Motion
Motion is the action of changing location or position. If we study motion
without regards to the forces or energies that may be involved is called
Kinematics.
The branch of mechanics that deals with both motion and forces together is
called dynamics and study of forces in absence of changes in motion or
energy is called statics
Physics is often described as the study of matter and energy. To understand
as the study of matter and energy, we have to understand what the physics
itself means.
Physics (in Greek Nature):
It is the branch of science which deals with the study of the natural laws and their
manifestation in the natural phenomenon.
Mechanics (oldest branch):
If deals with the conditions of rest or motion of the material objects around us.
Statics:
It deals with the study of object at rest or in equilibrium, even when they are under
the action of several forces (measurement of time is not essential).
Kinematics:
It deals with the study of motion of objects without considering the cause of motion
measurement of time is essential.
Kimematics(Greek Word) Kinema → motion
Dynamics:
It deal with the study of objects taking into consideration the cause of their motion.
Dynamics(Greek Word) Dynamics→ power
MOTION:
Any kind of movement in a body is known as motion. A body is said to be in motion
when its position or state changes continuously with respect to a stationary object
taken as a reference point. Motion is a relative term.
REST:
A body is said to be at rest when its position or state does not change with respect
to a stationary object taken as a reference point. Rest is also a relative term.
MOTION OR REST : A RELATIVE TERM
Motion or rest is a relative term that means a body can be at rest or in motion at the
same time depending upon the point of reference. For example :
A, B and C are three persons. B and C are sitting in the car and A is standing outside it.
When car starts to move, B and C are changing their position with respect to A so B and
C are in motion with respect to A but B is not changing its position with time with respect
to C, so B is at rest with respect to C (same for C). Therefore motion depends on the
position of the observer , hence motion is relative.
Ex. We know that the earth is rotating about its axis and revolving around the sun. The
stationary objects like your classroom, a tree and the lamp posts etc., do not change
their position with respect to each other i.e. they are at rest. Although earth is in motion.
To an observer situated outside the earth, say in a space ship, our classroom, trees etc.
would appear to be in motion. Therefore, all motions are relative. There is nothing like
absolute motion.
Concept of a Point Object :
In mechanics while studying the motion of an object, sometimes it dimension
are of no importance and the object may be treated as point object without
much error. When the size of the object is much less in comparison to the
distance covered by the object then the object is considered as a point object.
Ex. If one travels by a car from one place to another faraway place, then
length of the car is ignored as compared to distance traveled.
Ex. Earth can be regarded as a point object for studying its motion around the
sun.
Frame of Reference:
To locate the position of object we need a frame of reference. A convenient
way to set up a frame of reference is to choose three mutually perpendicular
axis and name them x-y-z axis. The coordinates (x, y, z) of the particle then
specify the position of object w.r.t. that frame. If any one o more coordinates
change with time, then we say that the object is moving w.r.t. this frame
MOTIONS IN ONE, TWO
AND THREE DIMENSIONS
(TYPE OF MOTION)
As position of the object may change with time due to change in one or two or
all the three coordinates, so we have classified motion as follows:
MOTION IN ONE DIMENSION:
If only one of the three co-ordinates specifying the position of object changes
w.r.t. time. In such a case the object moves along a straight line and the
motion therefore is also known as rectilinear or linear motion.
Ex.
● Motion of train along straight railway track.
● An object falling freely under gravity.
● When a particle moves from P1 to P2 along a straight line path only the
x-co-ordinate changes.
MOTION IN TWO DIMENSION:
If two of the three co-ordinates specifying the position of object changes w.r.t.
time, then the motion of object is called two dimensional. In such a motion the
object moves in a plane.
Ex.
● Motion of queen on carom board.
● An insect crawling on the floor of the room.
● Motion of object in horizontal and vertical circles etc.
● Motion of planets around the sun.
● A car moving along a zigzag path on a level road.
