Motion Notes

Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration!

Motion

 A change in position, over time, relative to

a reference point.
So, What’s a Reference Point?

 http://www.classzone.com/books/ml_scie
nce_share/vis_sim/mfm05_pg7_relmotio
n/mfm05_pg7_relmotion.html

 What we compare all other movement or

locations to!
 Often Earth Features
 Large Objects

 Cities
 Reference Point Scenarios
Suppose you are in a train, and you cannot tell if you are
stopped or moving. Outside the window, another train is
slowly moving forward. What could be happening?
 Your train is stopped, and the other train is moving slowly
forward…
 The other train is stopped, and your train is moving slowly
backwards…
 Both trains are moving forward, with the other train moving a
little faster…
 Your train is moving very slowly backward, and the other train
is moving slowly forward…

Could you be sure as to which is actually happening??

Reference Point Examples
Speed

 Position can change at different rates

 Distance an object moves in an amount
of time
 Formulas
 Speed=Distance/Time
 Distance=Speed x Time
 Time= Distance/speed
Velocity

Suppose there’s a TORNADO that’s 1 mile

wide, and it’s going 40 mph…

What else is important?!?!?

It’s Direction!

Velocity is a Speed in a Direction!

15 Mph Northwest; 200 m/s South;
40 cm/ms Left
Acceleration
 Change in Velocity over time
 Remember: Velocity is Speed AND Direction
 “Speeding Up” = Acceleration (Positive #)
 “Slowing Down” = Deceleration (Negative #)
 Turning (Change in Direction) = Acceleration
Which of the Following Are
Examples of Acceleration?
A car stops at a stop light.
A car goes from 0 to 45
mph.
A car races around an oval
track at a constant speed.
Acceleration Formula

THIS IS TOUGH!!!

Final Velocity – Initial Velocity

Time

Vfinal– Vinitial
T
Acceleration Problem!
Julio starts sliding with a velocity of 1m/s south. After 3 seconds, his
velocity is 7m/s south. What is Julio’s acceleration?
Final Velocity – Initial Velocity
Time
7 m/s – 1 m/s
3s
6 m/s
3s

2 m/s
s

2 m/s2
Practice!
Review:

Speed/Distance/Time Formulas:

S=D÷T D=T·S T=D÷S

Acceleration Formula:

Final Velocity – Initial Velocity

Time
Practice

Ifa runner runs 100 meters in

50 seconds, what is his
speed in meters per second?
How far could this runner run
in 25 seconds?
Calculating Acceleration
John starts running from
rest. After 10 s, his velocity
is 20 m/s. What is John’s
rate of acceleration?