Motion
Describing Motion
Uniform motion :-If a body travels equal distances in equal intervals of time, it is said to be in uniform
motion.
Displacement is the length of the shortest path travelled by a body from its initial position to its final
position.
Distance moved is the actual length of the path travelled by a body.
Motion is the change in position of a body with time. Motion can be described in terms of the distance
moved or the displacement.
A body is said to be in a state of rest when its position does not change with respect to a reference point.
Let A, B and C represents the position of the object at different instants. First the object moves through C
and B and reaches A. Then it moves back along the same path and reaches C through B.
The total path length covered by the object is OA + AC, that is 60 km + 35 km = 95 km.
Difference between Distance and Displacement
Distance Displacement
Length of the actual path travelled by an Shortest length between the initial point and far point of an
object. object.
It is a scalar quantity. It is a vector quantity.
It remains positive, can't be '0' or
It can be positive (+ve), negative (-ve), or zero.
negative.
The distance can be equal to Displacement can be equal to the distance in the linear path or
displacement (in linear path). it is lesser than distance.
Non uniform motion :- If a body travels unequal distances in equal intervals of time, it is said to be in
non uniform motion.
Continuous increase in slope of curve indicates accelerated non-uniform motion.
Continuous decrease in slope of curve indicates decelerate non-uniform motion.
Non-uniform motion is of two types:
Accelerated motion: When motion of body increase with unequal time.
De-accelerated motion or Non uniform retardation: When motion of a body decreases with unequal
interval of time.
Measuring The Rate of Motion
SI unit of velocity is m/s. Velocity can be positive(+ve), negative(-ve) or zero.
Initial velocity + Final velocity
Avg. velocity =
2
𝑢+𝑣
V (𝑎𝑣𝑔) =
2
Average velocity is the mean of the initial velocity u and final velocity v.
Total displacement
Average velocity =
Average velocity is the ratio of the total displacement to the total time taken.
Total time
Displacement
Velocity =
Velocity is the speed of a body in given direction. It is vector quantity.
Time
Average speed is the ratio of the total distance travelled to the total time taken.
Total distance travelled
Average speed =
Total time taken
If a body is travelling with non-uniform motion, then the speed will not remain uniform but have different
values throughout the motion of such body.
If a body is executing uniform motion, then there will be a constant speed or uniform motion.
The SI unit of speed is metre per second. This is represented by the symbol ms-1 or m/s.
Distance travelled
𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
The measurement of distance travelled by a body per unit time is called speed. It is denoted by v.
Time taken
𝑠
𝑉=
𝑡
Rate of Change of Velocity
Non uniform acceleration: If the change in velocity is unequal in equal intervals of time it is non
uniform acceleration.
Uniform acceleration: If the change in velocity is equal in equal intervals of time it is uniform
acceleration
Retardation/Deacceleration: Deacceleration is seen in uniform motion during decrease in velocity with
time.
The SI unit of acceleration is m/s2. Acceleration is a vector quantity as it has direction and magnitude
both.
Change in velocity
Acceleration =
Acceleration is a measure of the change in the velocity of an object per unit time.
Time
Final Velocity Initial Velocity
Acceleration =
Time
𝑣−𝑢
𝑎=
𝑡
where, v = final velocity, u initial velocity
If v > u, then 'a' will be positive (+ve).
Graphical Representation of Motion
When a body is moving with uniform retardation and its initial velocity is not zero. As θ > 90°, graph has
a negative slope.
When a body is moving with decreasing acceleration. Slope decreases with time.
When body is moving with increasing acceleration. Slope increases with time.
When a body starts from rest and moves with uniform acceleration. Greater is the slope of v-t graph,
greater will be the acceleration.
When a body moving with uniform velocity , the slope of AB indicates zero acceleration.
Distance - Time Graphs: For body moving with uniform speed.
Distance - Time Graphs: For a body at rest , as the slope is zero, so speed of the body is zero.
Distance - Time Graphs: The change in the position of an object with time can be represented on the
distance-time graph. In this graph, time is taken along the x-axis and distance is taken along the y-axis.
Distance - Time Graphs: For accelerated motion, The slope of graph is increasing with time.
Distance - Time Graphs: For decelerated motion, Slope of graph is decreasing with time.
Velocity- Time Graphs: The variation in velocity with time for an object moving in a straight line can be
represented by a velocity-time graph. In this graph, time is represented along the x-axis and the velocity is
represented along the y-axis.
Equations of Motion
Third Equation of motion:
1 2
2
s = ut + at
v2 = u2 + 2as
(OA + BC) × OC
𝑠=
s = Area of trapezium OABC
2
The motion of a body moving with uniform acceleration can be described with the help of three equations
called equation of motion.
Three equations of motion:
i. v = u + at
ii. s = ut + ½ at2
iii. 2as = v2 – u2
u- initial velocity
v - final velocity
a - acceleration
t - time
s - distance traveled
First Equation of motion:
Or Final velocity = Initial velocity + Acceleration × Time
v = u + at
Graphical Derivation:
Suppose a body has initial velocity 'u' (i.e., velocity at time t = 0 sec.) at point 'A' and this velocity
changes to 'v' at point 'B' in 't' i.e., final velocity will be 'v'.
Change in velocity
𝑎=
For such a body there will be an acceleration.
Change in time
OB − OA 𝑣 − 𝑢
𝑎= =
OC − 0 𝑡−0
𝑣−𝑢
Or 𝑎 = ⇒ at = v - u
𝑡
Or v = u + at
1
s = ut + 𝑎𝑡2
Second Equation of motion:
2
Distance travelled by The object = Area of OABC (trapezium)
= Area of OADC (rectangle) + Area of △ ABD
1
= OA × AD + × AD × BD
2
1
= u × t + × t × (v - u)
2
𝑣−𝑢
(∵ = 𝑎) so [v - u = at]
𝑡
1
= ut + × t × at
2
(𝑢 + 𝑣) × 𝑡
𝑠=
2
𝑢+𝑣 𝑣−𝑢 𝑣−𝑢
Or 𝑠 = ( )×( )( ∵ = 𝑎)
2 𝑎 𝑡
𝑣2 − 𝑢2
∴𝑠=
2𝑎
Or v2 = u2 + 2as
Uniform Circular Motion
2𝜋r
Velocity of an object in a circular motion is: V =
t
The motion of a body in a circular path is called circular motion.
If a body moves in a circular path with uniform speed, its motion is called uniform circular motion.
Uniform circular motion is accelerated motion because in a circular motion a body continuously changes
its direction.