Physical Science – Module 2: Motion
What You Need to Learn
After this module, you should be able to:
• Compare Aristotle’s and Galileo’s ideas about motion.
• Explain why objects fall with uniform acceleration in a vacuum.
• Understand Newton’s First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia).
• Explain why force is not needed to keep an object moving horizontally (if no friction).
Lesson 1: The Concept of Motion
✅ What is Motion?
• Motion is a change in position over time.
• It is everywhere in daily life.
Important Terms
• Distance – total length traveled.
• Displacement – distance with direction.
• Speed – how fast something moves.
• Velocity – speed with direction.
• Acceleration – change in velocity (speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction).
• Free Fall – falling due to gravity only.
• Projectile – object moving in a curved path under gravity.
Aristotle vs. Galileo on Motion
Horizontal Motion
Aristotle
• Force is needed to keep an object moving.
• Objects naturally come to rest.
Galileo
• No force is needed to keep an object moving at constant speed.
• Objects continue moving unless acted on by an external force (inertia).
Vertical Motion (Falling Objects)
Aristotle
• Heavier objects fall faster.
• Falling is a “natural motion.”
Galileo
• All objects fall at the same rate (if no air resistance).
• Falling objects have uniform acceleration.
• Acceleration is constant (g = 9.8 m/s²).
Projectile Motion
Aristotle
• Moves straight, then suddenly falls.
Galileo
• Moves in a parabolic (curved) path.
• Horizontal motion → constant speed.
• Vertical motion → constant acceleration.
Lesson 2: Uniform Acceleration
✅ What is Uniform Acceleration?
• Acceleration that is constant over time.
• Speed increases by equal amounts every second.
Example:
• 0 s → 0 m/s • 1 s → 2 m/s
• 2 s → 4 m/s
• Acceleration = 2 m/s² (constant)
Objects in Vacuum
• In a vacuum (no air resistance):
o All objects fall at the same rate. o Mass does NOT
affect falling speed.
o Acceleration due to gravity is constant.
Galileo’s Experiment
• Used inclined planes to slow down motion.
• Observed that:
o Speed increases evenly with time. o Steeper slope →
greater acceleration.
• Concluded:
o Objects fall with uniform acceleration.
Force is NOT Needed to Sustain Motion
• A moving object does NOT need force to keep moving.
• It only stops because of friction.
• Without friction, motion continues forever.
Lesson 3: Cause of Motion
Important Concepts
Friction
• A force that opposes motion.
Inertia
• Tendency of an object to:
o Stay at rest, or o Keep moving at constant
speed in a straight line.
• More mass → more inertia.
Net Force
• Total force acting on an object.
Constant Velocity
• Steady speed in a straight line.
Newton’s First Law (Law of Inertia)
An object at rest stays at rest.
An object in motion stays in motion at constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.
This means:
• If net force = 0 → acceleration = 0.
• Motion does not change unless a force acts.
Galileo vs Newton
Galileo
• Motion continues without force (if no friction).
• Friction is why objects stop.
Newton
• Formalized it into a law (Law of Inertia).
• Objects resist changes in motion due to inertia.
Key Takeaways
• Motion = change in position over time.
• Velocity = speed + direction.
• Acceleration = change in velocity.
• In vacuum, all objects fall equally fast.
• Force is not required to keep an object moving.
• Friction causes objects to stop.
• Inertia resists changes in motion.
• Newton built on Galileo’s ideas.