Chapter 2 Notes

Objectives:
-State what is meant by speed and velocity.
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-Calculate average speed using $"-( $%.(&
.
-State what is meant by uniform acceleration and calculate the value of an acceleration using
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-Interpret given example of non-uniform acceleration.
-Plot and interpret a displacement-time graph and a velocity-time graph.
-Deduce from the shape of a displacement-time graph when a body is:
-at rest
-moving with uniform velocity
-moving with non-uniform velocity
-Deduce from the shape of a velocity-time graph when a body is:
-at rest
-moving with uniform velocity
-moving with uniform acceleration
-moving with non-uniform acceleration
-Calculate the area under a velocity-time graph to determine the displacement travelled for motion with
uniform velocity or uniform acceleration.
-State that the acceleration of free-fall for a body near to the Earth is constant and is approximately 10 m/s2.
-Describe the motion of bodies with constant weight falling with or without air resistance, including reference
to terminal velocity.
2.1 Distance and Displacement
Scalars and Vectors
Scalar quantities are physical quantities that have magnitude only.
Vector quantities are physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction.
Distance Displacement
Total length covered by moving Straight-line distance covered by
object, along the path taken. moving object, regardless of path taken.
Direction of motion does not
Direction needs to be specified.
matter.
SI Unit: metre (m) SI Unit: metre (m)
Scalar quantity Vector quantity
2.2 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration
Speed
Speed is the distance moved per unit time
-When an object is travelling at the same, unchanging speed, we say that the object has a constant/uniform
speed. Average speed = total distance travelled / total time taken
-Scalar quantity D
-SI Unit: metre per second (m s-1) S T
Velocity
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement.
-Velocity has both magnitude and direction.
-Velocity measures speed in a specific direction. Average velocity = total displacement / total time taken
-Constant speed in same direction = constant velocity
-Constant speed in different direction = velocity changed
-Vector quantity
-SI Unit: metre per second (m s-1) Speed Velocity
Distance travelled per unit time Rate of change of
D OR rate of change of distance displacement
SI Unit: metre per
SI Unit: metre per seconds (m s-1)
V T seconds (m s-1)
Scalar Quantity Vector quantity
Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
-An object undergoes acceleration when its speed and/or direction changes. ∆V
-Vector quantity A T
-SI Unit: metre per second per second (m s-2)
Uniform acceleration Acceleration = change in velocity / time taken
-An object undergoes uniform acceleration when the change in its velocity for every unit of time is the same.
Uniform acceleration is a constant rate of change of velocity.
a = ∆v / ∆t = v-u / tv-tu
where u = initial velocity (in m s-1);
v = final velocity (in m s-1);
tu = time at which an object is at initial velocity u (in s);
tv = time at which an object is at final velocity v (in s);
∆v = change in velocity (in m s-1);
∆t = time interval between tu and tv (in s).
Non-uniform acceleration
-An object undergoes non-uniform acceleration if the change in its velocity for every unit of time is not the
same.
Ticker tape diagrams
-The object’s change in position during that time interval is represented by the distance between dots on a
ticker tape.
-A larger distance between dots indicates that the object was moving fast during that interval.
-A small distance between dots indicates that the object was moving slow during that interval.
-Changing distance indicates an acceleration (or deceleration).
-No change in distance indicates no acceleration (or deceleration).
2.3 Graphs of Motion
Gradient = y2-y1 / x2-x1
Displacement-time graphs (Distance-time graphs)
The gradient of a displacement-time graph of an object gives the velocity of the object.
-Straight-line graphs indicate no change in velocity (no acceleration).
-A horizontal line indicates object at rest. (Zero gradient. Workings must still be shown).
-A curved graph indicates an increase or decrease in velocity (acceleration or deceleration).
Velocity-time graphs (Speed-time graphs)
The gradient of a velocity-time graph of an object gives the acceleration of the object.
-A horizontal line at 0 m s-1 indicates object at rest.
-A horizontal line indicates object moving at uniform velocity (no acceleration).
-A non-horizontal straight-line graph indicates object moving at uniform acceleration or deceleration.
-A curved graph indicates an acceleration or deceleration.
The area under the velocity-time graph gives the displacement of the object.
2.4 Acceleration due to Gravity
Acceleration of Free Fall (g)
A free-falling object is an object which is falling under the sole influence of gravity
Free-falling objects do not encounter air resistance
All free-falling objects on Earth accelerate at a rate of approximately 10 m s-2
Explanation for questions
In the absence of air resistance, both the and the are in a state of free-fall. The only force
acting upon the two objects is the force of gravity (weight). This force of gravity is what causes both the and
the to accelerate downwards. When the only force is gravity, the acceleration is the same value for all objects.
Objects falling without air resistance
-Free-fall happens only in vacuum (no air resistance).
-The only force acting on a free-falling object is its weight.
-The direction of force and motion if downward (towards the centre of the Earth).
-Objects falling without air resistance experience a constant increase in velocity under Earth’s gravity.
àAcceleration due to gravity, g, is a constant.
àThe velocity-time graph has a constant gradient.
-Acceleration is not dependent on the mass or size of an object.
Objects falling with air resistance
Air resistance increases with
is a frictional force speed of the object
is due to the object moving through the atmosphere surface area (or size) of the object
always opposes the motion of the moving object density of air
Terminal Velocity
-When an object falls in a uniform gravitational field, it accelerates until air resistance is equal to the
weight of the object.
-It then continues to fall at a constant velocity, known as the terminal velocity.
-The terminal velocity is the final velocity of the object.
-The object will continue to fall to the ground with this terminal velocity.