State the definition of distance and displacement

2.1 Linear Motion Distance

Learning Standard
2.1.1 Describe the type of linear motion of an
object in the following states Dispacement
(i) Stationary (ii) uniform velocity
(iii) non-uniform velocity

2.1.2 Determine:
(i) distance and displacement 2. Diagram below shows the difference between
(ii) speed and velocity distance and displacement.
(iii) acceleration / deceleration

2.1.3 Solve problems involving linear motion

using the following equations:
(i) a = u + at (ii) s = ½ (u + v)t
(iii) s = ut + ½ at2 (iv) v2 = u2 + 2as
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Introduction
Linear motion is a study of moving object in a
………………… = Length of the road
straight line.

………………… = Length of the line AB

How would you describe the motion of the runner

in words? We describe linear motion in terms of
distance, displacement, speed, velocity,
acceleration and deceleration.

Activity 1:
Aim: To study distance and displacement

1. Your task is to put a pencil at point C.

3. Every day Rahim walks from his house to the

junction which is 1.5 km from his house. Then
he turns back and stops at warung Pak Din
which is 0.5 km from his house.
(a) What is Rahim’s displacement from his
house
(i) when he reaches the junction?

2. With a pencil take a ride from position A to B ……………………………………………………

and to the final destination, C. Your total path
of length = …….., this value is known as …… (ii) When he is at warung Pak Din?

3. Repeat step 2 but now from A direct to the ……………………………………….…………

final destination of C. This is your shortest
path to the final destination, C. (b) After breakfast, Rahim walks back to his
Value = ……………. house. When he reaches home,
This value is known …………………. (i) what is the total distance traveled by
Rahim?

…………………………………………………
 2. The speedometer reading for a car traveling
(ii) what was Rahim’s total displacement north shows 80 km/hr. Another car traveling
from his house? at 80 km/hr towards south. Is the speed of
both cars same? Is the velocity of both cars
same?
…………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………
4. In a jungle tracking activity, a scout is given a
compass and a map. He starts his journey ………………………………………………………………
from station A and is required to walk to
station B which is located 400 m to the east of 3. Give definition of acceleration and its
station A. When he reached station B, he is formula.
ordered to go to station C which is 400 m north
from station B.

(a) When the scout is at station C,

(i) what is the distance he traveled from 4. Observe the motion of the car in Diagram (a),
station A? Diagram (b) and Diagram (c).

……………………………………………………

(ii) What is the scout’s displacement from Rajah (a)

station A? State the magnitude and
direction of the scout from station A.

……………………………………………………………… Rajah (b)

(b) Why does the answer in (i) and (ii) different?

……………………………………………………………… Rajah (c)

Aktivity 2: Describe the changes in displacement and

Aim: speed, velocity, uniform velocity, non velocity of a car. Is the car accelerate or
uniform velocity, acceleration, deceleration and decelerate?
zero acceleration Diagram Diagram Diagram
(a) (b) (c)
1. Difference between speed and velocity displacement
Speed: Velocity:
Velocity

Acceleration

SI unit: SI unit:
5. A bicyclist starts from rest and increases his
Quantiti: Quantiti: velocity at a constant rate until he reaches a
speed of 4.0 m/s in 5.0 s. What is his average
acceleration?
Formula Formula
(a) state the initial velocity =

(b) state the final velocity =

(c) state the time taken =

(d) calculate acceleration

Exercise 1:
1. You walk along a long straight school corridor 4. Figure 2.6 shows Radzi’s run from A to B and
for 55 m, then you turn around and walk 30 m then back to C. The total time taken is 20 s.
in the opposite. Finally, you turn again and Determine the
walk 39 m in the original direction and stop. (a) distance (b) displacement
What is your displacement from your starting
point?

(c) speed (d) velocity

of Radzi’s motion.

2. A boy walks finish the following path AB.

Find:
(a) total distance traveled
5. Muthu moves
from O to B along
the route OAB as
(b) displacement
shown in Figure
2.7. The time
taken is 15 s.
Determine the
(a) distance
3. Fill in the blanks:
(a) Constant speed 10 m/s:
A constant speed of 10 m/s: A distance of
………… is traveled every ………… (b) displacement

(b) Constant velocity 10 m/s:

A steady velocity of 10 m/s: A ………………….
(c) speed (d) velocity
of 10 m is traveled every …………… to the of Muthu’s motion.
right.

(c) Constant velocity – 10 m/s:

A constant velocity of - 10 m/s: A ……………..
of 10 m is traveled every …………. to the left.

(d) Constant acceleration 4 ms-2 :

6. After landing on the runway, a plane slows
Speed ……….……. by 4 m/s every second.
down so that its velocity reduces from 75 m
s–1 to 5 m s–1 in 20 s. What is the acceleration
(e) Constant acceleration 4 ms-2 : of the plane?
A steady deceleration of 4 ms-2 : Speed
…………… by 4 m/s every second.
Relating Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration and STEP 4 : Determination of acceleration
Time

Ticker timer:

The first strip: Initial velocity, u at AB = …………..

The last strip: Final velocity, v at DE = …………….

The time interval for, = ……………...t

the change in the velocity

Acceleration, a = ………………………………..

 It is connected to an ……………. current 2. Calculate the acceleration .

power supply of 50 Hz. When it is turned on,
the iron strip will vibrate 50 times per second.

 The time taken to make 50 dots on the ticker

tape is 1 second. Hence, the time interval
between 2 consecutive dots is 1/50 = 0.02 s.

 Give definition of one tick.

……………………………………………………………… 3. A ticker tape below contains 5 ticks for every

interval AB,BC,CD and DE. Calculate the
Activity 2: acceleration.
Aim: Method of calculationn

To investigate motion in laboratory mean to

determine distance / displacement, speed/
velocity, time and acceleration/ deceleration

Making a speed-time graph

Ticker tape gain from the experiment:

STEP 1: Determination of time taken for 1 tick.

(a) Time taken for 50 ticks = …………..

(b) Time taken for 1 tick = …………….

(c) Time taken from A to B = …… ticks = ……. s

STEP 2 : Determination of displacement

The displacement of the object is determined by

measuring the length of the ticker tape that is
pulled through the ticker time

Displacement from A to B = …… cm

STEP 3 : Determination of velocity

Velocity, v = displacement
Time
3. The diagram above shows a ticker tape chart
= ………………… cm/s for a moving trolley. The frequency of the
 ticker-timer used is 50 Hz. Each section has Distance between the
10 dots-spacing. dots:

……….................................

Type of motion:

………………………………

Distance between the dot

…………………. Uniformly

The velocity is of the

object is ……………
uniformly
The object is moving at a
(a) What is the time between two dots? uniform ………………….
………………………………………………………
Distance between the
(b) What is the time for one strips. dots ………………..
uniformly
……………………………………………………… The velocity of the object
(c) What is the initial velocity is ……………… uniformly

The object is
(d) What is the final velocity. experiencing uniform
…………………

(e) What is the time interval to change from Activity 4: To determine displacement, average
initial velocity to final velocity? velocity and acceleration

……………………………………………………….. Apparatus: Ticker timer, trolley, 12 V power

supply, runway, ticker tape, ruler
(f) What is the acceleration of the object?
Procedure:
1. Raise one end of runway to a reasonable
height.
2. Pass the ticker tape through the ticker timer
and attach it to a trolley at the top of the
4. The figure shows a tape chart. runway.
Calculate 3. Switch on the ticker timer and release the
(a) the acceleration trolley.
(b) the average velocity 4. When the trolley comes to a stop, cut the
tape.

5. Mark and cut the tape into 10-tick strips from

5. To identify the types of motion the start of the first clear dot
6. Paste the 10-tick strips side-by-side on a
paper to make a tape chart.
 Find 1st strip Last
strip
The displacement of
the 10-tick

The time covered for

the 10-tick strip

Average velocity
over the 10-tick
Strip

Change in velocity
between the two 10-
tick strip
Time taken for the
change in velocity

Acceleration

Conclusion:

………………………………………………………………

Activity 5:
Aim: Derive linear motion equations and solve 1. A car accelerates from rest to 25 m s-1 in 4 s.
problems Find the acceleration of the car.

First linear motion equation

2. When a racing car passes through on a

straight track, its velocity is 40 ms-1. After 3
seconds, the racing car achieves the speed
50 ms-1. Calculate the displacement travelled.

Second linear motion equation

3. The 100 m men world record holder, Usian

Bolt starts his run from rest and achieved his
maximum velocity after he accelerating
uniformly for 9.58 s. Determine his
acceleration.

Third linear motion equation

4. Maria rides a bicycle at a velocity of 8 m s–1.
She brakes suddenly and stops after a
distance of 2 m. What is the acceleration of
Maria and her bicycle?

Fourth linear motion equation

5. A car moving along a straight road at a
velocity of 30 m s–1 reduces its velocity at a
constant rate until it stops after 5 s. What is
the acceleration of the car?

6. A boy is cycling down a hill. His initial

velocity is 4 ms-1. After he moves 35 m, his
velocity becomes 10 m s-1.
v = u + at .(1) Where (a) What is the time for the boy to travel at a
distance 35 m?
s :………………………
s= u+v t .(2)
2 u :………………………
(b) What it is his acceleration?
s = ut + ½ at2 .(3) v :………………………

a :………………………

v2 = u2 + 2as .(4) t :……………………….

7. A car accelerates from rest at 3 ms-2 along a ruler. Catch the ruler as soon as it is
straight road. How far has the car traveled released. Mark the position where you catch
after 4 s? the ruler. The ruler falls with acceleration 10
m s-2, calculate your reaction time.

TUTORIAL 2.1
8. A car is traveling at 20 m/s along a straight 1. Which physical quantity is equal to
road. The driver puts the brakes on for 5 s. It displacement?
this causes a deceleration of 3 m s-2 , what is Time
the car’s final velocity? A. Speed C. Distance
B. Velocity D. Acceleration

2. The acceleration of a car moving with a

constant velocity will be
A. increased
B. constant
C. zero
D. decreased

3. Muthu cycles from his house to the shop.

While coming back, he stops at Ahmad’s
house.

9. A car moving with constant velocity of 40

ms-1. The driver saw and obstacle in front
and he immediately stepped on the brake
pedal and managed to stop the car in 8 s.
The distance of the obstacle from the car
when the driver spotted it was 180 m. How
far is the obstacle from the car after it stops.
What is his displacement from his house?
A. 300 m
B. 400 m
C. 1 100 m

4. Which of the following is true regarding the

motion of an object having zero acceleration?
A. The object is not moving
B. The object is moving with uniform
velocity
C. The object is at rest or moves with
uniform velocity
D. The object is moving with maximum
velocity.
5. A tick from a ticker timer is
A. time interval between two consecutive
10. You can determine your reaction time by
dots on a ticker tape.
catching a ruler between your fingers which
B. distance between two consecutive dots
is released. Ready to catch the ruler by
on a ticker tape.
opening your fingers at the ‘zero’ mark of the
 C. frequency of vibration from the ticker
timer
D. velocity of vibration from the ticker timer.

6. Which statement is true about the ticker tape

shown below?

A. Velocity between CD is low.

B. Velocity between DE and velocity
between AB are equal.
C. Frequency between BC is higher than DE Berpakah pecutan troli?
D. Time between AB is equal with the time What is the trolley’s acceleration? (1994)
between DE A. 20 cm s-2
B. 200 cm s-2
7. The diagram shows a ticker tape which is C. 240 cm s-2
pulled by a trolley through a ticker-timer of D. 400 cm s-2
frequency 50 Hz.
11. Diagram below shows the path travelled by
a car from P to S.

