What is Motion?
Motion simply means a change in position over time.
If something moves from one place to another — like a car, a ball, or a person — it’s in
motion.
We describe motion using speed, velocity, acceleration, distance, and time.
🧭 2. Key Quantities
Quantity Symbol Unit Type Meaning
Distance d metres (m) Scalar How far something moves (no direction).
Displacement s metres (m) Vector How far and in which direction.
Speed v m/s Scalar How fast an object moves.
Velocity v m/s Vector Speed with direction.
Acceleration a m/s² Vector How fast the velocity changes.
Time t seconds Scalar How long something takes.
(s)
🧮 3. Important Formulas
Formula Meaning
v=dtv=td Speed = distance ÷ time
a=v−uta=tv−u Acceleration = change in
velocity ÷ time
v2=u2+2asv2=u2+2as Used when no time is given
s=ut+12at2s=ut+21at2 Distance when accelerating
average speed=total distancetotal timeaverage For journeys with different
speed=total timetotal distance speeds
u = initial velocity (starting speed)
v = final velocity
a = acceleration
t = time
s = displacement
🧠 4. Understanding Acceleration
If an object speeds up, acceleration is positive.
If it slows down, acceleration is negative (called deceleration).
Example:
A car speeds up from 0 to 20 m/s in 5 seconds.
a=v−ut=20−05=4 m/s2a=tv−u=520−0=4m/s2
→ The car’s acceleration is 4 m/s².
📈 5. Graphs (Very Important for Exams)
a. Distance–Time Graph
● Straight line → moving at constant speed.
● Steeper line → faster speed.
● Horizontal line → stopped.
● Curved line → accelerating or decelerating.
🧮 Gradient = speed (slope of the line).
b. Speed–Time (Velocity–Time) Graph
● Horizontal line → constant speed.
● Sloping line up → accelerating.
● Sloping line down → slowing down.
● Area under the line = distance travelled.
🧮 Gradient = acceleration
Example:
If a car accelerates from 0 to 10 m/s in 5 s, area under line = ½ × 5 × 10 = 25 m (distance).
⚙️ 6. Newton’s Laws (Connection to Motion)
1st Law: If no force acts, an object stays still or keeps moving at constant speed.
2nd Law: A force causes acceleration:
F=maF=ma
3rd Law: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
⚖️ 7. Weight and Mass
● Mass (m): amount of matter (measured in kg).
● Weight (W): gravitational force acting on a mass.
W=mgW=mg
where g=9.8 N/kgg=9.8N/kg on Earth.
Example:
Mass = 60 kg → Weight = 60 × 9.8 = 588 N.
🔸 Mass stays the same everywhere.
🔸 Weight changes with gravity (smaller on the Moon).
🧲 8. Turning Effects (Moments)
Objects can turn (pivot) when a force acts at a distance from a point.
Moment=Force×Distance from pivotMoment=Force×Distance from pivot
Measured in Newton-metres (Nm).
● The larger the force or longer the distance, the bigger the turning effect.
● When clockwise and anticlockwise moments are equal, the object is balanced.
Example:
A 5 N force acts 2 m from a pivot → Moment = 5 × 2 = 10 Nm.
💧 9. Density (part of P1 in syllabus)
ρ=mVρ=Vm
ρ = density (kg/m³),
m = mass (kg),
V = volume (m³).
Example:
Mass = 600 g (0.6 kg), volume = 0.0002 m³ →
ρ = 0.6 / 0.0002 = 3000 kg/m³
Denser materials have more particles packed tightly together.
🧩 10. Summary of Key Equations for P1
Concept Formula Unit
Speed v=d/tv=d/t m/s
Acceleration a=(v−u)/ta=(v−u)/t m/s²
Distance (uniform acceleration) s=ut+½at2s=ut+½at2 m
Velocity (uniform acceleration) v2=u2+2asv2=u2+2as m/s
Force F=maF=ma N
Weight W=mgW=mg N
Moment M=F×dM=F×d Nm
Density ρ=m/Vρ=m/V kg/m³