ADVANCED PHYSICS

Key Concepts - Motion

1. Motion – a change in position with respect to a reference point.

An object moves when it travels toward or away from a reference point.

2. Distance – a scalar quantity; symbol d

- the total length of space traveled;
- has magnitude but no direction

3. Displacement – a vector quantity; symbol d or 𝑑⃗

- distance traveled in a particular direction

4. Speed – a scalar quantity; symbol v

- describes how fast an object moves;
- the rate at which distance is covered;
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑑
- measured in terms of distance and time; 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 or 𝑣 = 𝑡 ;
- common units are kilometers per hour (km/h) and meters per second (m/s)

5. Velocity – a vector quantity; symbol v or 𝑣⃗

- describes how fast and in what direction an object moves;
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑑⃗
- measured in terms of displacement and time; 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = or 𝑣⃗ = 𝑡
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
- A car that rounds a curve may have a constant speed but it cannot have a constant velocity
because its direction changes as it moves.

6. Uniform speed – (or constant speed) a body moves with a constant speed in a straight line if it travels
equal distances in equal intervals of time
Example:
Table 3-1. Uniform Speed in a Straight Line
Distance (m) 4 8 12 16 20 24
Time (s) 1 2 3 4 5 6

7. Instantaneous speed – the speed at any particular instant;

- the speed indicated by the speedometer of a car

8. Average speed – the total distance traveled divided by the total time elapsed;
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑑
- 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑝𝑠𝑒𝑑
- the speed of an object may increase or decrease as it moves so average speed is computed

9. Acceleration – the rate of change of velocity;

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 ⃗⃗
Δ𝑣 𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖
- 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = or 𝑎⃗ = or 𝑎⃗ =
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 Δ𝑡 𝑡𝑓 − 𝑡𝑖
- applies to both an increase or decrease in velocity (accelerating – the speed increases;
decelerating – the speed decreases)
- A moving object undergoes acceleration when its velocity changes. We can change the
velocity of an object by changing its speed or direction, or by changing both its speed and
direction.
- The unit of acceleration is m/s2.

10. Uniform Acceleration – (or uniformly accelerated motion) a body moves with a uniform acceleration
in a straight line if it travels equal intervals of velocity in equal intervals of time
Example:
Table 3-2. Uniform Acceleration in a Straight Line
Distance (m) 4 8 12 16 20
Time (s) 1 2 3 4 5
 ADVANCED PHYSICS

Exercises: Solve the following problems. Follow the format in problem-solving. Do not forget the units.
Given:
Find:
Equation:
Solution:
Final Answer:

1. On your way to school from home, you traveled 250 m E, then you turned 250 m N. You walked again
150 m E, 100 m S, 150 m E, and finally turned north for 550 m. Find the total distance you traveled.

2. What is the average speed of a person running 60 m in 4 s?

3. If a car moves with an average speed of 50 km/h, how far would it travel in 5 h?

4. A particular car can go from rest to 25 m/s in 10 s. What is its acceleration?

ADVANCED PHYSICS

Exercises: Solve the following problems. Follow the format in problem-solving. Do not forget the units.
Given:
Find:
Equation:
Solution:
Final Answer:

1. On your way to school from home, you traveled 250 m E, then you turned 250 m N. You walked again
150 m E, 100 m S, 150 m E, and finally turned north for 550 m. Find the total distance you traveled.

2. What is the average speed of a person running 60 m in 4 s?

3. If a car moves with an average speed of 50 km/h, how far would it travel in 5 h?

4. A particular car can go from rest to 25 m/s in 10 s. What is its acceleration?

ADVANCED PHYSICS

Exercises: Solve the following problems. Follow the format in problem-solving. Do not forget the units.
Given:
Find:
Equation:
Solution:
Final Answer:

1. On your way to school from home, you traveled 250 m E, then you turned 250 m N. You walked again
150 m E, 100 m S, 150 m E, and finally turned north for 550 m. Find the total distance you traveled.

2. What is the average speed of a person running 60 m in 4 s?

3. If a car moves with an average speed of 50 km/h, how far would it travel in 5 h?

4. A particular car can go from rest to 25 m/s in 10 s. What is its acceleration?