Chapter 06 Linear Motion

6
Before heading into space, astronauts

Chapter
Linear motion
used aeroplanes to achieve the effect of
weightlessness on the Earth. How does the
plane produce the weightless effect?
Chapter6: Motions
Galileo pioneered a new way of conducting experiments. This method
is now known as the scientific method.
The scientific method consists of a few main steps:

• First, a question is asked (arises from observations).
• Then, a tentative answer to the question is formulated
hypothesis.
• After which, experiments are conducted to test the hypothesis.
The hypothesis becomes a law or a principle if

repeated tests do not contradict it.
A hypothesis is rejected if it is found to be false
even once.
Chapter6: Motions
Chapter6: Motions
Distance and Displacement
Distance is a scalar quantity. Displacement is a vector quantity.
The distance between two points The magnitude of the displacement
X and Y refers to the total length between point X and Y is the shortest
travelled by the object in moving length between X and Y. The direction
from point X to Y. of the displacement vector is the
direction between X and Y.
It depends on the path taken.
Displacement measures the overall
change in the position of an object.
Chapter6: Motions
Speed and Velocity
Speed is defined as the Velocity is defined as rate of

distance moved per unit change of displacement. It is
time. Units: m/s a vector quantity. Units: m/s
Speed describes how fast

an object moves. It is Velocity describes how fast
defined by magnitude an object moves and in
only. which direction.
A bus that travels with a uniform speed of 50 km/h has constant

speed.
However, if its direction of motion changes with time. Its velocity
is not uniform. It changes.
Chapter6: Motions
Average Speed
Total distance travelled (s)

Average Speed =
Total time taken to travel (t)
The SI unit for speed is metre per second (ms–1).
Chapter6: Motions
Instantaneous Speed
Instantaneous speed is the speed of a body at a particular
moment in time.
The instantaneous speed at 7 s and 10 s are 4 m s-1 and

2 m s-1 respectively
Chapter6: Motions
Acceleration
Acceleration, a,
• is a vector
• is defined as the rate of change of velocity, v
Hence,
Final velocity – initial velocity

Acceleration =
Time interval
a = (v – u)  t
Chapter6: Motions
Displacement-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs
contains information about the
contains information about the
displacement, velocity and acceleration
displacement and velocity of a
of a body at various moments in time
body at various moments in time.
Displacement-time graph
Displacement
By reading off the graph, the
displacement of the body between
O and B is 5 m.
Velocity
The velocity is given by the gradient of the graph. Between 1 s and 3 s,
the velocity = gradient = 4.0 – 0.8 = 1.6 ms-1
3–1
Chapter6: Motions
Velocity-time graph
Displacement
The displacement of a body is given
by the area under the velocity-time
graph.
Displacement between A and B
= 1.5 × (4 − 1) = 4.5 m.
Displacement between C and D
Velocity = −2.5 × (12 − 10)= −5 m.
The velocity of the body at
time 2 s and 11 s are The negative sign
1.5 m s−1 and −2.5 m s−1 indicates that the
body is travelling in
respectively.
a direction towards
point O.
Acceleration
The acceleration is given by the gradient of the velocity-time graph.
Between O and A, the acceleration = gradient = 1.5/1 = 1.5 m s–2
Chapter6: Motions
Motion of a falling object
The diagram on the right shows a stroboscopic view (view at equal time
intervals) of an object dropped from a height. It shows that the distance
travelled increases with time.
This indicates that the falling body is accelerating.
• Although Galileo was unable to make direct measurements of the speed

for each time interval at that time (the 16th century), he was able to use
mathematics to prove that the acceleration of a falling object is uniform.
• However, the statement is not true for objects with a large surface area.
This is because the air resistance experienced by such objects cannot be
neglected.
Chapter6: Motions

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6

Before heading into space, astronauts

The scientific method consists of a few main steps:

The hypothesis becomes a law or a principle if

Speed is defined as the Velocity is defined as rate of

Speed describes how fast

A bus that travels with a uniform speed of 50 km/h has constant

Total distance travelled (s)

The SI unit for speed is metre per second (ms–1).

The instantaneous speed at 7 s and 10 s are 4 m s-1 and

Final velocity – initial velocity

This indicates that the falling body is accelerating.

• Although Galileo was unable to make direct measurements of the speed

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