KINEMATICS

(Motion in a Straight line)

Motion is the act of moving or changing positions.

Scalar and Vector Quantities

Scalar quantities have magnitude (size) only.

Eg. Distance, time, speed, mass, length, volume, area, pressure

Vector quantities have both magnitude and direction.

Eg. Displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, weight

SCALAR QUANTITY (no direction) VECTOR QUANTITY (has direction)

distance displacement

speed velocity

acceleration

mass Weight

force

pressure

energy momentum

Some terms associated with motion are:

∙ Distance

∙ Displacement

∙ Speed

∙ Velocity

∙ Acceleration
Distance, x
 ∙ is the length of space between two points.

∙ SI Unit : metre, m
Other units: km, mm, cm, μm (micrometre)

∙ Is a scalar quantity (has magnitude only; no direction).

🡪
Displacement, x
∙ Is the distance between two points in a specific direction. ∙
SI Unit : metre, m
Other units: km, mm, cm, μm (micrometre)

∙ Is a vector quantity (has both magnitude and direction).

Speed, v

∙ Is the rate of change of distance with time.

∙ SI Unit: metre per second, ms-1

Other unit: kilometre per hour, kmh-1

∙ Is a scalar quantity.

Average Speed

∙ is the total distance travelled over the total time taken.

Example:

1. A bus travels at a speed of 28 ms-1 in 4 s. How far did the bus travel?

Solution:

Speed of bus = 28 ms-1

Time taken = 4 s
Distance = Speed x time
= 28 ms-1 x 4 s
= 112 m

2. A train travels a distance of 50 km in 3 hours. At what speed did the train travel at?

Solution:

Distance travelled = 50 km
Time taken = 3 h
Speed = Distance
Time
= 50 km
3h
= 16 .7 kmh-1.

3. Carlos is driving his car at 120 kmh-1 to get to his workplace which is 3600 km from his
home. How long does Carlos take to reach to his workplace?

Solution:

Distance of Carlos’ workplace from home = 3600 km

Speed at which Carlos drives = 120 kmh-1
Time taken to reach to work = Distance
Speed
= 3600 km
120 kmh-1
= 30 h