Chapter 8 MOTION

An object is said to be in motion if its position is changing with respect to a fixed (reference)
point.

Distance: It is the path travelled by an object. Its SI unit is meter. It is a scalar quantity.

Displacement: It is the shortest distance between starting point and final point. Its SI unit is
meter. It is a vector quantity.

Uniform Motion: if an object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time, it is said to be
in uniform motion.

Non Uniform Motion: If an object cover unequal distances in equal intervals of time then the
object is said to be in non uniform motion. For example, when a car is moving on a crowded
street or a person is jogging in a park.

Speed: Distance travelled per unit time is called speed. The SI unit of speed is meter per
second. This is represented by the symbol m/s. The other units of speed include centimeter
per second (cm/s) and kilometer per hour (km/h). It is a scalar quantity. If an object travels a
distance s in time t then its speed v is,

V = s/t

Velocity: Distance travelled per unit time in a given direction is called velocity. The SI unit of
velocity is meter per second. This is represented by the symbol m/s. The other units of
velocity include centimeter per second (cm/s) and kilometer per hour (km/h). It is a vector
quantity. If an object travels a distance s in time t then it velocity v is,

V = s/t

In case the velocity of the object is changing at a uniform rate, then average velocity is given
by the arithmetic mean of initial velocity and final velocity for a given period of time. That is,

Average velocity = (initial velocity + final velocity) / 2

vav = (u + v) / 2

Where vav is the average velocity, u is the initial velocity and v is the final velocity of the object.
Speed and velocity have the same unit’s m/s.

Acceleration: Rate of change of velocity is called acceleration.

Retardation: A body is said to be retarded if its velocity is decreasing.

Acceleration = change in velocity / time

If the velocity of an object changes from an initial value u to the final value v in time t, then
acceleration a is,

Acceleration = (final velocity – initial velocity) / time

a = (v-u) / t

This kind of motion is known as accelerated motion. The acceleration is taken to be positive
if it is in the direction of velocity and negative when it is opposite to the direction of velocity.
The SI unit of acceleration is m/s2. Acceleration is a vector quantity.

Uniform accelerated motion: If an object travels in a straight line and its velocity increases
or decreases by equal amounts in equal intervals of time, then the acceleration of the object
is said to be uniform. Example the motion of a freely falling body

Non uniform accelerated motion: if an object travels along a straight line its velocity
increases by unequal amounts in equal intervals of time, then the object is said to be moving
with non-uniform acceleration. Example, if a car travelling along a straight road increases its
speed by unequal amounts in equal intervals of time.

Scalar quantity: are those quantities which only magnitude. Ex. Speed, distance.

Vector quantity: are those quantities which magnitude as well as direction. Ex. Velocity,
displacement

Graphical Representation of Motion

DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS

Distance-time graph of an object moving with uniform speed

Distance-time graph for a car moving with non-uniform speed

VELOCITY-TIME GRAPHS

If the object moves at uniform velocity, the height of its velocity-time graph will not change
with time (Fig. 8.5). It will be a straight line parallel to the x-axis. Figure shows the velocity-
time graph for a car moving with uniform velocity of 40 km/ h.
In this case, the velocity-time graph for the motion of the car is shown in above figure. The
nature of the graph shows that velocity changes by equal amounts in equal intervals of
time. Thus, for all uniformly accelerated motion, the velocity-time graph is a straight line.
You can also determine the distance moved by the car from its velocity-time graph. The
area under the velocity-time graph gives the distance (magnitude of displacement) moved
by the car in a given interval of time.
The distance s travelled by the car will be given by the area ABCDE under the velocity-time
graph

s= area ABCDE

= area of the rectangle ABCD + area of the triangle ADE

= (AB × BC) +1/2(AD × DE).

In the case of non-uniformly accelerated motion, velocity-time graphs can have any shape.
Fig.(a) shows a velocity-time graph that represents the motion of an object whose velocity is
decreasing with time while Fig.(b) shows the velocity-time graph representing the non-
uniform variation of velocity of the object with time. Try to interpret these graphs.

Equations of Motion by Graphical Method

EQUATION FOR VELOCITY - TIME RELATION

Velocity-time graph to obtain the equations of motion

Let us draw AD parallel to OC. From the graph, we observe that

BC = BD + DC

= BD + OA Substituting BC =v and OA = u, we get

v= BD + u ……….(1)

From the velocity-time graph the acceleration of the object is given by

a = change in velocity / time taken

a = BD/AD = BD /OC

Substituting OC = t, we get

a = BD/ t

or BD = at …………(2)

v = u + at
EQUATION FOR POSITION – TIME RELATION
The distance travelled by the object is obtained by the area enclosed within OABC under the
velocity-time graph AB. Thus, the distance s travelled by the object is given by

s= area OABC (which is a trapezium)

= area of the rectangle OADC + area of the triangle ABD

= OA × OC + 1/2 (AD × BD)

Substituting OA = u, OC = AD = t and BD = at, we get

s = u × t + ½ t × at

s = u t + 1/2a t2

EQUATION FOR POSITION – VELOCITY RELATION

The distance s travelled by the object in time t, moving under uniform acceleration a is given
by the area enclosed within the trapezium OABC under the graph. That is,

s = area of the trapezium OABC

s= (OA + BC) ×OC/2

Substituting OA = u, BC = v and OC = t, we get

s = (u +v) t /2 …… (1) But from 1st equation of motion

t = (v-u)/a ……. (2)

From 1 and 2

2as = v2 – u2

Uniform Circular Motion

Circular track
If an object moves with a velocity of constant magnitude along the circular path, the only
change in his velocity is due to the change in the direction of motion. The motion of the object
moving along a circular path is, therefore, an example of an accelerated motion.

When an object moves in a circular path with uniform speed, its motion is called uniform
circular motion. We know that the circumference of a circle of radius r is given by 2πr. If the
object takes t seconds to go once around the circular path of radius r, the velocity v is given
by

v = 2πr/t

There are many more familiar examples of objects moving under uniform circular motion,
such as the motion of the moon and the earth, a satellite in a circular orbit around the
earth, a cyclist on a circular track at constant speed and so on.

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We will now solve some problems based on motion. To solve the problems on motion we
should remember that:
(i) if a body starts from rest, its initial velocity, u = 0
(ii) if a body comes to rest it stops), its final velocity, v = 0
(iii) if a body moves with uniform velocity, its acceleration, a =0

NCERT page 100

1. An object has moved through a distance. Can it have zero displacement? If yes, support
your answer with an example,
yes, even if an object has moved through a distance, it can have zero displacement. This can
happen if, after moving through a certain distance, the moving object comes back to its
starting position.
For example, An athlete runs along a circular track and alter completing one round, comes
back to his starting position, then the distance moved by the athlete will be equal to the
circumference of circular track but his displacement will be zero (because the straight line
distance between his initial and final positions will be zero).

2. A farmer moves along the boundary of a square field of side 10 m in 40 s. What will be
the magnitude of displacement of the farmer at the end of 2 minutes 20 seconds from his
initial position?
Ans. First of all we will convert the total time of 2 minutes 20 seconds into second as
Total time = 2 minutes 20 seconds
Total time = 2 x 60 seconds + 20 seconds
Total time = 120 seconds + 20 seconds
Total time = 140 seconds
Now, In 40 s, number of rounds made= 1
So, In 140 s, number of rounds made = 140 / 40 = 3.5

Thus, the farmer will make three and a half rounds (3.5 rounds) of the square field. If the
farmer starts from position A (see Figure), then after three complete rounds, he will reach
at starting position A. But in the next half round, the farmer will move from A to B, and B to
C, so that his final position will be at C. Thus, the net displacement of the farmer will be AC.
Now, ABC is a right angled triangle in which AC is the hypotenuse.

(AC)2 = (AB)2 + (BC)2

(AC) = (10)2 + (10)2
(AC)= 100 + 100
(AC)2 = 200
AC=√200
AC = 14.143 m
Thus, the magnitude of displacement of the farmer at the end of 2 minutes and 20 seconds
will be 14.143 meters

3. Which of the following is true for displacement?

(a) It cannot be zero.
Displacement can be zero. If the object return back to the starting point so, the first
statement is not true.

(b) Its magnitude is greater than the distance travelled by the object.

The magnitude of displacement can never be greater than the distance travelled by the
object. So, the second statement is also not true.

NCERT page 102

2. Under what condition(s) is the magnitude of average velocity of an object equal to
average speed?
Ans. The magnitude of average velocity of an object is equal to its average speed only when
the object moves along a straight line path.

Q.3. what does the odometer of an automobile measure?

Ans. The odometer of an automobile measures the distance travelled by the automobile (or
vehicle).

Q.4. what does the path of an object look like when it is in uniform motion?
Ans. An object has a uniform motion if it travels equal distances in equal intervals of time
no matter how small these time intervals may be. This means that in uniform motion, speed
is constant but the direction of motion may change. As long as the speed remains constant,
the path of an object in uniform motion can have any shape: it can be a straight line path, a
curved path, a circular path or even a zigzag path.
5. During an experiment, a signal from a spaceship reached the ground station in five
minutes. What was the distance of the spaceship from the ground station? The signal
travels at the speed of light, that is, 3 x 108 m/s.
Ans. We know that
Speed = Distance travelled / Time taken
Speed = 3 x 108 m / s
Time taken = 5 minutes = 5 x 60 seconds = 300 s
Now, putting the values of speed and time in the above formula, we get
Distance travelled = speed x time
Distance travelled = 3 x 108x 300 m
= 9 x 10 m
Thus, the distance of spaceship from the ground station is 9 x 10 meters.

NCERT Book, Page 103

Q.1. When will you say a body is in
(i) Uniform acceleration?
(ii) Non-uniform acceleration?

Ans. (i) A body has a uniform acceleration if its velocity changes by equal amounts in equal
intervals of time. Motion of a freely falling body is an example of uniform acceleration.
(ii) A body has a non-uniform acceleration if its velocity changes by unequal amounts in
equal intervals time. The motion of a car on a crowded city road is an example of non-
uniform acceleration.

2. A bus decreases its speed from 80 km / h to 60 km / h in 5 s. Find the acceleration of the

bus.
Ans. In this problem, we will have to change the speeds of bus from km / h (kilometers per
hour) to m / s (meters per second) because the time is given in seconds.
Now,
initial speed of bus, u = 80 km/ h
80 x 1000 / 60 x 60 m/s = 22.22 m/s
Final speed of bus, V = 60 km /h
60 x 1000 / 60 x 60 m/s = 16.66 m /s
Time taken, t= 5s
Acceleration, a = (v - u) / t
(6.66-22.22) / 5
a = - 1.11 m / s2
Thus, the acceleration of the bus is, -1.11 m s2, The minus sign for acceleration shows that
it is actually negative acceleration or retardation.

3. A train starting from a railway station and moving with uniform acceleration attains a
speed of 40 km / h in 10 minutes. Find its acceleration.
Ans. Here, Initial speed of train, u = 0 (Starts from rest)
Final speed of train, v = 40 km / h
40 x 1000 / 60 x 60 m/s = 11.11 m / s
Time taken, t = 10 minutes = 10 x 60 seconds = 600 s

Acceleration, a = (v-u) / t
= (11.11- 0) / 600
a = 0.0185 m/ s2

NCERT Book, Page 107

1. What is the nature of the distance-time graphs for uniform and non-uniform motion of
an object?
Ans, (i) The distance-time graph for an object having uniform motion is a straight line with
some slope
(ii) The distance-time graph for an object having non-uniform motion is a curved line

2. What can you say about the motion of an object whose distance-time graph is a Straight
line parallel the time-axis?
Ans. If the distance-time graph of an object is a straight line parallel to the time axis, it
shows that the distance of the object from its Starting position is just the same at all times.
Since the object remains at the same distance from the starting position, it is not moving.
the object is stationary.

3. What can you say about the motion of an object if its speed-time graph is a straight line
parallel to time axis?
Ans. The speed-time graph of an object is a straight line parallel to the time axis, then the
speed of the object at every instant of time is just the same. So, the object is moving with
constant speed (or uniform speed). There is no acceleration at all.

4. What is the quantity which is measured by the area occupied below the velocity-time
graph?
Ans. Distance or displacement travelled by the object.

NCERT Book, Pages 109 and 110

1. A bus starting from rest moves with a uniform acceleration of 0.1 m / s2 for 2 minutes.
Find: (a) the speed acquired. (b) The distance travelled.

Ans. (a) Calculation of speed acquired

Initial speed, u = 0 (Bus starts from rest)
Final speed, v=?
Acceleration, a = 0.1 m / s2
time, t = 2 minutes = 2 x 60 seconds = 120 s
Final velocity,
v = u + at
v = 0 + 0.1 x 120
v = 12 m/s
Thus, the speed acquired by the bus is 12 meters per second.

(b) Calculation of distance travelled

Distance travelled, s = ut + ½ at2
s=0 x 120 + ½ x 0.1x (120)2
s=0 + ½ x 0.1 x 14400
s = 720 m
Thus, the distance travelled by the bus is 720 meters.

2. A train is travelling at a speed of 90 km / h. Brakes are applied so as to produce a uniform

acceleration of 0.5 m / s2. Find how far the train will go before it is brought to rest.
Initial speed, u = 90 km / h
Ans. u = 90 x 1000 / 60 x 60 m/s = 25 m/ s
Final speed, v = 0
Acceleration, a = - 0.5 m / s2 (The train stops)
Distance travelled, s =?
v2 = u2 + 2as
(0) = (25)2 +2 x (-0.5) x s
s = 625 m
Thus, the train will travel a distance of 625 meters before it is brought to rest.

3. A trolley, while going down an inclined plane, has an acceleration of 2 cm / s2. What will
be its velocity 3s after the start?
Ans. Initial velocity, u = 0
Final velocity, v =?
Acceleration, a = 2 cm / s2
Time, t = 3s
V=u +at
V =0 + 2 x 3
V =6 Cm / s

4. A racing car has a uniform acceleration of 4 m / s2, what distance will it cover in 10 s after
start?
Distance covered, S =?
Initial velocity, u =0
Ans. Acceleration, a = 4 m / s2
Time, t = 10 s
S = ut + ½ at2
S = 0 x 10 +1 / 2 x 4 x (10)2
s = 0 + 2 x 100
S = 200 m
Thus, the distance covered by the racing car in 10 s is 200 meters.

5. A stone is thrown in vertically upward direction with a velocity of 5 m / s, If the

acceleration of the stone during its motion is 10 m / s2 in the downward direction, what will
be the height attained by the stone and how much time will it take to reach there ?

Ans. When the stone is thrown vertically upwards, then the velocity of stone goes on
decreasing because of force of gravity of earth acting on it in the downward direction. So,
the acceleration produced in the stone is negative and hence it is to be written with a
minus sign (a = - 10 m / s2).
Initial velocity of stone, u = 5 m/s
Final velocity of stone, v = 0 (It stops at the top)
Acceleration, a = - 10 m / s2
Distance travelled, s=? (or Height attained)

v2 =u2 + 2as
(0)= (5)2 +2 x (-10) x s
20 s= 25
s= 1.25 m
thus, the height attained by the stone will be 1.25 meters.
Let us find out the time now. We know that:
v = u + at
0 = 5+ (-10) x t
0 = 5- 10t
10t = 5
t= 0.5Seconds

EXERCISE
1. An athlete completes one round of a circular track of diameter 200 m in 40 8. What will
be the distance covered and the displacement at the end of 2 minutes 20 seconds?
Ans. Total time = 2 minutes 20 seconds
2 x 60 seconds + 20 seconds
= 120 seconds + 20 seconds = 140 s
Now, in 40 s, the number of rounds completed = 1
So, In 140 s, the number of rounds completed 140 / 40 = 3.5 rounds
(a) Calculation of distance covered in 3.5 rounds

The diameter of circular track is given to be 200 m, so the radius of the circular track will be
half of it, which is 100 m
Now, Distance covered in 1 round = Circumference of circular track = 2π r
distance covered after 3.5 rounds = 3.5 x 2 π r
Distance covered = 628.57 x 3.5m
in 3.5 rounds= 2200 m

(b) Calculation of displacement in 3.5 rounds

The athlete makes three and a half rounds (3.5 rounds) of the circular track. Now, if the
athlete starts from point A (see Figure), then after three complete rounds, he will reach at
the same point A. And when the athlete again starts from point A and makes the remaining
half round, he will reach point B (which is diametrically opposite to point A). So, the
displacement of athlete will be equal to diameter of the circular track which is 200 m.

2. Joseph jogs from one end A to the other end B of a straight 300 m road in 2 minutes 30
seconds and then turns around and jogs 100 m back to point C in another 1 minute. What
are Joseph's average speeds and velocities in jogging: (a) from A to B? (b) From A to C?

Ans.
(a) Calculation of average speed and average velocity from A to B
Total distance from A to B = 300 m

Total time taken from A to B = 2 minutes 30 seconds

= 2x 60 seconds + 30 seconds = 120 s + 30 s = 150 s

Average speed = Total distance / Total time taken = 300 / 150 = 2.0 m/s
Average velocity = Displacement / total time taken = 300 / 150 = 2.0 m/s

(b) Calculation of average speed and average velocity from A to C

Average speed = Total distance / Total time taken = 400 / 210 = 1.90 m/s
Average velocity = Displacement / total time taken = 200 / 210 = 0.95 m/s

3. Abdul, while driving to school, computes the average speed for his trip to be 20 km/ h.
On his return trip along the same route, there is less traffic and his average speed is 30 km
/h. What is the average speed for Abdul's trip?

Suppose the school is at a distance of x km.

While driving to school, the average speed is 20 km/ h, suppose the time taken while
driving to School is t1
speed = Distance / Time taken
20 = x / t1
Therefore t1 = x / 20
While returning time taken for the return trip is t2
speed = Distance / Time taken
30 = x / t2
Therefore t2 = x / 30
Total distance = x + x = 2x
Total time = t1 + t2
= x / 20 + x / 30 = x / 12
Average speed =Total distance covered / Total time taken
= 24 km / h
Thus, the average speed tor Abdul's trip is 24 kilometers per hour.

4. A motorboat starting from rest on a lake accelerates in a straight line at a constant rate
of 3.0 m / s2 for 8.0 s. How far does the boat travel during this time?
Distance travelled, s =?
Initial speed, u = 0
Time, t = 8.0 s
Acceleration, a = 3.0 m / s2
s= ut + 1/2at2
s=0 x 8.0+ ½ x 3 x (8.0)2
s= 0+ ½ x3 x 64
s=96 m
Thus, the boat travels a distance of 96 meters.

