Year 10 - Science
Calculating from motion graphs (a=Δv/t and v=s/t)
Measuring and calculating motion
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers vector-scalar distinctions in displacement, distance, velocity, and speed. It explores speeds, acceleration, motion graphs, and formulas for uniform and non-uniform motion. It also includes understanding circular motion and conducting accurate measurements, and calculations.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to take readings from motion graphs to calculate distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.
Key Notes
- A displacement–time graph shows how displacement changes with time.
- A velocity–time graph shows how velocity changes with time.
- Displacement–time and velocity–time graphs of the same motion have different shapes.
- Acceleration is equal to the gradient of a velocity–time graph.
- A falling line shows deceleration (decreasing velocity) which is a negative acceleration.
Vocabulary To Learn
- displacement–time graph: A displacement–time graph shows the displacement of an object over a period of time.
- velocity–time graph: A velocity–time graph shows the velocity of an object over a period of time.
- velocity: The velocity of an object is the rate of change of displacement. This is how fast it is moving in a particular direction.
- acceleration: The acceleration of an object is the rate of change of velocity. This is how much the velocity changes per second.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils often confuse displacement–time graphs with velocity–time graphs.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
A displacement–time graph shows how displacement changes with time. A velocity–time graph shows how velocity changes with time.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'displacement–time graph'
A displacement–time graph shows the displacement of an object over a period of time. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils often confuse displacement–time graphs with velocity–time graphs. Correction: Emphasise the need for pupils to always read the axes of a graph first, before they start to think about any lines drawn on it.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Acceleration (a = Δv/t) Study Guide
- Acceleration (a=(v-u)/t) Study Guide
- Automated measurement of speed Study Guide
- Calculating acceleration (a = Δv/t) Study Guide
- Calculating acceleration (a=(v-u)/t) Study Guide
- Calculating from displacement-time graphs (v = s ÷ t) Study Guide
- Calculating from displacement-time graphs (v = x ÷ t) Study Guide
- Calculating from displacement-time graphs: including tangents (v = s ÷ t) Study Guide
- Calculating from displacement-time graphs: including tangents (v = x ÷ t) Study Guide
- Calculating from motion graphs (a=(v–u)/t and v=s/t) Study Guide
- Calculating from motion graphs (a=(v–u)/t and v=x/t) Study Guide
- Calculating from motion graphs: including displacement (a=(v-u)/t and v=s/t) Study Guide
- Calculating from motion graphs: including displacement (a=(v-u)/t and v=x/t) Study Guide
- Calculating from motion graphs: including displacement (a=Δv/t and v=s/t) Study Guide
- Calculating from velocity-time graphs (a = Δv/t) Study Guide
- Calculating from velocity-time graphs (a=(v-u)/t) Study Guide
- Different speeds (v=s/t) Study Guide
- Different speeds (v=x/t) Study Guide
- Displacement and velocity as vectors (v=s/t) Study Guide
- Displacement and velocity as vectors (v=x/t) Study Guide
- Displacement and velocity as vectors: including circular motion Study Guide
- Displacement and velocity as vectors: including movement around a circle Study Guide
- Measuring acceleration analysis (v = s ÷ t, a = (v – u) ÷ t) Study Guide
- Measuring acceleration analysis (v = s ÷ t, a = Δv ÷ t) Study Guide
- Measuring acceleration analysis (v = x ÷ t, a = (v – u) ÷ t) Study Guide
- Measuring acceleration practical (v=s/t, a = Δv/t) Study Guide
- Measuring acceleration practical (v=s/t, a=(v-u)/t) Study Guide
- Measuring acceleration practical (v=x/t, a=(v-u)/t) Study Guide
- Measuring instantaneous speed analysis (v=s/t) Study Guide
- Measuring instantaneous speed analysis (v=x/t) Study Guide
- Measuring instantaneous speed practical (v = s ÷ t) Study Guide
- Measuring instantaneous speed practical (v = x ÷ t) Study Guide
- Motion calculations (a=(v–u)/t, v²−u²=2as & v=s/t) Study Guide
- Motion calculations (a=(v–u)/t, v²−u²=2ax & v=x/t) Study Guide
- Motion calculations (a=Δv/t, v²−u²=2as & v=s/t) Study Guide
- Motion calculations: including complex ones (a=(v–u)/t, v²−u²=2as & v=s/t) Study Guide
- Motion calculations: including complex ones (a=(v−u)/t, v²−u²=2ax & v=x/t) Study Guide
- Motion calculations: including complex ones (a=Δv/t, v²−u²=2as & v=s/t) Study Guide
- Velocity on a graph (v = s ÷ t) Study Guide
- Velocity on a graph (v = x ÷ t) Study Guide
- Velocity on displacement-time graphs (v = s ÷ t) Study Guide
- Velocity on displacement-time graphs (v = x ÷ t) Study Guide
- Velocity-time graphs: acceleration and distance travelled (a = Δv/t) Study Guide
- Velocity-time graphs: acceleration and distance travelled (a=(v-u)/t) Study Guide
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