Chapter Name: Motion &
Physics Part 1 Class Notes Chapter No 3
Force
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Topic: Basic Definitions Page 1
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Define the following terms
Answer:
1. Distance
Distance is a scalar measure of the interval between two locations measured along the
actual path connecting them. It is denoted by S. Its S.I unit is meter “m”
Distance is also the length of the path between two points
2. Displacement
The change in position of the body from its initial to final position is called
displacement.
The displacement can also be described as: “the minimum distance between two
points”.
It is a vector quantity and its direction is from initial point to the final point. The SI unit
of displacement is meter.
If rf and ri are the position vectors of points A and B, respectively, then the displacement
∆r between these two points will be:
∆r = r f-ri
3. Speed
Speed is a measure of how quickly an object moves from one place to another. It is
equal to the distance S traveled by the body in unit time t.
Chapter Name: Motion &
Physics Part 1 Class Notes Chapter No 3
Force
Topic: Basic Definitions Page no Page 2
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Distance
Speed = v =
Time
It is a scalar quantity and it S.I unit is ms -1 or km/h or mile/hour
4. Average Speed
Average speed of a body is defined as that uniform speed with which it covers the
same distance in a given interval of time as is actually covered by it in the same
interval of time while moving with variable speed.
The total distance covered by the object to the time taken to cover that distance.
Total Distance Covered
Average Speed = Vavg =
Total Time Taken
5. Uniform Speed
A body is said to be moving with uniform speed, if it covers equal distances in equal
intervals of time, however small these intervals may be
6. Variable Speed
A body is said to be moving with variable speed if it covers unequal distances in equal
intervals of time, however small these intervals may be.
7. Instantaneous Speed
When a body is moving with variable speed, then, its speed at any instant of time is
known as its instantaneous speed.
If a body travels a very small distance ∆ s in a very small interval of time ∆ t, then its
Instantaneous speed = Vins = lim ¿ 0 (∆ s/∆ t)
t
8. Velocity
The time rate of change of position of a body in a particular direction is known as its
velocity.
Or
The time rate of change of displacement of a body is known as its velocity.
Chapter Name: Motion &
Physics Part 1 Class Notes Chapter No 3
Force
Page no
Topic: Basic Definitions Page 3
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Displacement
i.e. Velocity = V =
Time
Velocity is a vector quantity.
It can be positive negative or zero as displacement can be +ve, -ve or zero.
Units of velocity: Units of velocity are the same as those of speed.
i.e. cm s-1 In the CGS system
And ms-1 In the MKS system or SI units
9. Average Velocity
The ratio between the total displacement and the total time taken by the body is called
average velocity. If ∆d is the total displacement of the body in time, then the average
velocity Vav in time interval is described as:
∆d
Vav =
t
It is a vector quantity
Limitation
It does not tell us that motion is steady or variable or the path is straight is curved.
[Link] Velocity
A body is said to be moving with uniform velocity if its average velocity between any
two points along its path is the same in magnitude as well as direction.
Or
A body is said to be moving with uniform velocity is it always moves in the same
direction and covers equal distances in equal intervals of time, however small these
intervals may be.
[Link] Velocity
A body is said to be moving with variable velocity if its average velocity is different
between different points along its path either in magnitude or in direction or both in
magnitude as well as direction.
Or
Chapter Name: Motion &
Physics Part 1 Class Notes Chapter No 3
Force
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Topic: Basic Definitions Page 4
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A body is said to be moving with variable velocity if it covers distances in unequal
intervals of time or unequal distances in equal intervals of time, however small these
intervals may be, or it changes its direction of motion.
[Link] Velocity
When a body is moving with variable velocity, then its velocity at a particular instant of
time or at a particular point along its path is known as its instantaneous velocity. It is
equal to the limiting value of average velocity as limit ∆ t tends to zero.
Instantaneous velocity = Vins = lim ¿ 0 (∆ d/∆ t)
t
[Link]
The time rate of change of velocity of the body is called acceleration.
If the velocity of a body increases with time, then its acceleration is positive. On the
other hand, if the velocity of a body decreases with time, then its acceleration is
negative. Negative acceleration is also called retardation or deceleration. Acceleration
is a vector quantity.
Units of acceleration: The units of acceleration are:
Cms-2 in the CGS system
And
ms-2 in the MKS system or SI units
[Link] Acceleration
The ratio between the total change in velocity and the total time taken by the body is
called
average velocity. If ∆v is the total velocity of the body in time t, then the average
acceleration aav in time interval is described as:
∆v
aav =
t
When a body is moving with variable acceleration, then its average acceleration in a
given interval of time is defined as the ratio of the change in velocity of the body to the
time interval.
[Link] Acceleration
Chapter Name: Motion &
Physics Part 1 Class Notes Chapter No 3
Force
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Topic: Basic Definitions Page 5
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A body is said to be moving with uniform acc. if its average acc. between any two
points along its path is the same in magnitude as well as direction.
Or
A body is said to be moving h uniform acceleration if its velocity changes by equal
amounts in equal intervals of time, however small these intervals may be.
[Link] Acceleration
A body is said to be moving with variable acceleration if its average acceleration is
different between different points along its path, either in magnitude or in direction or
both in magnitude as well as direction.
Or
A body is said to be moving with variable acceleration if its velocity changes by unequal
amount in equal intervals of time, however small these intervals may be.
[Link] Acceleration
When a body is moving with variable acceleration, then its acceleration at a particular
instant of time or at a particular position along its path is known as its instantaneous
acceleration.
It is equal to the limiting value of average acceleration as ∆ t tends to zero.
Instantaneous acceleration = ains = lim ¿ 0 (∆ v/∆ t)
t
[Link]’s First Law
A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body moving with uniform velocity will continue
to
do so, unless acted upon by some unbalanced external force.
This law is also called law of inertia
[Link]
The inability of a body to change by itself its state of rest or of uniform motion or
direction of motion unless some external force acts in it is called Inertia.
[Link]’s Second Law
Chapter Name: Motion &
Physics Part 1 Class Notes Chapter No 3
Force
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Topic: Basic Definitions Page 6
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When an unbalanced force acts upon a body, it is accelerated in the direction of force.
The magnitude of acceleration is directly proportional to the applied force and is
inversely proportional to the mass of body.
F=ma
[Link]’s Third law
Action and reaction are equal and opposite. Whenever an interaction occurs between
two,
each object exerts the same force on the other, but in opposite direction and for the
same interval of time.
[Link] of Motion
First equation of motion
Vf = Vi + at
Second equation of motion
S = Vit + 1/2at2
Third equation of motion
2aS = Vf2 – Vi2
Characteristics:
i. Only for linear motion with uniform acceleration
