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1.1.2 Speed YOUR NOTES
Calculating Average Speed
The speed of an object is the distance it travels every second
Speed is a scalar quantity
This is because it only contains a magnitude (without a direction)
A hiker might have an average speed of 2.0 m/s, whereas a particularly excited bumble bee
can have average speeds of up to 4.5 m/s
The equation for calculating the average speed of a moving object is:
The formula for average speed can be rearranged with the help of the formula triangle
below:
How to Use Formula Triangles
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Formula triangles are really useful for knowing how to rearrange physics equations YOUR NOTES
To use them:
1. Cover up the quantity to be calculated, this is known as the 'subject' of the equation
2. Look at the position of the other two quantities
If they are on the same line, this means they are multiplied
If one quantity is above the other, this means they are divided - make sure to keep the
order of which is on the top and bottom of the fraction!
In the example below, to calculate speed, cover-up 'speed' and only distance and time are
left
This means it is equal to distance (on the top) ÷ time (on the bottom)
Worked Example
Planes fly at typical speeds of around 250 m/[Link] the distance travelled by
a plane moving at this average speed for 2 hours.
Step 1: List the known quantities
Average speed = 250 m/s
Time taken = 2 hours
Step 2: Write the relevant equation
Step 3: Rearrange for the distance moved
distance moved = average speed × time taken
Step 4: Convert any units
The time given in the question is not in standard units
Convert 2 hours into seconds:
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1.1 Movement & Position YOUR NOTES
1.1.1 Distance-Time Graphs
Distance-Time Graphs
A distance-time graph shows how the distance of an object moving in a straight line (from
a starting position) varies over time:
This graph shows a moving object moving further away from its origin
Constant Speed on a Distance-Time Graph
Distance-time graphs also show the following information:
If the object is moving at a constant speed
How large or small the speed is
A straight line represents constant speed
The slope of the straight line represents the magnitude of the speed:
A very steep slope means the object is moving at a large speed
A shallow slope means the object is moving at a small speed
A flat, horizontal line means the object is stationary (not moving)
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YOUR NOTES
This graph shows how the slope of a line is used to interpret the speed of moving objects.
Both of these objects are moving with a constant speed, because the lines are straight.
Changing Speed on a Distance-Time Graph
Objects might be moving at a changing speed
This is represented by a curve
In this case, the slope of the line will be changing
If the slope is increasing, the speed is increasing (accelerating)
If the slope is decreasing, the speed is decreasing (decelerating)
The image below shows two different objects moving with changing speeds
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YOUR NOTES
Changing speeds are represented by changing slopes. The red line represents an object
slowing down and the green line represents an object speeding up.
Gradient of a Distance-Time Graph
The speed of a moving object can be calculated from the gradient of the line on a
distance-time graph:
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The speed of an object can be found by calculating the gradient of a distance-time graph YOUR NOTES
The rise is the change in y (distance) values
The run is the change in x (time) values
Worked Example
A distance-time graph is drawn below for part of a train journey. The train is
travelling at a constant speed.
Calculate the speed of the train.
Step 1: Draw a large gradient triangle on the graph and label the magnitude of the rise
and run
The image below shows a large gradient triangle drawn with dashed lines
The rise and run magnitude is labelled, using the units as stated on each axes
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YOUR NOTES
Step 2: Convert units for distance and time into standard units
The distance travelled (rise) = 8 km = 8000 m
The time taken (run) = 6 mins = 360 s
Step 3: State that speed is equal to the gradient of a distance-time graph
The gradient of a distance-time graph is equal to the speed of a moving object:
Step 4: Substitute values in to calculate the speed
speed = gradient = 8000 ÷ 360
speed = 22.2 m/s
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YOUR NOTES
Worked Example
Ose decides to take a stroll to the park. He finds a bench in a quiet spot and takes a
seat, picking up where he left off reading his book on Black [Link] some time
reading, Ose realises he lost track of time and runs home.A distance-time graph for
his trip is drawn below:
a) How long does Ose spend reading his book?There are three sections labelled on
the graph: A, B and C.b) Which section represents Ose running home?
c) What is the total distance travelled by Ose?
