2011

Motion

Yu Yun Lim

Analysing Movement
Distance and Displacement Distance: A measure of the length of the path taken by an object. (Scalar, specify magnitude) Displacement: A measure of the change in position of an object. (Vector, specify magnitude and direction) *The area of a velocity-time graph* In the case of movement in a straight line: Speed and Velocity Speed: A measure of the rate at which an object moves over a distance. (Scalar) Velocity: A measure of the time rate of displacement, or the time rate of change in a position. (Vector) *The area of a acceleration-time graph* More on speed Unit:

Converting Units of Speed Instantaneous Speed and Velocity Instantaneous Speed: The speed at a particular instant of time. Instantaneous Velocity: The velocity at a particular instant of time. To find the instantaneous speed/ velocity at one time On a graph, find the gradient. o Acceleration Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity. (Vector)

2011

Motion

Yu Yun Lim

Constant Acceleration Without Graphs Formulae for straight line motion: o ( ) o o o o Where: o Initial Velocity; o Final Velocity; o Acceleration; o Time Interval; o Displacement; ( )

Forces in Action
Describing a Force Force: A push or pull (Vector) Centre of Mass: The point at which all of its mass can be considered to be. Weight: The force applied to an object due to gravitational attraction. Gravitational Field Strength (g): The force of gravity on a unit of mass. Therefore Unit: Magnitude of g (gravity) decreases as altitude increases. Also decreases when moving from the poles to the equator. The average value of , but sometimes, Friction

is used.

Friction: The force applied to the surface of an object when it is pushed or pulled against the surface of another object. Friction can provide a driving force but also drag the object.

The Net Force Net Force: The vector sum of the forces acting on an object. Normal Reaction: A force that acts perpendicularly to a surface as a result of an object applying a force to the surface. The normal reaction is an upward force, when you are sitting on the floor, that stops you from falling through the floor due to gravity.

2011

Motion

Yu Yun Lim

Forces In and Out of Balance When the net force on a stationary object is zero, the object remains at rest. Newtons Laws of Motion #1. Every object continues in its state of rest or uniform motion unless made to change by a non-zero net force. (The Law of Inertia) #2. Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass of the object, the greater the amount of force is needed to accelerate. #3. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Newtons First Law Inertia: the tendency of an object to resist a change in its motion. Inertia is not a force, it is a word that describes motion. Newtons Second Law It can be shown experimentally that the acceleration, , of an object is proportional to the net force, , applied to it and inversely proportional to its mass, . This creates the equation: o This equation allows one to: o Determine the net force acting on an object without knowing any of the individual forces acting on it. The net force can be deduced as long as you can measure or calculate (using formulas or graphs) the acceleration of a known mass. o Determine the mass of an object. You can do this by measuring the acceleration of an object on which a known net force is exerted. o Predict the effect of a net force on the motion of an object of known mass. Newtons Third Law Forces always act in pairs. Whenever an object applies a force (an action) to a second object, the second object applies an equal and opposite force (a reaction) to the first object. o

2011

Motion

Yu Yun Lim

Momentum and Impulse Momentum: The product of the mass of an object and its velocity. (Vector) Impulse: (of a force) The product of the force and the time interval over which it acts. (Vector) Momentum The difficulty of stopping a moving object or moving a stationary object depends on the objects mass and the speed of the object or what speed you want the object to have. The momentum, , of an object of mass, , with a velocity, , is defined as: o Unit: