Motion IB Physics Content Guide

Big Ideas
• Motion is described relative to a chosen coordinate system.
• Displacement-time, velocity-time, and accel-time graphs are connected in the representation of physical motion.
• When an object is at constant velocity, displacement-time is linear.
• When an object is at constant acceleration, displacement-time is quadratic (curved), and velocity-time is linear.
• Kinematic equations can take three of the suvat variables to solve for the remaining two
• Vector quantities can be combined to find resultant vectors or divided into their component parts
• X and Y motion are independent of each other for a two-dimensional projectile

Content Objectives
1 – Units
I can describe the difference between quantitative and qualitative observations
I can identify the 7 Fundamental SI units
I can define and give an example of a derived unit
I can represent fractional units with negative exponents
I can convert metric units between prefixes
I can convert fraction units and exponential units using Dimensional Analysis
I can use dimensional analysis to verify a formula
I can use dimensional analysis to determine the units for a solution
I can represent large and small numbers using scientific notation
I can compare quantities by orders of magnitude

2 – Displacement Graphs
I can describe the difference between distance and displacement
I can calculate distance and displacement for 1D motion
I can plot constant velocity on a displacement vs time graph
I can plot changing velocity on a displacement vs time graph
I can use a d vs t graph to identify if an object is moving in the positive/negative/speeding/slowing

3 – Velocity Graphs
I can describe the difference between speed and velocity
I can compare the difference between a vector and scalar quantity
I can plot constant velocity on a velocity vs time graph
I can plot changing velocity on a velocity vs time graph
I can use a v vs t graph to identify if an object is moving in the positive/negative/speeding/slowing
I can define acceleration in terms of velocity
4 – Calculating from Graphs
I can use an equation to calculate average speed/velocity
I can calculate instantaneous velocity using the slope of a displacement vs time graph
I can calculate instantaneous acceleration using the slope of a displacement vs time graph
I can calculate overall displacement using the area of a velocity vs time graph

5 – The Kinematic Equations

I can identify the 5 primary variables of accelerating motion (suvat)
I can identify the proper kinematic equation to use for a problem that is presented
I can rearrange to solve for the unknown variable
I can calculate for an unknown using the kinematic equations

6 – Free Fall
I can identify the constant acceleration due to gravity neglecting air resistance
I can interpret a free fall problem to identify hidden values and understand
I can use the kinematic equations to solve free fall problems
I can experimentally determine the acceleration due to gravity

7 – Horizontal Projectiles
I can add and subtract vectors to find a resultant
I can calculate an angle from two components of a right triangle
I can calculate the x and y components of a vector given the magnitude and angle
I can identify hidden values for a horizontal projectile problem
I can use information about a horizontal projectile’s motion to calculate the initial velocity
I can use the x and y velocity components to calculate a projectile’s impact velocity and angle

8 – Projectile Motion
I can identify hidden values for a projectile launched at an angle
I can calculate the x and y components for an initial velocity at an angle
I can calculate max height for a projectile launched at angle
I can calculate distance traveled for a projectile launched at angle
I can calculate total air time for a projectile launched at angle
Motion Shelving Guide
List the seven fundamental base units and their abbreviations:
Unit Abbreviation
Length Meter m
Mass Kilogram kg
Time Second s
Electric Current Ampere A
Temperature Kelvin K
Amount of Substance Mole mol
Luminous Intensity Candela cd

Metric Prefixes – List the unit prefixes in their appropriate decimal position

Dimensional Analysis
Convert the following:

20 mi hr-1 → m s-1

20 𝑚𝑖 1609 𝑚 1 ℎ𝑟 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑚
× × × = 8.9 = 8.9 𝑚 𝑠 −1
1 ℎ𝑟 1 𝑚𝑖 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛 60 𝑠 𝑠

0.0007 km2 → m2

1000 𝑚 1000 𝑚 1000 𝑚 2

0.0007 𝑘𝑚2 × × = 700 𝑚2 or 0.0007 𝑘𝑚2 × ( ) = 700 𝑚2
1 𝑘𝑚 1 𝑘𝑚 1 𝑘𝑚

Determine the units for Q:

Q = mc ΔT
m (mass) kg

(𝑘𝑔)(𝐽 )(𝐾) c (specific heat) J kg-1 K-1

𝑄 = (𝑘𝑔)(𝐽 𝑘𝑔−1 𝐾 −1 )(𝐾) = =𝐽
𝑘𝑔 𝐾
ΔT (change in temp) K
 Scalar Vector
How far (m) Distance Displacement

How fast (m s-1) Speed Velocity

Displacement vs Time Velocity vs Time Acceleration vs Time

Slope: Slope: Area under the Curve:

Meaning of the Acceleration
Graph Velocity Area under the Curve: Velocity
Displacement

Constant
Displacement

Constant
Positive
Velocity

Constant
Negative
Velocity

Constant
Positive
Acceleration
(speeding up)

Constant
Negative
Acceleration
(slowing down)
 Variable
Unit Kinematic Equations s u v a t
Symbol

Displacement s m 𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡 ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
1
Initial Velocity u m s-1 𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 2𝑎𝑡 2 ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️

Final Velocity v m s-1 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠 ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️

Acceleration a m s-2 𝑠 = (𝑣+𝑢)𝑡

2
✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️

Time t s

Horizontal Component 𝐴𝐻 = 𝐴 cos 𝜃

Vertical Component 𝐴𝑉 = 𝐴 sin 𝜃

Vertical

u 0 m s-1
v

a -9.81 m s-2
t

Vertical

u u sinθ
v 0 m s-1
a -9.81 m s-2
t