Part (a)
Ose spends 40 minutes reading his book
The flat section of the line (section B) represents an object which is stationary - so
section B represents Ose sitting on the bench reading
This section lasts for 40 minutes - as shown in the graph below
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YOUR NOTES
Part (b)
Section C represents Ose running home
The slope of the line in section C is steeper than the slope in section A
This means Ose was moving with a larger speed (running) in section C
Part (c)
The total distance travelled by Ose is 0.6 km
The total distance travelled by an object is given by the final point on the line - in this
case, the line ends at 0.6 km on the distance axis. This is shown in the image below:
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YOUR NOTES
Exam Tip
Use the entire line, where possible, to calculate the gradient. Examiners tend to
award credit if they see a large gradient triangle used - so remember to draw
these directly on the graph itself!
Remember to check the units of variables measured on each axis. These may
not always be in standard units - in our example, the unit of distance was km
and the unit of time was minutes. Double-check which units to use in your
answer.
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1.1.5 Velocity-Time Graphs YOUR NOTES
Velocity-Time Graphs
A velocity-time graph shows how the velocity of a moving object varies with time
The red line represents an object with increasing velocity
The green line represents an object with decreasing velocity
Increasing and decreasing velocity represented on a velocity-time graph
Acceleration on a Velocity-Time Graph
Velocity-time graphs also show the following information:
If the object is moving with a constant acceleration/deceleration
The magnitude of the acceleration/deceleration
A straight line represents constant acceleration
The slope of the line represents the magnitude of acceleration
A steep slope means large acceleration (or deceleration) - i.e. the object's speed
changes very quickly
A gentle slope means small acceleration (or deceleration) - i.e. the object's speed
changes very gradually
A flat line means the acceleration is zero - i.e. the object is moving with a constant
velocity
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YOUR NOTES
This image shows how to interpret the slope of a velocity-time graph
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1.1.6 Area under a Velocity-Time Graph YOUR NOTES
Area under a Velocity-Time Graph
The area under a velocity-time graph represents the displacement (or distance
travelled) by an object
The displacement, or distance travelled, is represented by the area beneath the graph
If the area beneath the graph forms a triangle (i.e. the object is accelerating or
decelerating), then the area can be determined by using the following formula:
Area = ½ × Base × Height
If the area beneath the graph forms a rectangle (i.e. the object is moving at a constant
velocity), then the area can be determined by using the following formula:
Area = Base × Height
Determining Distance from a Velocity-Time Graph
Enclosed areas under velocity-time graphs represent total displacement (or total
distance travelled)
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YOUR NOTES
Three enclosed areas (two triangles and one rectangle) under this velocity-time graph
represents the total distance travelled
If an object moves with constant acceleration, its velocity-time graph will comprise of
straight lines
In this case, calculate the distance travelled by working out the area of enclosed
rectangles and triangles as in the image above
Worked Example
The velocity-time graph below shows a car journey which lasts for 160 seconds.
Calculate the total distance travelled by the car on this journey.
Step 1: Recall that the area under a velocity-time graph represents the distance
travelled
In order to calculate the total distance travelled, the total area underneath the line
must be determined
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Step 2: Identify each enclosed area YOUR NOTES
In this example, there are five enclosed areas under the line
These can be labelled as areas 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, as shown in the image below:
Step 3: Calculate the area of each enclosed shape under the line
Area 1 = area of a triangle = ½ × base × height = ½ × 40 × 17.5 = 350 m
Area 2 = area of a rectangle = base × height = 30 × 17.5 = 525 m
Area 3 = area of a triangle = ½ × base × height = ½ × 20 × 7.5 = 75 m
Area 4 = area of a rectangle = base × height = 20 × 17.5 = 350 m
Area 5 = area of a triangle = ½ × base × height = ½ × 70 × 25 = 875 m
Step 4: Calculate the total distance travelled by finding the total area under the line
Add up each of the five areas enclosed:
total distance = 350 + 525 + 75 + 350 + 875
total distance = 2175 m
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