BTEC First Diploma in Applied Science

Unit 1 Scientific Principles

Assignment Brief 3: Linear Motion

Scenario
Now that you know what materials are best for making things and how to choose
them, you are going think about what you might need to take into account as a car
designer.  
One of the key issues is safety.  What happens to a car when it is travelling in a straight
line?  What forces are acting upon the car and in what directions?  What happens if the
car hits something?

Unit content covered

Linear motion: speed; velocity; linear acceleration
Forces and momentum: change of speed and/or direction F=ma; forces come in pairs
that are equal in size, act in opposite directions and act on different bodies; relationship
between force and rate of change of momentum.

Task 1
 Sketch a diagram of a car and label it with the forces that would be on it if it is
moving at a constant speed.
 Complete the forces pair’s worksheet.
 From the diagrams given, decide which of the ‘vehicles’ are moving at a constant
speed, which are accelerating and which are decelerating.
 Find out what the words speed and velocity mean and how they are different.
P3

Task 2
 Plan and carry out an investigation to find out how the speed of a vehicle moving
in a straight line changes with the slope of the ramp it is moving down.
 Complete the worksheet on F=ma with little assistance from the teacher.
 Carry out the magical marble momentum practical.
 Using the results of the magical marbles momentum practical produce a poster to
explain momentum.
    M3

Task 3
 Complete the worksheet on F=ma with independently.
 Complete a full write up of your investigation into the speed of a vehicle, to
include clear results tables with average times, calculations of average speed for
each slope height (or angle) and a suitable graph of the results.  You should
include an evaluation of your work.
D3

Grading criteria covered:

P3: distinguish between speed, velocity and acceleration

M3: investigate motion in a straight line
D3:     use different mathematical methods to analyse the effects of forces on objects