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1.2 Motion

1) Speed, velocity, acceleration, and distance-time graphs are key concepts in understanding motion. Speed is a measure of how far an object moves in a set period of time, while velocity also includes direction of movement. Acceleration describes the rate of change of velocity. 2) Distance-time graphs plot distance on the y-axis and time on the x-axis, allowing readers to determine speed and analyze changes in speed. A constant slope indicates constant speed, while a steeper slope means higher speed. 3) In the absence of air resistance, all objects accelerate at the same rate when falling, reaching a maximum speed called terminal velocity when air resistance balances the force of gravity.

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167 views

1.2 Motion

1) Speed, velocity, acceleration, and distance-time graphs are key concepts in understanding motion. Speed is a measure of how far an object moves in a set period of time, while velocity also includes direction of movement. Acceleration describes the rate of change of velocity. 2) Distance-time graphs plot distance on the y-axis and time on the x-axis, allowing readers to determine speed and analyze changes in speed. A constant slope indicates constant speed, while a steeper slope means higher speed. 3) In the absence of air resistance, all objects accelerate at the same rate when falling, reaching a maximum speed called terminal velocity when air resistance balances the force of gravity.

Uploaded by

DhanBahadur
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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1

Speed
Speed (measured in metres per second) is the distance moved by an Acceleration
object each second
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity: In other words, how
The average speed of an object is given by the equation much the velocity of an object changes by every second
Acceleration is given by the equation

You can rearrange the equation with the help of the formula triangle:

Velocity
Velocity is a similar quantity to speed, but includes a direction (the
direction of travel) as well as its value (its magnitude)
Two objects can have equal speeds but might have opposite
velocities (if they are travelling in opposite directions

Motion/Grade9/Dhaal Atool School


2

Distance time graph


Distance /time graphs provide a lot of information about the motion of
an object.
While plotting a distance/time graph, time is always plotted on the X-
axis and distance is plotted on the Y- axis.
If an object is not moving or is at rest or is stationary, then a A stepper line (indicated by dash) indicates a larger distance moved
horizontal line is shown on a distance/time graph in a given time. In other words, the object moved at higher speed.
The line on this graph is curving upwards. This shows an increase in
speed, since the line is getting steeper.

If an object is moving at a constant speed, it means it has the same


increase in distance in a given time On a distance/time graph, the gradient of the line is numerically equal
Constant speed is shown by the straight line on the graph to the speed

Let’s look at two moving objects.


Both of the lines on the graph show that each object is travelling with
constant speed.

Motion/Grade9/Dhaal Atool School


3

Velocity-Time Graphs If the area beneath the graph is a rectangle (constant velocity) then
the area can be determined using the formula:
A Velocity-time graph shows how the velocity (or speed) of an object
change over time area = base x height
The acceleration of an object is given by the gradient of the graph
Distance- time graph
Question 1:
The graph shows Tina’s journey from her home to a garden.

If the line is horizontal, the velocity is constant (no acceleration)


If the line slopes upwards then the object is accelerating (speeding
up)
If the line goes down then the object is decelerating (slowing down)
Calculating Distance
The distance travelled by an object can be found by determining the
area beneath the graph
(a) Describe Tina’s journey from the graph.
Graph section AB: =Tina starts her journey from home and reaches
garden (80 m away) in 150 seconds.
Graph section BC: =Tina halts at the garden for 200 seconds.
Graph section CD: =Tina reaches back to home in 250 seconds.
(b) How long did Tina rest in the garden?
=200 seconds.
(c) What is the distance from Tina’s home to the garden?
If the area beneath the graph forms a triangle (the object is
accelerating or decelerating) then the area can be determined using = 80 metres
the formula:
(d) Calculate Tina’s speed during graph section AB.
area = ½ x base x height
:Speed = Distance / Time = 80 / 150 = 0.53 m/s
Motion/Grade9/Dhaal Atool School
4

Question 2: Speed-time graph


Sandra leaves home at 9:00. She travels 12km away from home to a Question 1:
supermarket. She arrives at 9:45. She spends one and half hour
The speed-time graph shows a 50-second car journey, find which
shopping for grocery. She then sets off for home. She reaches home
section of the graph has the greatest acceleration.
at 12:30.
(a) Plot time values on X axis and distance values on Y axis.
(b) Draw a distance-time graph of Sandra’s journey.
(c) Calculate the speed of Sandra’s journey from her home to
the supermarket
Answer:
(a)(b)

Answer:
The gradient of the line = Acceleration
We must find the gradient of each section
Section A:
Acceleration between 0s and 10s =gradient=15-0/10-0=1.5m/s2
Section B:
This section is flat, meaning the acceleration will be 0

(c)Speed of Sandra’s journey from home to super market Distance Section C:


covered by Sandra = 12 km = 12 x 1000 m = 12000 m Acceleration between 20s and 30s =gradient=25-15/30-20=1m/s2
Time taken = 45 min = 45 x 60 s = 2700 s Section D:
Speed = 12000/ 2700 = 4.44 m/s Acceleration between 30s and 50s gradient=0-25/50-30=-1.25m/s2
Section A has the largest acceleration 1.5m/s2

Motion/Grade9/Dhaal Atool School


5

Freefall Initially the air resistance is very small. There is a downwards


unbalanced force and the skydiver accelerates
In the absence of air resistance, all objects fall with the same
acceleration, regardless of their mass As the skydiver speeds up, the air resistance increases
This acceleration is equal to the gravitational field strength and is
Eventually the air resistance balances the weight and so the skydiver
approximately 10 m/s2 near the Earth’s surface
travels at a constant speed – terminal velocity
So long as air resistance remains insignificant, the speed of a falling
object will increase at a steady rate, getting larger the longer it falls When the parachute is opened the increase air resistance on the
for. parachute creates an upwards unbalanced force, making the
parachuting the slow down

Terminal Velocity
When a parachutist jumps out of an aero plane, two main forces act:
Weight (the force of gravity) and Air resistance

Exam Tip
The force of gravity on an object is called weight. If asked to name
this force make sure you use this word: Don’t refer to it as “gravity” as
this term could also mean gravitational field strength and so would
probably be marked wrong.
Likewise, refer to the upward force as air resistance or drag. The
terms wind resistance and air pressure mean different things and so
would also be marked wrong.

Motion/Grade9/Dhaal Atool School

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