MOTION IS THREE DIMENSION:
If all the three co-ordinates specifying the position of object changes w.r.t.
time, then the motion of object is called 3-D. In such a motion the object
moves in a space.
Ex.
● A bird flying in the sky (also kite).
● Random motion of gas molecules.
● Motion of an aeroplane in space.
TYPES OF MOTION
● Linear motion (or translatory motion) : The motion of a moving car, a
person running, a stone being dropped.
● Rotational motion : The motion of an electric fan, motion of earth about its
own axis.
● Oscillatory motion : The motion of a simple pendulum, a body suspended
from a spring (also called to and fro motion).
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
Those quantities which can be measured are known as physical quantities.
For example, mass, weight, speed, velocity, acceleration etc.
TYPES OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES:
● Scalar Quantities
● Vector Quantities
Scalar Quantities: The physical quantities which are completely described by the
magnitude only are known as scalar quantities. Mass, length, time, work, energy,
power etc. are scalar quantities.
Vector Quantities: The physical quantities which are completely described by the
magnitude as well as the direction are known as vector quantities. Velocity,
acceleration, weight, displacement etc, are vector quantities.
A vector is represented by a letter (symbol) having arrow over it. e.g. .
Where F denotes the force.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCALAR AND VECTOR
QUANTITIES:
DISTANCE AND DISPLACEMENT
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISTANCE AND
DISPLACEMENT
UNIFORM MOTION:
A body has a uniform motion if it travels equal distances in equal intervals of
time, no matter how small these time intervals may be. For example, a car
running at a constant speed of say, 10 meters per second, will cover equal
distances of 10 metres every second, so its motion will be uniform. Please
note that the distance-time graph for uniform motion is a straight line
NON-UNIFORM MOTION:
Body has a non-uniform if it travels unequal distances in equal intervals of time. For example, if
we drop a ball from the roof of a building, we will find that it covers unequal distances in equal
intervals of time. It covers:
4.9 metres in the 1st second
14.7 metres in the 2nd second
24.5 metres in the 3rd second and so on.
Thus, a freely falling ball covers smaller distance in the initial ‘1 second’ interval and larger
distance in the later ‘1 second’ interval. From this discussion we conclude that the motion of a
freely falling body is an example of non-uniform motion. The motions of a train starting from the
railway station is also an example of non-uniform motion. This is because when the train starts
from a s station, if moves a very small distance in the ‘first’ second. The train moves a little
more distance in the ‘2nd’ second and so on. And when the train approaches the next station,
the distance traveled by it per second decreases.
SPEED:
Speed of a body is defined as the distance travelled by it per unit time irrespective of
direction. It is a scalar quantity.
or v = s/t
Where v is the speed, s is the distance covered and ‘t’ is the time taken.
The S.I. unit of speed is ms-1(metre per second). It can also be represented as
centimetre per second and kilometre per hour.
The speed of a running car is shown by an instrument called “SPEEDOMETRE”.
The distance travelled by the car is measured by another instrument called
ODOMETRE.
Average Speed:
For an object moving with variable speed, it is the total distance traveled by the object
divided by the total time taken to cover that distance.
Average speed = total distance travelled/total time taken
Variable Speed (Non-Uniform Speed):
If a body covers unequal distance in equal intervals of time, its motion is said
to be non-uniform.
Speed (A to B) = 30/1 Speed (B to C) = 20/1 Speed (C to D) = 10/1
= 30 km/hr = 20 km/hr =10 km/hr
Instantaneous Speed:
The speed of an object at any particular instant of time or at particular point of
its path is called the instantaneous speed of the object. it is measure red by
speedometer in an automobile.
VELOCITY:
Velocity of a body is defined as the displacement travelled by it per unit time. In other
words velocity of a body is its speed in a given direction. It is a vector quantity.
Velocity = Displacement/Time
or v = s/t
where v is the velocity
s is the distance travelled
't' is the time taken
The S.I. unit of velocity is ms -1
Therefore, 25 km/hr is SPEED and 25 km/hr towards North is VELOCITY.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPEED AND VELOCITY:
Uniform Velocity (Constant Velocity):
If a body covers equal distance in equal intervals of time in a given direction
then it is said to be moving with constant velocity.
