Revision Notes – Unit 1.
2 – Motion
Speed: “distance travelled per unit time”
Velocity: “rate of change of displacement”
or
“change in displacement per unit time”
Formula: speed = distance / time
v=s/t
Unit: m/s or km/hr
Average Speed: average speed = total distance travelled ÷ total time taken
Acceleration: “rate of change of velocity”
or
“change in velocity per unit time”
Formula: acceleration = change in velocity / time taken
a = Δv / Δt
(or) a = (v – u) / t
Unit: m / s2
Uniform acceleration: “uniform change in velocity per unit time”
Non-uniform acceleration: “non-uniform change in velocity per unit time.”
Deceleration/Retardation/Negative Acceleration: If the velocity of an object decreases, it is
undergoing deceleration or retardation or negative acceleration
Positive velocity: object moving forward or in positive direction is said to have positive velocity
Negative velocity: object moving backward/reverse or in negative or opposite direction is said to
have negative velocity
Free fall acceleration: acceleration of free fall g for an object near to the surface of the Earth is
approximately constant and is approximately 9.8 m / s2
Reading Distance-Time Graphs:
Gradient of s-t graph gives speed
horizontal line object stationary or at rest
straight line with positive gradient object travelling
with uniform/constant speed
straight line with negative gradient object returning
to initial position
curve object travelling with non-uniform speed
o curve with increasing gradient acceleration
o curve with decreasing gradient
deceleration/retardation
Unit 1.2 - Motion Prepared By: Ms. Urooj Fatima Page 1
Reading Speed-Time Graphs:
Gradient of v-t graph gives acceleration
Area under the graph gives distance traveled
horizontal line at x-axis object stationary or at rest
horizontal line above x-axis uniform/constant speed
straight line with positive gradient uniform/constant
acceleration
straight line with negative gradient uniform/constant
deceleration
curve non-uniform acceleration
o curve with increasing gradient increasing acceleration
o curve with decreasing gradient decreasing acceleration
Increasing acceleration: rate of increase of velocity increases with time
Decreasing acceleration: rate of increase of velocity decrease with time
Free-fall motion – Objects Falling without Air Resistance
Objects falling downward without air resistance are considered to have free fall motion
ALL objects undergoing free fall motion have a constant acceleration of 9.8 m/s2 also known as
acceleration due to gravity ‘g’
Total unbalanced force acting on an object undergoing free fall motion is equal to weight of the object
or force of gravity on the object.
Two objects falling without air resistance will reach the ground at same time irrespective of their
mass, volume shape or size.
Motion of Objects Falling with Air Resistance
When Air Resistance is zero, object falls with constant acceleration of 9.8 m/s2
As the object accelerates down, air resistance increases
If Air Resistance is less than Weight of the object (R < W) it falls with decreasing acceleration (speed
increases but the rate of increase of speed decreases with time)
If Air resistance is equal to the weight of the object (W = R), no unbalanced force acts on the object. At
this time object moves down with uniform velocity also known as Terminal velocity
If air resistance is greater than weight of the object (R > W) it experiences deceleration
Amount of Air Resistance acting on an object depends on:
o Surface Area of object: The grater the surface area the more will be the air resistance
o Speed of object: The greater the speed, the more will be the air resistance
Example of Bodies Falling with Air Resistance – Skydiver/Parachutist
Sky diver/parachutist jumps from the air craft with his parachute closed. In the beginning, air resistance
is almost zero, parachutist undergoes free-fall motion with a = 9.8 m/s2 (R = 0).
As the parachutist accelerates down, his speed
increases, air resistance also increases. As a
result acceleration decreases (R > 0 but < W)
When air resistance balances the weight, first
terminal velocity is reached (R = W)
At this point, parachute is opened which
increases the Air Resistance greatly. As a
result, parachutist starts to slow down (R >W )
As the speed decreases, air resistance also
starts to decreases until it once again balances
the weight. Second Terminal velocity is
reached (R = W)
Unit 1.2 - Motion Prepared By: Ms. Urooj Fatima Page 2
Vertically upwards motion under gravity (without air resistance)
Objects thrown vertically upward have a constant negative acceleration (or deceleration) of
− 9.8 m/s2
When the object is thrown, its speed is maximum
As the object gains height/rises upward, it decelerates (speed decreases) at a constant rate.
When the object reaches maximum height, its speed becomes zero
After this, the object undergoes free fall motion (falls downward with positive acceleration of 9.8 m/s2)
Graph is either
o a straight line graph negative slope with equal section above and below x-axis
o V-shape graph section of negative slope (speed decreasing) then equal section of positive
slope (speed increasing)
Thinking Distance:
Distance covered by a vehicle between the time the driver sees the obstacle and applies brakes
(driver’s reaction time).
Factors: tiredness, drug/alcohol, speed, etc
Braking Distance: Distance covered by a vehicle between the time when brakes are applied and
vehicle stops.
Factors: road conditions, tyre surface, load, speed
Stopping Distance: Stopping distance = Thinking distance + Braking distance
Factor Thinking distance Breaking Distance
Increases reaction time
Tiredness No effect
increases
Increases reaction time
Drug/Alcohol No effect
increases
Increases reaction time
Driver’s age No effect
increases
Road Condition Dry/rough No effect decreases more friction
Road Condition
No effect increases less friction
Wet/Slippery/Ice
tyre surface old/worn-out No effect Increases less friction
tyre surface new No effect decreases more friction
Increases more Increases more
Speed
momentum momentum
Unit 1.2 - Motion Prepared By: Ms. Urooj Fatima Page 3