5. A driver of a car travelling at 52 km/ h applies the brakes and accelerates uniformly in the
opposite direction. The car stops in 5 s. Another driver going at 34 km h-l in another car
applies his brakes slowly and stops in 10 s. On the same graph paper, plot the speed versus
time graphs for the two cars. Which of the two cars travelled farther after the brakes were
applied?
(a) For first car:
Initial speed, u = 52 km / h

= 52x1000 / 60 x60 m / s
= 14.4 m/ s
Final speed, v = 0 (The car stops)
Time taken, t = 5s

(b) For second car:

Initial speed, u= 34 km / h
= 34x1000 / 60 x60 m / s
= 9.4 m / s

Final speed, v= 0 (The car stops)

Time taken, t = 10 s
(i) Distance travelled by first car = Area under the graph line AB
= Area of triangle OAB
= ½ x base x height
= ½ x 5 x 14.4 m
= 36 m
(ii) Distance travelled by second car = Area under the graph line CD
= Area of triangle OCD
= ½ x base x height
= ½ x 10 x 94
= 47 m
Thus, the second car travelled farther 8m ahead after the brakes were applied.

6. Figure shows the distance-time graphs of three objects A, B and C. Study the graph and
answer the following questions:

(a) Which of the three is travelling the fastest?

(b) Are all three ever at the same point on the road?
(c) How far has C traveled when B passes A
(d) How far has B travelled by the time it passes C?
Ans.
(a) the slope of distance-time graph of a moving object indicates its speed. Greater the
slope, higher is the speed. Now, in the given figure, the slope of distance-time graph of
object B is the maximum, so the object B has the maximum speed. In other words, the
object B is travelling the fastest.
(b) In order to be at the same point on the road, the respective distance and time values for
all the three moving objects should be the same. Since the distance-time graph lines of the
three objects A, B and C do not cross at a single point, therefore, the three objects are
never at the same point on the road.
(c) We can see from the given figure that when B passes A at point D, then the C is at point
E. If we locate the distance corresponding to point E on the Y-axis, we find that it is 6.5 km.
Thus, C has travelled 6.5 km when B passes A
(d) The distance-time graphs of B and C meet at point F. If we locate the distance
corresponding to point F on the Y-axis, we will find that it is 5 km. Thus, B has travelled 5 km
by the time it passes C.

7. A ball is gently dropped from a height of 20 m. If its velocity increases uniformly at the
rate of 10 m / s2 with what velocity will it strike the ground? After what time will it strike
the ground?
Ans.
initial velocity, u = 0
Final velocity, v =?
(Ball dropped from rest)
Acceleration, a = 10 m/ s2
Distance, s = 20 m
v2 = u2 + 2as
v = (0) +2 x 10 x 20
2 = 0 + 400
v=√400
v = 20 m/s
Thus, the ball will strike the ground with a velocity of 20 meters per second. Let us calculate
the time now.
We know that
v =u + at
20 = 0 + 10 x t
10t = 20
t = 2s
Thus, the ball will strike the ground after 2 seconds.

8. The speed-time graph for a car is shown here.

(a) Find how far does the car travel in the first 4 seconds. Shade the area on the graph that
represents the distance travelled by the car during this period,
(b) Which part of the graph represents uniform motion of the car?

9. State which of the following situations are possible and give an example for each of these
(a) an object with a constant acceleration but zero velocity.
(b) An object moving in a certain direction with acceleration in the perpendicular direction.

(a) An object with a constant acceleration but zero velocity is possible. For example, when
an object is just released from a height, then it is being acted upon by a constant
acceleration of 9.8 m/s2 (called acceleration due to gravity) but its initial velocity is zero.
(b) An object moving in a certain direction with acceleration in the perpendicular direction
is possible.
For example, when an object is moving with uniform motion in a circle, then the motion of
the object at any instant of time is along tangent to the circle at that instant but the
(centripetal) acceleration is along the radius of the circle (which is perpendicular to the
direction of motion along the tangent).

10. An artificial satellite is moving in a circular orbit of radius 42250 km. Calculate its speed
if it takes 24hours to revolve around the earth.
The speed of an object moving in a circular orbit (or circular path) is given by the formula:

Speed, v =?
Radius, r = 42250 km
And, Time, t = 24 h
Now, putting these values in the above formula, we get:

v=2πr/t
Speed = [2 X (22 / 7) x 42250] / 24
v = 11065.4 km / h
v = 3.07 km / s