Non-Uniform Velocity:
When a body does not cover not cover equal distances in equal intervals of
time, in a given direction (in this case speed is not constant), then it is known
as non uniform velocity. If speed is constant then also body can have a non-
uniform velocity.
Ex. A car moving on a circular road with constant speed.
Average velocity:
It is defined as total displacement covered by particle divided by total time taken to cover that displacement.
e.g. (a) If a person is moving along a straight line AB with C as a mid-point of line AB.
Person moves from A to C with velocity v1 and C to B with velocity v2 So, average velocity of a person for
whole motion = AC + CB/tAC + tCB
ACCELERATION:
The rate of change of velocity with time is known as acceleration. In other words, the
acceleration is defined as the change in velocity per unit time.
i.e. Acceleration = change in velocity /time
or Acceleration = Final velocity - Initial velocity/time
or a = v-u/t
Where a = Acceleration of the body
v = Final velocity of the body
u= Initial velocity of the body
t = Time taken for this change in velocity
● A body is said to be accelerating if its velocity is changing
● S.I. unit of acceleration is ms-2 (metre per second square).
● Acceleration is a vector quantity.
● When a body is moving with uniform velocity, its acceleration is zero (or
no acceleration).
This is because there is no change in velocity as Initial velocity = Final
velocity.
A body moving with non-uniform velocity is said to be in accelerated motion.
TYPES OF ACCELERATION:
● Positive acceleration : If the velocity of an object increases in the same
direction, the object has a positive acceleration.
● Negative acceleration (retardation): If the velocity of a body decreases
in the same direction, the body has negative acceleration or it is said to
be retarding.
e.g. A train slows down.
Uniform Acceleration (Uniformly Accelerated
Motion):
If a body travels in a straight line and its velocity increases in equal amounts in
equal intervals of time. Its motion is known as uniformly accelerated motion.
e.g. 1 Motion of a freely falling body is an example of uniformly accelerated
motion (or motion of a body under the gravitational pull of the earth).
e.g. 2 Motion of a bicycle going down the slope of a road when the rider is not
pedaling and wind resistance is negligible.
Non-uniform acceleration:
A body is said to have non-uniform acceleration if its velocity increases or
decreases by unequal amount in equal intervals of time.
OR
When the velocity of a body changes at unequal rate or non-uniform rate.
e.g. most of the motion in daily life are having non uniform acceleration.
The velocity-time graph for a body having non uniform acceleration is curved line.
Question
−1
Question: A car attains a speed of 10 ms in 10 s, starting from rest. Calculate the acceleration of the car.
Solution: Given,
Initial velocity, u=0
−1
Final velocity, v = 10 ms
Time t = 10 s
We know that, acceleration, a = v-u/t
−2
∴ a = 10-0/10 = 1 ms
−2
∴ Acceleration of the car = 1 ms
Question 2
Question. The velocity of an object is decreasing with passage of time. What conclusion do you draw about
acceleration of the object?
Solution: The acceleration is negative (i.e. retardation).
−1
Question. A car starts from rest and attains a velocity of 10 ms in 40 s. The driver applies brakes and slows
−1
down the car to 5 ms in 10 s. Find the acceleration of the car in both the cases.
Solution: First case:
Initial velocity, u = 0
−1
Final velocity, v = 10 ms
Time, t = 40 s
Using a = v-u/t we get
−1
a = (10-0)/40s ms
−2
= 0.25 ms
Continue
Second case:
−1
Initial velocity, u = 10 ms
−1
Final velocity, v = 5 ms
Time, t = 10 s
Using a = v-u/twe get
a = (5-10)/10s ms-1
−2
=-5/10 ms
−2
= − 0.5 ms
In first case, car is accelerated and in the second case, the car is retarded.
