1. Submission of notebook for Physics Chapter 1 “Motion” is on 22/04/2025, Tuesday.
2. Mind maps / key notes / keywords are attached here with the PDF. Printout
may be taken and elaborated in his/her own words in the notebook.
3. The notes may be copied only if the child is unable to elaborate the notes.
*NOTE: THE NOTES ARE SENT IN PDF FOR THE HELP OF THE STUDENTS. IT IS NOT
COMPULSARY TO COPY THEM. THE STUDENTS MAY WRITE NOTES ON HIS/HER OWN.*
CHAPTER-1
SUBJECT-PHYSICS
MOTION Introduction:
Reference Point and Reference Frame
• To describe the position of an object, we need a reference point or origin. An object
may seem to be moving to one observer and stationary to another.
• Example: A passenger inside a bus sees the other passengers to be at rest, whereas
an observer outside the bus sees the passengers to be in motion.
• In order to make observations easy, a convention or a common reference point or
frame is needed. All objects must be in the same reference frame.
Distance and Displacement
The magnitude of the length covered by a moving object is called distance. It has no
direction.
Displacement is the shortest distance between two points or the distance between the
starting and final positions with respect to time. It has magnitude as well as direction.
Displacement can be zero, but distance cannot.
Scalar quantities are only expressed as magnitude. E.g.: time, distance, mass, temperature,
area, volume
Vector quantities are expressed in magnitude as well as the direction of the object. E.g.:
Velocity, displacement, weight, momentum, force, acceleration, etc.
Time and speed
Time is the duration of an event that is expressed in seconds. Most physical phenomena
occur with respect to time. It is a scalar quantity.
Speed is the rate of change in distance. If a body covers a certain distance in a certain
amount of time, its speed is given by
Speed=Distance/Time
The instantaneous speed is the speed of an object at a particular moment in time.
Average speed is stated as the distance covered by the object within a period of time.
Average speed = Total distance travelled / Total time taken
Uniform motion and Non-uniform motion
When an object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time, it is in uniform motion.
Examples of Uniform Motion
• Movement of the ceiling fan’s blades.
• Motion of Earth around the sun
• Pendulum with equivalent amplitude on either side
When an object covers unequal distances in equal intervals of time, it is said to be in
nonuniform motion.
• Bouncing ball
• Running horse
• Moving train
Velocity
The Rate of change of displacement is velocity. It is a vector quantity. Here the direction of
motion is specified.
Velocity=Displacement/Time
Instantaneous velocity is the rate of change of position for a time interval which is very
small, i.e. almost zero. In more simple words, the velocity of an object at a given instant of
time is known as instantaneous velocity.
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity is called acceleration. It is a vector quantity. In non-uniform
motion, velocity varies with time, i.e., the change in velocity is not 0. It is denoted by “a”
Acceleration = Change in Velocity / Time
(OR) a=v−ut
Where t (time taken), v (final velocity) and u (initial velocity).
TYPES OF ACCELERATION:
Distance-Time Graph
• Distance-Time graphs show the change in the position of an object with respect to
time.
• Linear variation = uniform motion and non-linear variations imply non-uniform
motion
• The slope gives us speed
Distance – Time Graph
• OA implies uniform motion with constant speed as the slope is constant
• AB implies the body is at rest as the slope is zero
• B to C is a non-uniform motion
Velocity-Time Graph
• Velocity-Time graphs show the change in velocity with respect to time.
• Slope gives acceleration
• The area under the curve gives displacement
• Line parallel to x-axis implies constant velocity-
Uniform Circular Motion
• If an object moves in a circular path with uniform speed, its motion is called uniform
circular motion.
• Velocity changes as direction keeps changing. Acceleration is constant.
Uniform Circular Motion Examples:
Following are the examples of uniform circular motion:
• Motion of artificial satellites around the earth is an example of uniform circular
motion. The gravitational force from the earth makes the satellites stay in the circular
orbit around the earth.
• The motion of electrons around its nucleus.
• The motion of blades of the windmills.
• The tip of second’s hand of a watch with a circular dial shows uniform circular
motion.
Defining Centripetal Force
According to the centripetal force definition,
Centripetal force is the force acting on an object in curvilinear motion directed towards the
axis of rotation or centre of curvature. The unit of centripetal force is newton.
The centripetal force is always directed perpendicular to the direction of the object’s
displacement.
Centripetal Force Examples
• When spinning a ball on a string or twirling a lasso, the force of tension on the rope
pulls the object towards the centre.
• The centripetal force is provided by the frictional force between the ground and the
wheels when turning a car.
• When going through a loop on a roller coaster, the force is provided by the normal
force as the seat or wall pushes you towards the centre.
• For the planets orbiting around the Sun, the centripetal force is provided by Gravity.
OTHER RELATED MOTION GRAPHS:
