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Substitution in formulae:
Substitution means replacing the letters in a formula with the given values.
Examples:
In the following examples we will use 3 formulae:
Area of rectangle = l w
Area of circle = r 2
4 3
r
Volume of sphere =
3
Replace l
( = 3.14,
radius)
r=
with 7 and
l h
Area =
h
with 5:
Area = 7 x 5
Area = 35cm2.
Tidy up:
Area =
r
with 4:
(this means r r ).
Area = 3.14 x 4 x 4
Area = 50.24cm2.
Tidy up:
length, h= height)
Find the area of a rectangle with length 7cm and width 5cm.
Choose correct formula:
( l=
Volume =
4 3
r
3
(this means
4
r r r
3
).
Replace
Tidy up:
with 3:
Volume =
4
3
x 3.14 x 3 x 3 x 3
Volume = 113.04cm2.
Rearranging formulae:
Rearranging (sometimes called transposing) a formula involves reversing or undoing the
formula in order to change the subject. You follow the same rules as for solving equations
with one unknown.
This is the order for rearranging (reversing):
Brackets
Add or subtract
Multiply or divide
Indices (powers)
Notice that apart from always doing brackets 1st this is BIDMAS in reverse.
Examples:
Make
y=x3 .
Notice that 3+ 3
has disappeared.
y=x3
Original formula ( y is the subject):
y +3=x
Add 3 to each side to leave x on its own:
x= y +3
We can rewrite the formula with x on the left:
v =u+at .
v =u+at
v u=at
vu
=a
Divide each side by t to leave a on its own:
t
a=
vu
t
E.g.
Example:
Make
Original formula ( A
2
A= r
A= r 2 .
is the subject):
A 2
=r
A
=r
r=
1
s= ( u+ v ) t
2
1
s=ut + a t 2
2
v 2=u 2+ 2as
When solving a question using the equations of motion its a good idea to start by writing
down:
s=
u=
v=
t=
a=
Then fill in everything you know from the question (and what you are trying to find). This
should help you to decide which equation to use.
Examples:
Find the distance travelled after 10 seconds if the initial velocity was 0 and the
acceleration is 9.8.
Think about what the question has given us:
s=?
u=0
v = not needed
t = 10
a = 9.8
We need to look for the formula that includes s, u, t & a.
1 2
ut+ a t
2
1
2
s = ( 0 ) (10)+ ( 9.8) 10
2
Tidy up:
s = 0 + 490
Distance
= 490m
A runner in a 200m race crosses the finishing line travelling at 12 m/s. What was
their acceleration?
Think about what the question has given us:
s = 200
u=0
v = 12
t = not given
a=?
We need to look for the formula that includes s, u, v & a.
2
v =u + 2as
12 =0 +2 a(200)
Tidy up:
144=400 a
Rearrange to find
a :
a=
144
400
Acceleration = 0.36m/s2
A racing car starts from rest and accelerates at 13.8m/s 2. The car continues to
accelerate until it reaches a velocity of 78m/s. How long did the car travel before
reaching this velocity?
Think about what the question has given us:
s = not given
u=0
v = 78
t=?
a = 13.8
We need to look for the formula that includes u, v, t & a.
Choose correct formula:
v =u+at
78=0+13.8 t
Tidy up:
78=13.8 t
Rearrange to find
t :
t=
78
13.8