MOTIONS IN ONE, TWO AND
THREE DIMENSIONS (TYPE
OF MOTION)
As position of the object may change with time due to change in one or two or
all the three coordinates, so we have classified motion as follows:
MOTION IN ONE DIMENSION:
If only one of the three co-ordinates specifying the position of object changes
w.r.t. time. In such a case the object moves along a straight line and the
motion therefore is also known as rectilinear or linear motion.
Ex.
● Motion of train along straight railway track.
● An object falling freely under gravity.
● When a particle moves from P1 to P2 along a straight line path only the
x-co-ordinate changes.
MOTION IN TWO DIMENSION:
If two of the three co-ordinates specifying the position of object changes w.r.t.
time, then the motion of object is called two dimensional. In such a motion the
object moves in a plane.
Ex.
● Motion of queen on carom board.
● An insect crawling on the floor of the room.
● Motion of object in horizontal and vertical circles etc.
● Motion of planets around the sun.
● A car moving along a zigzag path on a level road.
MOTION IN THREE DIMENSION:
If all the three co-ordinates specifying the position of object changes w.r.t.
time, then the motion of object is called 3-D. In such a motion the object
moves in a space.
Ex.
● A bird flying in the sky (also kite).
● Random motion of gas molecules.
● Motion of an aeroplane in space.
TYPES OF MOTION
We may have noticed that different objects move differently. Some objects
move in a curved path, some in a straight path, and a few others in a different
way. According to the nature of the movement, the movement is divided into
three types as follows:
● Linear Motion
● Rotary Motion
● Oscillatory Motion
Linear motion (or translatory motion)
The motion of a moving car, a person running, a stone being dropped. The motion is
further is divided into
1. Rectilinear Motion – In rectilinear motion, the path of the motion is a straight line.
2. Curvilinear Motion – In curvilinear motion, the path of the motion is curved.
Rotational motion
The motion of an electric fan, motion of earth about its own axis.
Example:
3. The motion of the Earth on its axis around the Sun is an example of rotational
motion.
4. An example of rotational motion when driving a car is the movement of the wheels
and the steering wheel around its axis.
Oscillatory motion
The motion of a simple pendulum, a body suspended from a spring (also
called to and fro motion).
Example:
1. When a child is pushed on the swing, the swing moves back and forth
around its center position.
2. A clock pendulum oscillates as it moves back and forth around its middle
position.
3. The guitar string moves back and forth about the middle position when
strummed, resulting in an oscillating motion.
MATHEMATICAL DERIVATION OF EQUATIONS OF
MOTION
When the body is moving along a straight line with uniform acceleration, a relation can be
established between velocity of the body, acceleration of the body and the distance travelled
by the body in a specific time by a set of equations. These equations are called equations of
motion.
The Three equations are:
1. First Equation of motion : v = u + at
2. Second Equation of motion : s = ut + 1/2at 2
3. Third Equation of motion : v 2 - u2 = 2as
Where u = initial velocity of the body
v = final velocity of the body a = uniform acceleration of the body
t = time taken s = distance travelled
FIRST EQUATION OF MOTION
v = u + at
Consider a body having initial velocity ‘u’. Suppose it is subjected to a uniform
acceleration ‘a’ so that after time ‘t’ its final velocity becomes ‘v’. Now we now,
Acceleration = change in velocity/time
a= v-u/t
or v = u + at or v = at + u …..(i)
SECOND EQUATION OF MOTION
To Solve Numerical problems:
● If a body is dropped from a height then its initial velocity u = 0 but has
acceleration (acting). If a body starts from rest its initial velocity u = 0.
● If a body comes to rest, its final velocity v = 0 or, if a body reached the
highest point after being thrown upwards its final velocity v = 0 but has
acceleration (acting).
● If a body moves with uniform velocity, its acceleration is zero i.e. a = 0.
● Motion of body is called free fall if only force acting on it is gravity (i.e.
earth’s attraction).
Numerical problems:
