LESSON 1

LINEAR MOTION
Introduction
Distance = Length of the road
Displacement = Length of the line AB
If the motion in a straight line and in one
direction , the magnitude of distance is same as
the magnitude of displacement .

Linear motion is the motion a straight line and

the movement in a direction where forwards is
positive and backwards is negative.
Kinematics is the section of physics which
studies the motions of objects without
considering the effects that produce the motion.
The study generally involves the analysis of the
position of an object in relation to time.
Dynamics is the section of physics which
studies the causes of motion of an object.

Speed and Velocity ,v

Speed is the rate of change of distance.
Speed = distance travelled
time taken

Distance ,d and Displacement, s

Average speed = total distance traveled

total time taken
Speed is a scalar quantity and the value
always positive.
The unit of speed is metre per second (m s-1)

Distance ,d is how far a body travels during a

motion without considering any particular
direction or the length of the path of an object.
Distance is a scalar quantity and the value
always positive.
The unit of distance is metre (m)

Velocity is the rate of change of displacement.

Velocity = displacement
time taken
v=s
t
Average velocity = total displacement
total time taken

Displacement, s is distance traveled in a

particular direction.
Displacement, s = final position initial position
Displacement is a vector quantity and the value
can be positive and negative depend on their
directions.
The unit of displacement is metre (m)

Velocity is a vector quantity and the value can

be positive and negative depend on their
directions.
The unit of velocity is metre per second (m s-1)

Diagram below shows the difference between

distance and displacement.

If an object moves in a circle with constant

speed , it has different velocities at different
points along the circle because the direction and
hence the velocity of the object is always
changing as shown in the following diagram.

Acceleration, a and Deceleration (Retardation)

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
Acceleration = change in velocity
time taken
Acceleration = final velocity initial velocity
time taken
a = v - u
t
Negative acceleration is called as deceleration
(retardation)
Acceleration is a vector quantity
The unit of acceleration or deceleration is
metre per second per second (ms-2)

Example 2

Figure above shows runner runs 500 m

towards east in 2 minutes and 1200m towards
north in 4 minutes.
Calculate his
(a) average speed
(b) average velocity

Extra notes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

uniform = constant = same

increasing velocity = acceleration
decreasing velocity (slow down) =
deceleration
zero velocity = the object is stationary
(at rest)
negative velocity = the object moves in
opposite direction
uniform velocity = zero acceleration
negative acceleration = deceleration
(retardation)

Solution

Example 3
An object accelerates uniformly along a straight
line from a velocity of 10 m s-1 until 25 m s-1 in
5 s.
Calculate
(a) the acceleration of the object
(b) the velocity of the object during the first 10
s of motion
(c) the time taken to reach a final velocity 50
ms-1

Example 1
A boy walks finish the following path PQ.

Solution
Find
(a) total distance traveled
(b) displacement
Solution

Using a ticker timer to analysing the motion

Example 6

A ticker timer is connected to an alternating

electricity supply (a.c.) and uses the mains
electricity frequency of 50 Hz to make 50 ticks
or vibrations every second.
1 tick is the time interval between one dot and
the next dot on the tape.
50 ticks = 1 s
1 tick = 0.02s

The figure above shows a ticker tape contains 5

ticks for every interval AB.BC.CD and DE
.Calculate the acceleration.
Solution

Example 4

Example 7
Based on the ticker tape above calculate
(a) time taken
(b) average velocity

The following figure shows a tape chart.

Solution

Example 5

Calculate
(a) the acceleration
(b) the average velocity
Based on the figure above, calculate the
acceleration .

Solution

Solution

The type of motion based on ticker tape or tape chart

(a)

The type of motion is

velocity

(c)

acceleration

The type of motion is

velocity

acceleration

(b)
(d)

The type of motion is

velocity

The type of motion is

velocity

acceleration

acceleration

(ii)

(e)

Electronic stroboscope ( multiflash

stroboscope )

Stroboscopic photograph frequency =

light flashes frequency
The type of motion is
velocity

Example 8

acceleration

The following figure a stroboscopic photograph

shows a metal ball moves along a horizontal
plane. The photograph is taken by using a
camera and a mechanical stroboscope has 8
slits and rotates with frequency 5 Hz.

