Describing Motion

Describing Motion
Speed:
‘Speed is the distance travelled by an object per unit of time’
How to calculate average speed:

‘To calculate the average speed, we need to make two
measurements – the total distance between two points and
the time it takes for an object to reach from one point to the
other’
m total distance travelled (m)

avg speed (
)=
s total time taken( s)
s
v=
t
‘Average speed doesn’t tell top speed; it only tells how long it
took for the entirety of the journey’
Finding speed inside a laboratory:
‘Determining average speed inside a laboratory can be done
by using equipment called light gates’
Light gates have infrared sensors inside of them, when the

flag on the trolley breaks the beam, the timer starts, and
when the flag breaks the next beam, the timer stops.
Another way to use light gates is to use an interrupt card,
interrupt cards break the infrared beam to start the timer, and
then when the card passes and the bream reaches the other
side of the gate, the timer stops.
Rearranging the speed equation:

‘If we have two values in the speed equation, we can re-
arrange the equation to find the third value’
A simple way to do this is to create this diagram and cover the

missing value, however it is better to use algebraic rules to
find the right equation because this diagram won’t work for
rearranging every equation
Worked Example:
Planes fly at typical average speeds of around 250 m/s. Calculate
the distance travelled by a plane moving at this average speed for 2
hours
Answer:
Step 1: Collect all the values you know

Speed: 250m/s
Time: 2 hours
Step 2: Write down the base equation
s
v=
t
Step 3: Re-arrange the equation:
s=v∗t
Step 4: Solve the equation:
s=250∗7200
s=1800000 m
* make sure the units are always SI units unless stated otherwise
Distance-Time Graphs:
‘A distance time graph shows the speed of an object at different

times’
How to read a distance time graph:
- Slope: Object is moving
- Flat Line: Object is stationary
- Increasing slope: Increasing speed
Calculations with distance time graphs:

‘You can calculate the speed of an object using a
distance time graph by finding the line’s gradient’
rise
speed=
run
-------SCALARS AND VECTORS-------
Acceleration:
- How to calculate acceleration

‘Acceleration is the rate of change in an object’s velocity’
∆v
a=
∆t
*This equation is to find average acceleration, acceleration also varies

throughout a journey
o Rearranging acceleration equation

‘If we have two of the values of the acceleration equation, it is
possible to find the third value’
There is a triangle diagram for the acceleration equation


too
- Speed-time graphs:
‘A speed time graph shows how the object’s speed changes as it
moves’
(determining graphs is done by looking at the axes, for speed time
graphs, the y axis has speed on it and in distance time graphs the y
axis shows distance)
o How to read speed time graphs
 Upwards slope: acceleration
 Downwards slope: deceleration
 Horizontal: constant speed
 Horizontal at bottom of y axis: Stationary
o Calculations with speed-time graphs

 Finding distance traveled
‘To find the distance traveled, we need to find the area of
the graph under the slope’
distance=speed∗time
*the graph can be split into rectangles and triangles to
calculate area
 Calculating acceleration
‘We can calculate the acceleration using a speed time
graph by finding its gradient’
rise
acceleration=
run
 Three points should be noted:
o The object must be travelling in a straight line;
its velocity is changing but its direction is not
o If the speed-time graph is curved (rather than a
straight line), the acceleration is changing
o If the graph is sloping downwards, the object is
decelerating. The gradient of the graph is
negative. So, a deceleration is a negative
acceleration
 You may be asked to calculate two types of
acceleration
o Average acceleration; if the gradient is a
straight line then you must find the gradient of
the line
o Instantaneous acceleration; Instantaneous
acceleration is the acceleration at that current
point. To find instantaneous acceleration you
must the gradient of the tangent to the sloped
line.
o How to draw speed time graphs
‘You may be asked to draw a speed time graph, so it’s important
to learn how to’
To plot a speed time graph you must plot points based on data
that might be provided or you may have to work out the data
table. Once the table is made you plot the points on a graph and
connect the lines.

Describing Motion

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Describing Motion

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Describing Motion

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Describing Motion

‘Speed is the distance travelled by an object per unit of time’

How to calculate average speed:

m total distance travelled (m)

Light gates have infrared sensors inside of them, when the

Rearranging the speed equation:

A simple way to do this is to create this diagram and cover the

Step 1: Collect all the values you know

‘A distance time graph shows the speed of an object at different

Calculations with distance time graphs:

-------SCALARS AND VECTORS-------

- How to calculate acceleration

*This equation is to find average acceleration, acceleration also varies

o Rearranging acceleration equation

There is a triangle diagram for the acceleration equation

o Calculations with speed-time graphs

You might also like