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Top Physics Tuition

Having difficulties understanding Topics such as Kinematics, Superposition
& Electromagnetic Induction? Using simple, straightforward explanations
with clearly explained relevant questions, students who have attended my
Physics Program have a crystal clear understanding of these topics and
went on to score well for these topics.

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Mr Tan, B.Eng (Hons), PGDE (NIE/ Higher Level Physics)

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Convenient Location/ Kovan ( Less than 2 Minute Walk from Kovan MRT)
Kinematics
1. Displacement, velocity and acceleration
Displacement distance moved in a specified direction from a fixed point.
Velocity rate of change of displacement.
Acceleration rate of change of velocity.
When acceleration and velocity are in the same direction, object is speeding up. When
acceleration and velocity are in opposite directions, object is slowing down.
2. Graphs
y-value
Gradient
Area under Graph

displacement-time
Displacement
Velocity
NA

velocity-time
Velocity
Acceleration
Displacement

acceleration-time
Acceleration
NA
Velocity

3. Equations of motion for uniformly accelerated motion in a straight line (must derive)
From a = slope of v-t graph = (v u)/t
v = u + at
- (i)
From (i), t = (v u)/a

- (ii)

Displacement, s = Area under v-t graph

s = (u + v) t - (iii)
Substitute (ii) into (iii):
s = (v + u) (v u)/a = (v2 u2)/2a
v2 = u2 + 2as - (iv)

v
s

Substitute (i) into (iii):

s = [u + (u + at)]t
s = ut + at2
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vu

u
t
2

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4. Motion under Gravity without Air Resistance

Without air resistance, only force acting on object is its own weight.
Consider an object thrown vertically upward,
Resultant Force on object = mg
mg
Upward
Motion

ma = mg

mg

a=g

Downward
Motion

mg

mg

mg

a = 9.81 m s-1
Since the acceleration is of constant magnitude and always
directed downward (whether the object is moving up or
down), the 4 equations of motion can be used.

5. Motion under Gravity with Air Resistance

In reality, an object moving through a fluid (e.g. gas, liquid, molten substances etc)
experiences a resistive force in opposition to its motion as fluids exhibit a certain resistance to
motion.
This resistive force also known as the drag force depends on the velocity of the body. For low
speeds, the drag force is proportional to velocity ( F v ), but for high speeds the drag force is
proportional to the square or the cube of the velocity ( F v ).
D

Consider a body that is dropped from rest in air. Its initial velocity is zero, hence the drag force
FD is also zero. The body falls with an acceleration a = g.
As the body moves downwards, FD v. If mg is larger than FD,
then there is a resultant downward force and hence a downward
acceleration.
FD=kv

ma = mg - FD
a = (mg FD) / m

v
Speed of
body
increases
until
terminal
vel. is
reached

The velocity of the falling body eventually reaches a maximum and

uniform velocity called the terminal velocity, vT.
Weight of
Object=mg
FD = kvT

This occurs when FD = mg.

Hence resultant force on the body is zero, hence acceleration of
the body is zero.
ma = mg - FD

vT

since mg = FD,
a=0

mg

This is the case of motion with non-uniform acceleration. The

acceleration starts with value g, but decreases to zero at the
time when terminal velocity is achieved.

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Consider a stone thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity, u. Sketch the s-t, v-t &
a-t graphs for the motion with and without air resistance.
Taking upwards as positive,
v/ms

Without air resistance

-1

With air resistance

Positive

t/s

t*

Terminal Velocity, vT

a / m s-2

t/s

t*

- 9.81
At t*, terminal
velocity is reached.
s/m

t/s

t*

tupward tdownward
Terminal Velocity,
Constant gradient

6.

Projectile motion

The path traveled will be a parabolic curve.

To analyze a projectile motion, the motion is resolved into horizontal motion and vertical
motion.
The vertical and horizontal components are independent of each other. Thus, the equations
of motion are applied to the vertical and horizontal motions separately.

u
uy

Vertical Motion

Horizontal Direction

(Constant Acc.)

(Constant Velocity)

vy = uy + gt

vx = ux

s= ( u v )( t )

ux

sy = uyt + gt 2

sx = uxt

vy 2 = uy 2 + 2gsy
Note: Subscript x denotes horizontal component and Subscript y denotes vertical component.
The displacement and velocity at an instant is the vector sum of their components.
2

v= v x v y

Direction of the projectile motion at an instant can be given by

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tan

vy

v
x

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