Using a stroboscopic photograph to

analysing the motion
Stroboscopic photograph is the taking of very
short exposure pictures of moving objects
using a camera and a stroboscope.
A stroboscope is a device for making a moving
body intermittently visible in order to make
appear stationary.
The moving object appear freeze when the
stroboscope frequency at the same frequency of
moving object.
There are two types of stroboscopes:
(i)

(a) State the type of motion of the metal ball.

(b) What is the stroboscopic photograph
frequency
(c) What is the time intervals between one
image and the next.
(d) Calculate the average velocity of the metal
ball
(e) What is the number of images in 30
seconds.

Mechanical stroboscope

Solution

Stroboscopic photograph = number of slits x

frequency
stroboscope
frequency
or

f = np

Example 9

Using Equations of Linear Motion with Uniform

Acceleration

The following figure a stroboscopic photograph

shows a trolley down an inclined plane. The
photograph is taken by using a camera and an
electronic stroboscope produces 20 flashes per
second.

The various equations of linear motions of an object

with uniform acceleration are given as follows:
v = u + at
s=

.(1)

u + v t ..(2)
2

s ut

1 2
at ..(3)
2

v2 = u2 + 2as

..(4)

Where
s :
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

u :...

State the type of motion of the trolley.

What is the stroboscopic photograph
frequency
What is the time intervals between one
image and the next.
Calculate
(i) the initial velocity
(ii) the final velocity
(iii) the acceleration

v :...
a :
t :
Extra notes:
moves from rest :

Solution

finally it stops/brakes:..
released from a height / fall freely from
rest :.
thrown vertically upwards:..
at maximum height :.
Example 10
A car accelerates from rest to 25 m s-1 in 4 s.
Find the acceleration of the car.
Solution

Example 11
A bus accelerates uniformly along a straight line
from a velocity 20 ms-1 until 30 ms-1 in 5 s.
Calculate,
(a) the acceleration
(b) the total displacement travelled by the bus
Solution

Example 12
A construction worker accidentally knocks a brick
from a building so that it falls in 4 s to the ground.
Calculate
(a) the velocity of the brick as it hits the ground
(b) the distance fallen of the brick
Solution

TUTORIAL 1
1

A car moves with a constant velocity. The

acceleration of the car is
A
C

B
D

decreased
uniformly

Ali rides a motorcycle with a constant speed 30

km h-1 . Bakar runs at a distance 100 m in 15 s.
Chan rides a bicycle at distance 240 km in 10
hours.

Deceleration means the velocity of an object is

A
C

increased
zero

negative
increased

B
D

positive
decreased

Which comparison is true?

A
B

The following diagram shows an object moves

with a constant speed 5 m s-1 in a circle.

C
D
E
6

The object is also moves with

A
B
C
4

A tick on the ticker tapes is

A
B
C
D

an acceleration
zero acceleration
constant velocity

The diagram shows a path of a moving object.

7

A
C
E

3m
13 m
20 m

B
D

7m
17 m

the speed of the ticker timer

the frequency of the ticker timer
the distance between two consecutive dots
the time interval between two consecutive
dots

The frequency of a ticker timer is 50 Hz. The

time interval between 16 consecutive dots is
A
C
E

If AB = 5m , BC = 5m and CD = 7m ,find the

total displacement of the object if it moves from
A to D.

Speed of Ali = speed of Bakar

Speed of Ali = speed of Bakar = speed of
Chan
Speed of Ali > speed of Bakar
Speed of Ali =speed of Chan > speed of
Bakar
Speed of Bakar = Speed of Chan < speed
of Ali

0.60 s
0.32 s
0.20 s

B
D

0.44 s
0.30 s

Figure shows the ticker tape for the motion of a

trolley.

A
C
E
12

Which of the following statement is true?

A
B
C
D
9

What is the acceleration of the trolley?

A
C
E
13

10

The diagram shows a ticker tape to show the

motions of a trolley.

The velocity between in region DE is

same as the velocity in region A B
Frequency in region BC is greater than
frequency in region DE
The time in region AB is same as the time
in region DE
The velocity between in region CD is low

Based on the figure above , calculate the

average velocity.

A
C
E

What is the final velocity ?

40 cms-1
B 120 cms-1
150 cms-1
D 267 cms-1
-1
420 cms

0.2 ms-1
0.4 ms-1
0.5 ms-1

B
D

2 ms-2
5 ms-2
10 ms-2

B
D

4 ms-2
8 ms-2

The diagram shows a ticker tape to show the

motions of a trolley.

