Dynamics
This area of Physics deals with the motion of objects.
Linear Motion
This is a subclass of physics that deals with motion in a
straight line hence circular motion will not be discussed.
Terms associated with linear motion
1. Distance- This is the path covered or the length
between two points. Distance is a scalar quantity
and the SI unit of distance is the meter.
2. Displacement- This is the distance travelled by an
object in a stated direction.
3. Speed - This is defined as the rate of change of
distance.The SI unit of speed is the meter per
second m/s or ms-¹
Speed = distance ÷ time taken
Speed is a scalar quantity. The speed of an object
is an indication of how fast it is moving. If the speed
of an object varies during its motion you will need to
compute its average speed. An example is shown
below.
The relationship among speed, distance and time can
be illustrated by using a 'magic triangle'.
4. Velocity- This is the distance an object travels in a
unit of time, in a particular direction. In other words
it is speed in a stated direction. The SI unit of
velocity is the meter per second
Velocity is a vector quantity therefore it can be
represented in scale drawings. Directions can be
described as north,south,east etc or angles may be
used. For example 0.6 ms-¹ to the east.
How can we calculate the velocity of an object?
5. Acceleration - Acceleration is the change in velocity
over a period of time. Since it is a change in velocity
acceleration is also a vector quantity. The SI unit of
acceleration is the ms-² or m/s².
Acceleration is found using the formula.
NB: An object has uniform acceleration, or
constant acceleration if its velocity changes by
equal amounts in equal successive time
intervals.
Equations of uniformly accelerated motion
Many motion questions and problems can be
solved using graphical method, but we can also use
equations to calculate values we don't know.
These useful equations help us to calculate
changes of speed, accelerations and distances
moved while accelerating; we can use them only for
objects with uniform acceleration.
THE FOLLOWING SHOWS THE EQUATIONS OF
MOTION.
Sample Calculations
Notice that the equation that is selected must
contain the variable that we want to find. For
example if we are asked to find displacement we
must use an equation with displacement in it.
Describing linear motion with graphs
Linear motion can be described using graphs,we
will focus on two graphs:
1. DISPLACEMENT - TIME GRAPHS
2. VELOCITY - TIME GRAPHS
Displacement -time graphs
Sometimes in most situations the motion of an object is
susceptible to change over time.
L
Sometimes the graph may have a negative gradient.
The terms leftward and negative suggest that the object
is going backwards. Remember that displacement is a
vector quantity. The gradient of the graph
represents the velocity.
Velocity - Time graphs
The motion of a body can be described using velocity
-time graphs. The gradient of a velocity time graph is
its acceleration. The area under a velocity time
graph is the distance travelled by the object. An
example is shown below.
Question d
