VECTOR QUANTITIES and KINEMATICS

Define a vector as a physical quantity that has both magnitude and

direction and give examples
displacement velocity acceleration force
straight line to represent magnitude
arrow to represent direction
Define a scalar quantity as a physical quantity that has magnitude only
and give examples
distance speed time energy

Kinematics – the study of objects that are in motion

KINEMATICS
Definitions
• distance as the length of path travelled. and know that distance is a scalar
quantity
• displacement as a change in position. (vector quantity)
• speed as the rate of change of distance. (scalar quantity)
∆𝒅
𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒅 =
∆𝒕
• velocity as the rate of change of position or the rate of displacement or the
rate of change of displacement. (vector quantity)
∆𝒙
𝒗=
∆𝒕
• acceleration as the rate of change of velocity
∆𝒗
𝒂=
∆𝒕
Distinguish between average velocity and instantaneous velocity

Average velocity is the change in displacement of an object over a

certain period of time

x=0 Δt = 10s x = 50m

∆𝒙 𝟓𝟎 −𝟎
𝒗 𝒂𝒗𝒈 = = = 5m.s-1 to the right
∆𝒕 𝟏𝟎

Instantaneous velocity is the velocity of an object at an instant in time

x=0 x = 50m
the velocity at this exact point
Vertical Projectile motion
• All free-falling objects (on Earth) accelerate downwards at a rate of 9,8 m.s-2
• Gravitational acceleration g = 9,8 m.s-2 (The acceleration for any object moving under the
sole influence of gravity).
• To accelerate at 9,8 m.s-2 means to change the velocity by 9,8 m.s-1 each second.
initial direction +ve -ve Initial direction is up
is downwards = +ve g = -9,8 m.s-2 g = -9,8 m.s-2
g = +9,8 m.s-2
Worked example
A boy standing on the edge of a cliff throws a stone vertically into the
air at 25 m.s-1. The stone hits the ground at the base of the cliff 8s
later.
1. Calculate the time taken to reach its maximum height
2. How long does take for the stone to reach his hand again?
3. Calculate the maximum height reached by the stone from its point
of release.
4. Calculate the velocity of the stone at the moment it hits the ground
below.
MEMORANDUM (Worked example)
+ve
1. vi = +25 m.s-1 vf = vi + gΔt
vf = 0 m.s-1 0 = 25 + (-9,8)Δt
−𝟐𝟓
g = -0,8 m.s-2 ∆𝒕 =
−𝟗,𝟖
Δx = Δt = 2,55s
Δt = ?

2. Symmetrical motion : ttotal = tup + tdown

= 2,55 + 2,55
ttotal = 5,10s
3. vf2 = vi2 + 2gΔx 4. Vi = +25 m.s-1 vf = vi + gΔt
02 = 252 + 2(-9,8)Δx Vf = ? = 25 + (-9,8)(8)
0 = 625 - 19,6Δx g = -9,8 = -53.4
ΔX = 31,89m Δx = Vf = 53 m.s-1 down
Δt = 8s
Practice Examples
Example 1

1.1

1.2
MEMORANDUM
Example 1 +ve

g = -9,8m.s-2
Δt = 4.32s
Vi = 2m.s-1

Δx
Practice Examples
Example 2
 0 m.s-1
+ve
2.1 2.2
g = -9,8m.s-2

a = 20 m.s-2

Vi = 0m.s-1 2.3
Representing Kinematics
The Graphs of Motion
Velocity vs time (Δv vs Δt)
• Gradient of a Δv vs Δt graph represents ACCELERATION of an object
• Area under a Δv vs Δt graph represents DISPLACEMENT of an object

Position vs time
• Gradient of a Δx vs Δt graph represents VELOCITY of an object

Acceleration vs time
Constant velocity Increasing velocity ( +ve acc) Decreasing velocity ( -ve acc)
Worked Example 1
Memorandum
Worked example 1
Practice Example 1
Memorandum
Practice example 1
2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6
2.7
Practice Example 2
Memorandum
Practice example 2
The Bouncing Ball
A
-ve
D
G
+ve

B C E F H
B
E
H
A
D G
F
C
Worked Example 1
PRACTICE EXAMPLE 1 3.1 Write down the:
A ball is thrown vertically downwards from the top of
a building and bounces a few times as it hits the
3.1.1 time that the ball is in contact with the
ground. The velocity-time graph below describes the
motion of the ball from the time it is thrown to a
ground at the first bounce (1)
certain time T.
Take downwards as the positive direction The graph 3.1.2 time at which the ball reaches its
is NOT drawn to scale. The effects of air friction are maximum height after the first bounce (1)
ignored.
3.1.3 value of X shown on the graph (1)

3.2 Is the collision of the ball with the ground

elastic or inelastic? Give a reason for your
answer using information in the graph. No
calculation needed. (2)

3.3 Draw a displacement versus time sketch

graph of the motion of the ball up to 7,71s.
Choose the ground as zero reference. You
do not need to indicate any displacement
values on the vertical axis but you must
indicate the relevant time values on the
horizontal axis. (4)
3.1.1 0,2 s ✓ (1)

3.1.2 4,955 s ✓ (1)

3.1.3 - 27 (m.s-1) ✓ (1)

3.2 Inelastic✓ The speeds at which it strikes and leaves the ground are not
the same/The kinetic energies will not be the same ✓ (2)

3.3
The small gap is due to the amount of time that the ball is in
Δx contact with the ground before it bounces back upwards

2 2,2 7,71

Down is positive therefore if ground is the reference point then the ball is
dropped at a certain height above the ground(ie) a negative displacement
PRACTICE EXAMPLE 2
A ball is thrown vertically downwards from the top of a building and bounces a few times as it hits
the ground. The velocity-time graph below describes the motion of the ball from the time it is
thrown to a certain time T.
Take downwards as the positive direction and the ground as zero reference. The graph is NOT
drawn to scale. The effects of air friction are ignored.

3.1 Define velocity. (2)

3.2 Write down the speed with which the

ball is thrown downwards. (1)

3.3 ALL parts of the graph have the same

gradient. Give a reason for this. (2)

3.4 Calculate the:

3.4.1 height from which the ball is throw(3)

3.4.2 time (T) shown on the graph (4)

3.1 Velocity is the rate of change of position or the rate of displacement or
the rate of change of displacement ✓✓ (2)

3.2 10 m∙s-1 ✓ (1)

3.3 The gradient represents the acceleration due to gravity (g) which is constant for free fall. ✓✓ (2)

(𝑢+𝑣) 29.6+10 2
3.4.1 Vi = 10 m.s-1 s = ut + ½at2 ✓ or s = 𝑡 = = 39.6𝑚
2 2
Vf = = (10)(2) + ½ (9,8)(22) ✓
g = 9,8 m.s-2 = 39,6 m ✓
Δx =
Δt = 2s
(3)
3.4.2 Vi = -25 m.s-1 v= u + at
Vf = 0 m.s-1 0 = -25 + (9,8)t
g = +9,8 m.s-2 t = 2,55 s Total time T = 8 +2,55 = 10,55 s ✓ (4)
Δx =
Δt = ?