0.3 ms-1
0.5 ms-1

The diagram shows a ticker tape.

What is the acceleration of the trolley?
A
C
E

What is the average velocity between PQ

A
C
E
11

85 cms-1
200 cms-1
500 cms-1

B
D

170 cms-1
240 cms-1

14

-5 ms-2
- 500 ms-2
500 ms-2

B
D

- 50 ms-2
50 ms-2

The following figure shows a tape chart.

The diagram shows a ticker tape.

Based on figure , which of the following is true?

15

At the beginning of
motion

At the end of
motion

the velocity
unchanged

the acceleration
increases

the velocity
increases

the acceleration
increases

the velocity
increases

the acceleration
unchanged

the velocity
unchanged

the acceleration
unchanged

17

A stroboscope has 4 slits and rotates with

frequency 5 Hz. The time intervals between two
successive images is
A
C
E

18

40.0 s
1.0 s
0.05 s

B
D

2.0 s
0.4 s

The diagram shows a stroboscopic photograph

shows an ice cube moves along a horizontal
plane. The photograph is taken by using a
camera and a mechanical stroboscope has 2
slits and rotates with frequency 25 Hz.

Which of the following shows an object moving

with decreasing acceleration ?

What is the velocity of the ice cube?

A
C
E
19

16

5 cms-1
100 cms-1
500 cms-1

B
D

25 cms-1
250 cms-1

The diagram shows a stroboscopic photograph

shows a ball moves along a horizontal plane.
The photograph is taken by using a camera and
an electronic stroboscope produces 50 flashes
per second.

The diagram shows a stroboscopic photograph

of a ball moves on a smooth table.
What is the average velocity of the ball.
A
C
E

Which of the following is true?

A
B
C
D

The acceleration is constant

The velocity is increasing
The acceleration is zero
The velocity is zero

20

10

0. 5 ms-1
1.5 ms-1
3.0 ms-1

B
D

1.0 ms-1
2.0 ms-1

The diagram shows a stroboscopic photograph

shows a boy down an inclined plane. The
photograph is taken by using a camera and an
electronic stroboscope produces 4 flashes per
second.

25

A aero plane accelerates at 40 ms-2 in 10 s

to take off. What is the minimum length of the
runway on the airfield ?
A
C
E

26
The acceleration of the boy is
A
C
E
21

16 ms-1
24 ms-1
32 ms-1

B
D

27

4800 ms-1
6800 ms-1
7500 ms-1

B
D

16 cm
28 cm
42 cm

B
D

4.5 s
13.5 s
22.4 s

B
D

2000 m
4000 m

5 ms -2
3 ms-2
1 ms-2

B
D

4 ms-2
2 ms-2

A lorry start from rest and accelerates at 10

ms-2. What is the velocity of the lorry after

travels for a distance 20m ?

20ms-1
28 ms-1

A
C
E
28

5000 ms-1
7300 ms-1

29

24 cm
30 cm

11

B
D

20ms-1
80 ms-1

5.0 ms-2
2.5 ms-2
7.5 ms-2

B
D

2.5 ms-2
5.0 ms-2

A car moves with a velocity 40 ms-1 . After the

brakes of the car is applied ,it moves 100 m
more before coming to rest. Calculate the
deceleration of the car.
A
C
E

9.0 s
18.0 s

10 ms-1
40 ms-1
100 ms-1

A car travels with a velocity 15 ms-1 . It then

accelerates uniformly and travels a distance of
12.5 m. If the velocity reached is 10 ms-1 find the
acceleration of the car.
A
C
E

A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly

and after travels at distance 45m the velocity
of the car is 20 ms-1 . What is the time taken?
A
C
E

B
D

A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly

. If the distance reached is 900 m after travels
in 30 s, calculate the acceleration of the car.
A
C
E

A trolley starts from rest and is uniformly

accelerated to speed of 12 cms-1 in 5 . What is
the distance travelled by the trolley?
A
C
E

24

12 ms-2
32 ms-2

A rocket starts at velocity 2500 ms-1 and

accelerates uniformly upwards at 20 ms-2 .
What is the velocity of the rocket after 4
minutes.
A
C
E

