Chapter - 10 (Class-6)

Motion And Measurement Of Distance

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** Stationary Objects
Objects which remain fixed at a place e.g. tree, house, school, factory, telephone pole,
electric pole are called stationary objects.

** Motion
Motion refers to the process of an object changing its position in relation to its
surroundings over time. It is the movement of an object from one place to another.
Types of Motion

1. Rectilinear motion,
2. Circular motion,
3. Periodic motion and
4. Rotational motion.

** Rectilinear Motion
When an object moves along a straight line, it is said to be undergoing rectilinear
motion. For Example, A train moving along a railway track.
(1) When a bullet is fired from a gun, the bullet moves in a straight line path. So, the
movement of a bullet fired from a gun is an example of Rectilinear motion.

(2) The motion of a cyclist running on a straight road is Rectilinear motion.

(3) The march past of soldiers in a parade is Rectilinear motion and

(4) The motion of a sprinter (short distance runner) running on a straight track is also
called Rectilinear motion.

(5) Motion of a vehicle on straight road, motion of a striker on the carrom board,
motion of train on a straight track, motion of a falling stone, movement of the drawer of
a table, Motion of a boy sliding down a slope .
Rectilinear motion takes place in fixed direction.

** Circular Motion
When an object moves along a circular path, it is called circular motion.

(1) The moon moves around the earth in a circular path, the movement of moon around
the earth is an example of circular motion.

(2) The movement of artificial satellites around the earth is also circular motion.
(3) The movement of earth around the Sun is also an example of circular motion.

(4) Movement of all the planets around the Sun is circular motion.

(5) The movement of tip of the hand of a watch on the dial.

(6) A ceiling fan remains at one place but its blades rotate in circular motion.

(7) The round and round movement of a child sitting on a merry go round (or a giant
wheel) is also circular motion.

(8) An athlete running on a circular track inside a stadium.

(9) A bull tied to rope an moving around a fixed pole is also an example of circular
motion.

** Periodic Motion
When an object repeats its motion after a fixed interval of time it is said to be
undergoing periodic motion. For Example, Pendulum

(1) The motion of seconds’ hand of a watch is repeated after regular intervals of time,
the motion of seconds’ hand of a watch is an example of periodic motion.

(2) The revolution of earth around the sun is periodic motion because the earth always
takes the same amount of time to complete one round around the sun.

(3) The rotation of earth on its axis is a periodic motion because the earth always takes
the same time to rotate once on its axis.

(4) The revolution of moon around the earth is also a periodic motion because the
moon always takes the same time to complete one round around the earth.

(5) Swinging of a pendulum; motion of pendulum of a “pendulum clock”; motion of a

child on a swing ” motion of the branch of a tree moving to and fro.

(6) The orbiting of a satellite around the earth, the vibrations of stretched membrane of
a drum ( dholak or tabla) when struck.
** Rotational Motion
When an object turns (or spins) about a fixed axis, it is called rotational motion.

For example: The motion of a spinning top, the spinning of earth on the axis, turning of
the blades of a fan, rotation of a wind mill or phirki, turning of a ball, turning of the
hands of watch, turning of potter’s wheel, turning of a bicycle wheel.

The difference between circular motion and rotational motion is that in circular
motion an object as a whole travels along a circular path but in rotational motion, the
object spins on its axis.

**Object which can have more than one type of Motion

(1) Example of Earth – The earth moves around the Sun, so it has circular
motion, the earth repeats its motion around the sun after regular intervals of time (of
one year), so it has periodic motion and earth also rotates on its axis, so it
has rotational motion. Thus, the earth has three types of motion at the same time i.e.
circular motion, periodic motion and rotational motion.

(2) Example of Merry Go around – If we consider merry go around as a whole, then it

shows a rotational motion because it turns on an axle. But the outer part of merry go
round shows circular motion. So, a merry go round has two types of motion at the
same time i.e. rotational and circular motion.

(3) Example of bicycle – Suppose a bicycle is moving on a straight road. The wheel of a
bicycle is rotating on its axle and also moving forward in a straight line. So, a bicycle
moving on a straight road has two types of motion rotational motion as well as
rectilinear motion.

(4) Example of sewing machine – The swing machine has a wheel which rotates on an
axle. So, the wheel of a sewing machine shows rotational motion. The sewing machine
has also a needle which moves up and down continuously (as log as the wheel rotates).
The needle of sewing machine undergoes a periodic motion. Thus, a sewing machine
exhibits two types of motion at the same time i.e. rotational motion as well as periodic
motion.

