object. Both these graphs help us to measure the
acceleration of an object by finding the gradient (just like
it was done on the distance/displacement time graphs),
as the change in the y axis will be the velocity, and the
change in the x axis will be the time, thus giving us the
acceleration (change in velocity over change in time). The
area under the velocity time graph will help us to find the
distance/displacement. If the area under the graph has a
rectangular shape, then use the area of a rectangle,
which is (a = l x w) so the distance or displacement will
be (d= velocity x time). If area under the graph has a
triangular shape, then use the area of a triangle, which is
(a = ½ x b x h) so the distance or displacement will be
(d= ½ x velocity x time).
Formula of an object moving at constant acceleration:
Initial velocity + Final velocity/ 2
u + v/ 2
Formula for average speed:
V = d/t (known from before)
Rearranging the above two formulas gives:
Distance = (final speed + initial speed)/2 x time
D = (v + u)/2 x t

Speed/Velocity Time Graphs:


Uniform Velocity

Uniform Acceleration

Uniform
Non-Uniform
Deceleration
Acceleration

Non-Uniform
Deceleration

*Questions from the book are important. Revise and go


through the questions throughout the chapter, as well as
the exam style questions at the end of the chapter.
*Go through some notes online on this chapter for extra
revision
*Past papers and past paper questions on this chapter are
very important and helpful. You must go through them.

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