Chapter 7: Motion
Class 9 Science – Easy Notes
1. What is Motion?
An object is said to be in motion when its position changes with time with respect to a reference point.
Examples: A moving car, flying bird, flowing blood, Earth, planets and stars.
Motion is relative. An object may appear moving to one person and stationary to another.
2. Describing Motion
To describe the position of an object, we need a reference point.
A fixed point with respect to which the position of an object is described is called the reference point or origin.
3. Motion Along a Straight Line
The simplest type of motion is motion along a straight line. An object can move in one direction, in the opposite
direction, or forward and backward.
4. Distance
Distance is the total length of the actual path travelled by an object.
Important: It has only magnitude, does not require direction, and is always positive or zero.
SI unit: metre (m). Other units include kilometre (km) and centimetre (cm).
5. Displacement
Displacement is the shortest distance from the initial position to the final position of an object, along with direction.
It depends only on the initial and final positions. Its magnitude can be zero and can never be greater than the distance.
Example: If a person walks from A to B and returns to A, distance is non-zero but displacement is zero.
6. Uniform Motion
An object is in uniform motion when it covers equal distances in equal intervals of time.
7. Non-Uniform Motion
An object is in non-uniform motion when it covers unequal distances in equal intervals of time.
Examples: A car moving through a crowded road and a person jogging in a park.
8. Speed
Speed is the distance travelled by an object in unit time.
Formula:
v=s/t
where v = speed, s = distance, t = time.
9. Average Speed
For non-uniform motion, we generally use average speed.
Formula:
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Average speed = Total distance travelled / Total time taken
10. Conversion of Speed Units
km/h to m/s: km/h × 5/18 = m/s
m/s to km/h: m/s × 18/5 = km/h
11. Odometer
An odometer is a device fitted in automobiles that shows the distance travelled by the vehicle.
12. Velocity
Velocity is the speed of an object in a definite direction.
Velocity has both magnitude and direction. Its SI unit is m/s.
13. Average Velocity
For straight-line motion:
Average velocity = Displacement / Total time taken
When velocity changes uniformly: vav = (u + v)/2.
14. Speed and Velocity
Speed uses distance and does not require direction. Velocity uses displacement and requires direction.
The magnitude of average velocity equals average speed when the object moves along a straight line without changing
its direction.
15. Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time.
Formula:
SI unit: m/s².
a = (v − u) / t
16. Positive and Negative Acceleration
Acceleration is positive when it acts in the direction of velocity.
When acceleration acts opposite to velocity, it is taken as negative.
17. Uniform Acceleration
An object has uniform acceleration when its velocity changes by equal amounts in equal intervals of time.
A freely falling body is an example of uniformly accelerated motion.
18. Non-Uniform Acceleration
An object has non-uniform acceleration when its velocity changes by unequal amounts in equal intervals of time.
19. Graphical Representation of Motion
Graphs help us understand relationships between physical quantities.
Two important graphs are the distance-time graph and velocity-time graph.
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20. Distance-Time Graph
Time is taken on the x-axis and distance on the y-axis.
For uniform speed, the distance-time graph is a straight line.
Slope of distance-time graph gives speed.
21. Velocity-Time Graph
Time is represented on the x-axis and velocity on the y-axis.
For uniform velocity, the graph is a straight horizontal line parallel to the time axis.
Area under a velocity-time graph gives the magnitude of displacement.
22. Velocity-Time Graph for Uniform Acceleration
For uniformly accelerated motion, velocity changes by equal amounts in equal intervals of time, so the velocity-time
graph is a straight line.
23. Velocity-Time Graph for Non-Uniform Acceleration
For non-uniform acceleration, velocity changes at a non-uniform rate, so the velocity-time graph can have different
shapes.
24. Equations of Motion
For an object moving in a straight line with uniform acceleration, three important equations are used:
v = u + at
s = ut + ½at²
v² − u² = 2as
u = initial velocity, v = final velocity, a = acceleration, t = time, s = distance/displacement.
25. Uniform Circular Motion
When an object moves along a circular path with uniform speed, its motion is called uniform circular motion.
Examples: Motion of the Moon around Earth, a satellite in a circular orbit, and a cyclist moving around a circular track
at constant speed.
26. Why is Uniform Circular Motion Accelerated Motion?
Even if speed remains constant, the direction of motion continuously changes.
Since velocity depends on speed and direction, a change in direction means a change in velocity. Therefore, uniform
circular motion is an accelerated motion.
27. Speed in Uniform Circular Motion
The circumference of a circle is 2πr. If an object takes t seconds to complete one revolution:
v = 2πr / t
where r = radius of circular path and t = time for one complete revolution.
28. Direction of Motion in Circular Motion
At every point of a circular path, the direction of motion changes.
If a circularly moving object is suddenly released, it moves along the tangent to the circular path at the point of release.
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Important Comparison: Distance and Displacement
Distance Displacement
Total path travelled Shortest distance between initial and final positions
Direction is not required Direction is required
Scalar quantity Vector quantity
Magnitude is always ≥ displacement magnitude Magnitude is always ≤ distance
Important Formula Sheet
Distance = Total path travelled
Speed = Distance / Time
Average speed = Total distance / Total time
Average velocity = Displacement / Total time
Average velocity (uniform change) = (u + v) / 2
Acceleration = (v − u) / t
v = u + at
s = ut + ½at²
v² − u² = 2as
Uniform circular motion: v = 2πr / t
Most Important Exam Points
1. Motion is a change in position with time.
2. Motion is relative and depends on the reference point.
3. Distance is the total path travelled.
4. Displacement is the shortest distance between initial and final positions with direction.
5. Distance can be non-zero while displacement is zero.
6. Magnitude of displacement is always less than or equal to distance.
7. Uniform motion means equal distances in equal times.
8. Speed = distance/time.
9. Velocity = displacement/time and has direction.
10. Acceleration = change in velocity/time.
11. Slope of a distance-time graph gives speed.
12. Area under a velocity-time graph gives displacement.
13. The three equations of motion apply to uniformly accelerated straight-line motion.
14. Uniform circular motion is accelerated motion because the direction of velocity changes continuously.
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