23

B
D

A cyclist riding at a velocity 8 ms-1 and is

accelerating with 4 ms-2 . What is the velocity
of the cyclist after 5 s .
A
C
E

22

6 ms-2
24 ms-2
48 ms-2

1000 m
3000 m
5000 m

4 ms-2
12 ms-2
20 ms-2

B
D

8 ms-2
16 ms-2

30

A
C
E
31

35

A lorry moves with a velocity 20 ms-1. After the

brakes of the car is applied it moves for a
distance 4 m before coming to rest. What is the
time taken before it stops?
1.0 s
0.6 s
0.2 s

B
D

0.8 s
0.4 s

A stone fall freely from rest through a height of 5

m. What is the velocity of the stone when it hits
the ground.
A
C
E

5 ms-1
15 ms-1
30 ms-1

B
D

The table (a) and (b) shows the distances

travelled and the times taken for four students
in a competition
Student
Distance/m
Time/ s
P
100
20
Q
120
20
Table (a)
Student
Distance/ m
Time/ s
R
100
20
S
100
15
Table (b)
(a) Compare the speeds of the

10 ms-1
20ms-1

(i)

student P and student Q

(ii) student R and student S

32

A coconut falls vertically to the ground. If the

coconut takes 1.5 s to fall to the ground,
calculate the height from which it fell.
A
C
E

33

B
D

11.25 m
22.50 m

.........................
(ii) the speed and the distance in table
(b)

A metal sphere falls 125m vertically to the

ground. What is the time the metal sphere takes
to reach the ground?
A
C
E

34

8.45 m
15.00 m
31.25m

(b) State the relationship between

(i) the speed and the distance in table
(a)

2s
5s
10 s

B
D

.............................
(c) Based on the relationship in (b),state
the definition of speed.

4s
8s

A ball is thrown vertically upwards from the

ground with a velocity of 20 ms-1. Calculate the
maximum height reached.
A
C
E

60 m
30 m
10 m

B
D

40 m
20 m

12

36 Figure (a) shows a ticker tape for the motion of a

trolley .
Figure (b) shows a stroboscopic photograph for
the motion of a glider .

37

The diagram shows a tape chart . The chart is

produced by the motion of a trolley.The ticker
timer used a supply voltage 12 V a.c. at 50 Hz.

(a) Describe the type of motion is shown in the

tape chart.
....................................................................
....................................................................
(b) What is the time interval between two
consecutive dots ?

(a) Observe the figure (a) and (b) and state

two similarities between the positions of
the ticks on the ticker tape and the images
on the stroboscopic photograph.

(c)

....................................................................

(b) Relate the similarities in (a) to explain a

concept of motion.

....................................................................
Calculate
(i) the minimum velocity
(ii)

the maximum velocity

(iii) the average velocity.

(a) What will happen to the ticker timer if it is

connected to a d.c. supply ?

(iv)

(d) What will happen to the motion of the

glider if the slope of the declined plane is
increased?

13

the acceleration.

38

(a) State one suitable inference that can be

made.
(b) State one appropriate hypothesis for an
investigation.
(c) With the use of apparatus such as trolley,
ticker timer and other apparatus , describe
an experimental framework to test your
hypothesis.
In your description , state clearly the
following:
(i) Aim of the experiment
(ii) Variables in the experiment
(iii) List of apparatus and materials
(iv) Arrangement of the apparatus
(v) The procedure of the experiment
which include the method of
controlling the manipulated variable
and the method of measuring the
responding variable.
(vi) Way you would tabulate the data
(vii) Way you would analysis the data

The following equation shows the equations of

linear motion of an object with uniform
acceleration.
v = u + at
(a) (i) What is meant by the symbol of a
(ii)
(b) (i)

(ii)

..
Give the definition of the symbol of a
............................................................
What is the information can you get
from the term of at
.......
What is the S.I. units for the term of
at

..
(c) The above equation can also be used for
an object in state of free-fall. A stone fall
freely to the ground from rest in 4 s.
(i) What is meant by fall freely?

(ii) Calculate the velocity of the stone

when it hits the ground.

39

Each diagram below show two positions of a

student on a swing. The initial position in each
figure is different.

Observe the positions of each of the swing in

each diagram and the appearance of the
student when she swings.
Based on the observations:

14