MOTION

Refers to change in position.

Distance is the length of path moved by an object. Distance is a scalar quantity.

Displacement is the distance in a stated direction. Units for both distance and displacement is
metres (m)

Speed is defined as distance/time or as the distance per unit time or distance travelled over
the time taken. Speed is measured in metres per second (m/s), and is a scalar quantity.
A body moving with constant speed has a constant rate of change of distance.

Velocity is defined as displacement per unit time or as the rate of change of displacement.
Both displacement and velocity are vector quantities, because they have both magnitude
and direction.
Velocity is also measured in metres/second, but direction should also be given when stating
velocities.
A body traveling with uniform velocity has a constant rate of change of displacement.
This means, it is moving with a uniform speed in a straight line.

Acceleration is defined as change in velocity per unit time or rate of change of velocity.
Acceleration is a vector quantity and has units of metres per second per second (m/s2).

Uniform acceleration is defined as a constant rate of change of velocity.

Acceleration due to gravity is the acceleration of a freely falling body. It does not depend
on the mass of the object. It has a value of 9.8 m/s2. In most calculations it is approximated to
10 m/s2 or 10 N/kg. This value varies from place to place.

THE EQUATIONS OF MOTION

For bodies traveling with uniform speed, v = s/t, where v is the speed, s is the distance
traveled and t is the time taken.
For bodies traveling with uniform velocity, v = s/t, where v is the velocity, s is the
displacement traveled and t is the time taken.
For bodies moving with uniform acceleration:

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(i) v = u + at (iii) s=ut+ at ²
2

(ii) s=¿)t (iv) v2 = u2 + 2as

Where; u is the initial velocity

v is the final velocity
a is the acceleration
t is the time taken
S is the displacement

The four equations apply to a bodies moving in a straight line.

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Examples on applications of equations of motion

1. A car reaches a velocity of 20 ms-1 in 10 s after starting from rest.

Determine:
(a) its acceleration; and
(b) the distance traveled.
Answer
(a) u = 0 ms-1, v = 20 ms-1, t = 10 s, a = ? (b) s = ?
Using Equation 1: v = u + at Using Equation 2: s=¿)t
v−u
a= s=¿)t
t

20 m/s−0 m/s
¿ ¿ ¿) 10s
10 s

= 2m/s2 = 100m

Note: Do not use Equation 3 because a has to be found.

2. A body moves a distance of 90 m from rest with an acceleration of 5 ms-2.

Calculate the following:
(a) final velocity; and
(b) time taken to attain this velocity.
Answer
(a) s = 90 m, a = 5 ms-2, u = 0 m/s, v = ? (b) t = ?
1
Using Equation 4: v2 = u2 + 2as Using Equation 3: s=ut+ 2 at ²

1
v2 = u2 + 2as s=ut+ at ²
2
1
v2 = (0 ms-1)2 + 2(5 ms-2)90 m 90 m=(0 m/s )t + (5 m/s ²)t ²
2
v2 = 900 m2s-2 (90 m) = (2.5 ms-2) t2
v = ± 30 ms-1 t ² = 36 s ²
t =±6s
v = 30 ms-1 t =6s

MOTION GRAPHS

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1. DISTANCE – TIME GRAPHS

(a) CONSTANT(UNIFORM) SPEED

On a distance – time graph the gradient is numerically equivalent to the speed. Ie

∆s
G=v=
∆t

Where v = speed (m/s)

∆ s = change in distance ie s2 – s1
∆ t = change in time ie t2-t1

s 2−s 1
Therefore G=v=
t 2−t 1

12−2
In the given example: G = v = = 10/5 = 2m/s
6−1

(b) AT REST

The object has stopped so the graph remains at the same level.

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(c) NON CONSTANT(UNIFORM) SPEED
(i) INCREASING SPEED

To determine speed at a point (instantaneous speed) draw a tangent to that point and calculate its
gradient.

(II) DECREASING SPEED

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2. SPEED- TIME GRAPHS

(a) CONSTANT (UNIFORM) ACCELERATION

On a speed – time graph the gradient is numerically equivalent to the acceleration. I.e.

∆v
G=a= ∆t

Where a = acceleration (m/s2)

∆ v = change in speed ie s2 – s1
∆ t = change in time ie t2-t1

v 2−v 1
Therefore G= a= t 2−t 1

12−2
In the given example: G=a= 6−1
= 10/5 = 2m/s2

(b) CONSTANT SPEED

The speed is not changing so the graph remains at the same level

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 (c) AT REST

The object is not moving so the graph remains on the time axis

(d) NON CONSTANT ACCELERATION

(I) INCREASING ACCELERATION

To determine acceleration at a point (instantaneous) acceleration, draw a tangent to that point and
calculate its gradient.

(ii) DECREASING ACCELERATION

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 (e) CONSTANT DECELERATION

v 2−v 1
G=a= t 2−t 1

40−0
In the given example: G=a= 0−10 = 40/-10= -4m/s2
The value of the acceleration is negative and this shows that the object is decelerating.

NOTE: On a Speed – Time graph the area under the graph is numerically equivalent to the distance
travelled.

Example 1: The following graph shows motion of a car

Calculate the distance travelled by the car in the first 4s.

1
S= bh
2

1
= 2 ⨯ 4 s ⨯ 20 m/ s

= 40m

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These graphs can be used to solve problems where bodies are moving in straight lines.
From a Distance - Time graph, the speed can be found by determining the slope (gradient)
of the graph. A graph below illustrates the method.