** Distance
The length of the space between two points (or two places) is called distance.

For example: The distance between Delhi and Agra is 200 kms. If the two points (or
two places) are close by, the distance between them will be small otherwise if the two
points (or two places) are far off, then the distance between them will be large.
** Measurement
Measurement is a process of comprising an object with a standard ‘unit of
measurement’. Standard unit of measuring length is called meter.

Need of standard units of measurement – we can use a variety of objects as units of

measurement of length.

We can measure the length of an an object by using ‘hand-span’, ‘forearm length’ or

‘ foot step’ as the units of measuring length. But hand span, forearm length and foot
step cannot be used as standard units measurements because their length is not the
same for all the persons. The length of hand-span, forearm-length and foot step of
different persons is different. It varies from person to person. So, hand span, forearm
length and foot step are not standard units of measuring length.

A unit of measurement which has a fixed value which does not change from person to
person or place to place, is called a standard unit of measurement length. Whether a
meter is used by one person or another person, whether the meter is used in one
country or another country, it always represents exactly the ‘same length’. The length
of meter does not change from one person to person or place to place. It is necessary to
have standard units of measurements for the sake of uniformity in measurements.

Every Measurement consists of a number and a unit – The result of every

measurement consists of two parts :-

(1) The first part of the measurement consists of a number (1,2,3,4,5 …… etc.) which
tells us the ‘magnitude of measurement’

(2) Second part tells us the ‘name of the unit of measurement’. Every measurement
consists of a number and a unit.

Every measurement consists of a number and a unit.

For example: if the length of table is 2 meters , then 2 is the number and meter is the
unit. The number ‘2’ tells us the magnitude of the length of the table and ‘meter’ tells us
the unit in which the length has been measured. A measurement is not complete unless
both, the number an the unit are mentioned.

** SI unit of Length
The SI unit of measuring length is meter. The symbol of meter is m. The SI unit of
measuring mass is Kilogram “kg” and the SI unit of measuring time is ‘second’ (s).

** Prefixes used with SI units

Prefix is a kind of word used before the name of an SI unit to get a bigger value or a
smaller value of the unit.
Three common prefixes are : kilo, centi and mili

(1) Kilo is a prefix which denotes one thousand, i.e. kilo means “one thousand or 1000

1 kilometer = 1000 meters

(2) Centi is prefix which denotes hundredth i.e. centi means “one hundredth” or 1/100

1 meter = 100 centimeters

(3) Milli is a prefix which denotes “one thousandth” i.e. milli means “one thousandth” or
1/1000

So, if we write ‘milli’ before the unit of length ‘meter’ , it becomes ‘millimeter’ which
means one thousandth of a meter or 1/1000 meters. In other words 1 meter = 1000
millimeters.

Kilometer is written as ‘km’, centimeter as ‘cm’ and millimeter as mm.

** Measurement of Length
The length is the distance between two points. Meter is a used as a standard unit for
measuring the length of an object. We measure the length of an object by using a meter
scale. A meter scale is graduated (or marked) in 100 centimeters and every
centimeter is further divided into 10 divisions called millimeters.

1 meter = 100 centimeters

1 centimeter = 10 millimeter

** The use of proper Units of Length

“Meter” is the standard unit of length but sometimes other units of length like
centimeters, millimeters and kilometers are also used for the sake of convenience. The
type of unit used depends on the magnitude of the length to be measured.

(1) Meter can be used as unit to measure the length of a table or a room or height of a
tree or building.

(2) The length of small objects is measured in centimeters , e.g. pencil or a notebook.

(3) The very small lengths are expressed in still smaller units called ‘millimeters’ e.g the
thickness of a coin or a thin wire. One mm (millimeter) is the smallest length which can
be measured accurately by using a meter scale.

The distances between two cities are very large. The large distances (or lengths) are
measured in a big unit of length called “kilometer”
 1 kilometer = 1000 meters
1 km = 1000 m

** Length Measuring Devices

The various types of devices which are commonly used for measuring length are :
meter scale and measuring tape. A meter scale is made of metal and can not be bend.
The rulers are made of plastic, wood or metal and also can not bend. The measuring
tape is however made of flexible material which can bend easily around the object
which has to be measured.

