Additional Science- GCSE AQA science Physics-Representing motion

The revision cards include information on speed, distance and time. Distance-time graphs, velocity-time graphs and acceleration.

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  • Created by: Rukhsar
  • Created on: 22-03-10 18:35

Speed and Distance time graphs

Speed is a measure of how fast something will move in a certain amount of time. The formula for speed is

speed(m/s)= distance travelled(m) / time taken(s)

On a distance time graph- time is on the horizontal axis and distance is on the vertical axis.

A diagonal line going up represents steady speed. A horizontal line represents stationary. A diagonal line going going down represents a steady speed returning to the start.

The steeper the line on a distance-time graph, the greater the speed it represents.

1. Always show the stages in your working when you do calculations. Always include a unit with your answer is one is not given.

2. Make sure that you always label the axes on a graph with a quantity and a unit.

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Velocity and acceleration

On a velocity-time graph the time is on the horizontal axis, velocity is on the vertical axis. Velocity is speed in a given direction.Acceleration is change of velocity per second. If the velocity of a body changes, we say that it accelerates.

acceleration(m/s²) = change in velocity(m/s) / time taken(s)

Example: A car accelerates in 5s from 25m/s to 35m/s. Its velocity changes by 35-25=10m/s. So its acceleration is 10/5=2 m/s²

A diagonal line going up represents constant acceleration. A horizontal line represents constant velocity. A diagonal line going down represents constant acceleration. The steeper the slope, the greater the acceleration.

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