The speed of the body = slope of AB = (10 m - 0 m)/ (4 s - 0 s) = 10 m/4 s = 2.5 m/s.

From a Velocity - Time graph, the acceleration can be found by determining the slope
(gradient) of the graph,
And the distance travelled found by calculating the area under the graph. The area under
acceleration-time graph is Velocity

The figure below shows the Velocity - Time graph of a body that starts from rest, reaches a
velocity of 30 m/s after 10 seconds, then travels at this velocity for a further 10 seconds,
and then is brought to a rest in a further 5 seconds.

The acceleration of the body in the first 10 s = slope of AB = (30 m/s - 0 m/s)/ (10 s - 0 s) =
3 m/s2.
The distance traveled during the whole of the motion = the area of the shaded part ABCD =
Area of triangle ABP + Area of rectangle BPQC + Area of triangle CQD.
Area of triangle ABP = 1 x AP x BP = 1 x 10 s x 30 m/s = 150 m.
2 2
Area of rectangle BPQC = BC x BP = 10 s x 30 m/s = 300 m.
Area of triangle CQD = 1 x QD x CQ = 1 x 5 s x 30 m/s = 75 m.
2 2
The total area of ABCD = 150 m + 300 m + 75 m = 525 m.
The total distance traveled = 525 m.

The acceleration of the body in the last 5 second

= slope of CD = (0 m/s -30 m/s)/ (25 s - 20 s) = (- 30 m/s) /5 s = -6 m/s2.

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This slope has a negative value. It is the deceleration of the body. A deceleration is a
negative acceleration.
MOTION UNDER GRAVITY

An object moving towards the Earth or away from it in a vertical direction experiences a
force of gravity.
Every object in this motion experiences a uniform acceleration, called acceleration due to
gravity, g.

Definition: Acceleration a body experiences due to the force of gravity acting on it.

g = 9.8 ms-2 = 9.8 Nkg-1 (for calculations we use 10 m/s2 or 10N/kg or 10 Nkg-1).

The equations of motion which can be used to calculate variables in the motion are:

(a) Downward Motion (b) Upward Motion

v = u + gt v = u – gt

h=¿)t h=¿)t

1 1
s=ut+ at ² s=ut − at ²
2 2

v2 = u2 + 2gh v2 = u2 – 2gh

N.B: a in the equations of linear motion is substituted by g, s by h and direction of g is

always towards the Earth.

Examples
1. A stone at rest falls from the top of a tall tower.

Calculate
(a) Its velocity after 2 s; and
(b) The distance it falls after that time.

Answer
(a) u = 0 ms-1, g = 10 ms-2, t = 2 s, v = ? (b) s = ?
1
Using, v = u + gt Using: s=ut+ at ²
2

v = 0 ms-1+ (10 ms-2) (2 s) s = 0 ms-1(2 s) + 1 (10 ms-2)(2 s)2

2
= 20 ms-1 = 20 m

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2. A mass is projected vertically upwards with a velocity of 10 ms-1.

(a) What is the maximum height it reaches?

(b) What time does it take to reach the maximum height?
(c) Determine the time it takes for it to return to the ground.
(d) At what velocity does it hit the ground?

Answer

(a) u = 10 ms-1, v = 0 ms-1, g = 10 ms-2, s = h = ? (b) t = ?

Using v2 = u2 – 2gs Using v = u – gt
2 -1 2 -2
0 = (10 ms ) – 2(10 ms ) h 0 ms = 10 ms-1- (10 ms-2) t
-1

2(10 ms-2) h = (10 ms-1)2 (10 ms-2) t = 10 ms-1

h=5m t = 1 s (c)
t = 1 s (time to move up = time to move down). The motion is symmetrical.

(d) u = 0 ms-1, t = 1 s, g = 10 ms-2, v = ?

Using v = u + gt
= 0 ms-1 + (10 ms-2) (1 s)
= 10 ms-1

See below the graphs of motion of the object;

Free Fall in Air

Free falling involves an object motion under the influence of only acceleration due to gravity,
g.
A free fall in a vacuum is unique because irrespective of the mass, size and shape, the
objects will move through a same distance (height) at the same time; e.g. a feather and
stone.

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(a) If air resistance is neglected, the velocity of the falling increases uniformly until it hits
the ground. It will have a constant acceleration.

Graph of motion

(b) If air resistance is taken into account, the velocity increases as well as the air resistance.

The effect of air resistance in the motion is summarized below:

(i) It reduces acceleration of the falling object.

(ii) At a certain stage of fall, air resistance acting upwards will equal the weight of the
object acting downwards.

(iii) The resultant force (total force) on the object will become zero.

(iv) This will make the object fall with a constant velocity. This velocity is called
terminal velocity, vo.

The above effects are also observed in liquids but where we have air resistance, we should
replaced it with viscous drag.

Terminal velocity is defined as a velocity of a free falling object in a fluid (air or liquid)
when its weight balances the fluid resistance.

Graph of motion

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 (v) The value of vo depends on size, shape and weight.

(a) Small dense objects e.g. steel ball bearing/stone.

- Have high vo because they fall through a long distance at 10 ms-2 before
Fliquid = W.

(b) A parachute with large surface area.

- Has low vo because it falls through a short distance at 10 ms-2 before Fair = W.

An example to think about

1. The diagram below shows two forces acting on a raindrop, which is falling to the
ground.

(a) Name the forces A and B.

(b) State the cause of each of the forces named above.
(c) State and explain what happens to the raindrop when A = B.
(d) At what velocity does the raindrop hit the ground?

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