(1) If the object is straight, we can use either a meter scale or a measuring tape to
measure its length. For example: the length of a table can be measured by using a
meter scale or a measuring tape. A cloth seller uses a meter rod for measuring cloth.

(2) If the object is round, then we use a measuring tape to measure for making
measurement of length. For example: (a) the girth of a tree can be measured only by
using a measuring tape because measuring tape can be bent around the tree. (b) The
tailor also measures our chest and waist by using a measuring tape.

We can not use an elastic measuring tape to measure lengths. This is because an
elastic measuring tape can stretch easily while taking measurements and hence give a
wrong value (greater value) of length of an object than its actual length. So, though a
measuring tape is flexible but it is made of non stretchable material. A ruler is a short
scale marked in centimeters and millimeters. These rulers are usually made of plastic,
Scales made of metal or plastic are also available in the market.

** Precautions to be taken while using a scale

The precautions to be taken while using a meter scale to measure lengths are as
follows :

(1) The scale should be placed to the side of the object being measured. It should also
be in touch with the object being measured.

(2) While reading the scale, eye must be placed vertically above the scale mark being
read. If the the eye is not vertically above the scale mark being read, then the reading
becomes wrong.

(3) If the scale has a damaged zero mark or broken left end, measure the length of an
object starting from 1 cm mark of scale and then subtract 1 cm from the reading taken
at the right end to get the actual length of objects.

** To measure the Length of a curved line

A wavy line is known as curved line. We can not measure the length of a curved line by
using a scale directly.
The length of a curved line can be measured by using a thread and a scale.

(1) We take a piece of thread and put a knot near its one end. This knot will act as a
starting point for measuring the length of the curved line .

(2) Place the knot of the thread at a point A on the left end of the curved line with the
help of thumb and forefinger.

(3) Hold the thread a little distance away from the knot and keep it along the curved
line with the help of right thumb and forefinger.

In this way, run the thread all along the curved line in little steps at a time, keeping the
thread taut, till the other end B of the curved line is reached. Make an ink mark on the
thread where it touches the other end B of the curved line. Now, straighten the thread
and measure its length between the knot and the ink mark by keeping it along a scale.
This will give us the length of the curved line.

QUESTIONS :

1. What precautions should be taken while using a meter scale to measure the length of
an object?

2. What is meant by standard unit of measurement? Why is it necessary to have

standard units of measurement?

3. Name the S.I. unit of length. Write its symbol?

4. How many centimeters are there in a meter?

5. How many milimeters are there in a centimeters?

6. How many meters make one km?

7. Why a foot step cannot be used as a standard unit of length?

8. Why hand-span method cannot be used as as standard unit of length?

9. Name the various length measuring devices?

10. How will you measure the length of a curved line using thread and scale?

11. What is measuring tape? Explain its use?

12. what are stationary objects. Give examples?

13. What is meant by circular motion? Give example?

14. What is meant by rectilinear motion?

15. What is meant by rotational motion? Give example?

16. What is meant by periodic motion? Give example?

17. When an object is said to be in motion?

18. Give few examples to show that object can have more than one type of Motion?

19. Give a difference between circular motion and rotational motion?

NCERT
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1. Land – Train, Bus
Water – Ship, Boat
Air – Helicopter, Aeroplane
2. (i) One metre is 100 cm.
(ii) Five kilometre is 5000 m.
(iii) Motion of a child on a swing is periodic.
(iv) Motion of the needle of a sewing machine is periodic.
(v) Motion of the wheel of a bicycle is circular.
3. Pace or a footstep cannot be used as a standard unit of length because it varies from
person to person.
4. 1 millimetre, 1 centimetre, 1 metre, 1 kilometre
5. 1.65= 165 cm = 1650 mm
6. 1km = 1000 m
Hence, 3250 m = 3.25 kms
7. Length of needle = 33.1 – 3 = 30.1 cm
8. Similarities – The blades of a fan and the wheels of a bicycle show circular motion
Differences – Bicycles move in rectilinear motion, but the fan does not move in
rectilinear motion.
9. An elastic measuring-tape will not give accurate measurements as it stretches in
length and reduces in size when stretched. When we express measurements taken with
elastic tape, we have to tell whether the tape was stretched. If yes, how much? Hence, it
is very difficult to tell the measurement taken from an elastic tape.
10. a) A needle of a sewing machine
b) Pendulum

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