The average speed of the trolley’s motion is

A. 0.2 ms-1 C. 0.3 ms-1
B. 0.4 ms-1 D. 0.5 ms-1

8. Average velocity from P to Q in the ticker

tape below is What is the displacement of the car? (2007)
A. 5.0 km
B. 6.8 km
C. 8.2 km
D. 9.0 km

A. 85 cms-1 C. 170 cms-1 12. Diagram 2 shows Ali stands at O. He walks

B. 200 cms-1 D. 240 cms-1 towards A, then moves towards B and stops
at B.
9. Calculate the acceleration.

What is the displacement of Ali? [2012]

A. - 50 ms-2 C. - 500 ms-2 A. 2 m towards west
B. 5 m towards east
B. 50 ms-2 D. 500 ms-2 C. 7 m towards east

10. The diagram below shows a tape chart PAPER 2, SECTION A

which is produced by a moving trolley. The 1. Question 1: Melaka Mid 08
frequency of the ticker-tape timer is 50 Hz Ali walks to the north for a distance of 300 m. He
and each stripe of ticker tape contains 5 then turns west and walks for another distance of
ticks. 400 m to reach Pak Kassim’s stall.
Diagram 1 shows the path taken by Ali.
The type of current used in the ticker timer is
(direct current, alternating current). [1 mark]

(b) Based on Diagram 1.2,

(i) one tick is represented by the time taken
from point .......... to point ..............
[ 1 mark]

(ii) Compare the distance between PQ and ST.

(a) Distance is a ………

Tick (√) the correct answer in the box ………………………………………………………………

below 1 mark]
(iii) State the type of motion of the trolley.
Scalar quantity
………………………………………………………………
Vector quuantity [1 mark]

(b) On Diagram 1, mark an arrow to show the 3. SPM 2016

displacement made by Ali Diagram 1 shows a ticker tape with 5 ticks
[1 mark] obtained from an experiment.

(c) What is the total distance travelled by Ali?

[1 mark]

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

(d) Ali then walks home for another distance of (a) One tick is the time taken from P to ………
500 m. What is the total displacement made [1 mark]
by Ali. [1 mark]
(b) Complete the following sentence by ticking (√)
the correct answer in the box provided.
......................................................................................
The ticker tape can be analysed to determine

2. SPM 2011 Question 2 ………. Distance and speed of an object

Diagram 1.1 shows a trolley moving down an
inclined plane. The ticker timer vibrates at ………. Force and momentum of an object
frequency 50 Hz. Diagram 1.2 shows the ticker [1 mark]
tape produced by the motion of the trolley.
(c) (i) What is the type of motion shown by the
ticker tape in Diagram 1?

………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
(ii) Give one reason for your answer in 1(c)(i).

………………………………………………………………
[1 mark]
Diagram 1.1

Diagram 1.2

(a) Underline the correct answer in the bracket to

complete the sentence below. 4. SPM 2019
Diagram 5.1 and Diagram 5.2 show two ticker
tapes with different lengths produced by the
motion of two trolleys.

Diagram 5.1

Diagram 5.2

(a) What is the meaning of length?

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

......................................................................................
[1 mark]
(b) Based on Diagram 5.1 and Diagram 5.2,
compare
Diagram 5.3
(i) the number of tickes
Based on Diagram 5.3, explain the type of
...................................................................................... motion from W to Y.

(ii) the length of the ticker tapes ......................................................................................

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

(iii) average speed ......................................................................................

..................................................................................... .....................................................................................
[3 marks]
(c) Using your answer in 5(b), state the
relationship between the length of a ticker
tape and average speed.

......................................................................................
[1 mark]

(d) Diagram 5.3 shows a ticker tape chart

produced from the motion of a trolley.