PHYSICS – Speed, velocity and

acceleration
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1.2 Motion
Core Supplement
• Define speed and calculate average • Distinguish between speed and velocity
speed from total time / total distance • Define and calculate acceleration using
• Plot and interpret a speed-time graph or time taken change of velocity
a distance- time graph • Calculate speed from the gradient of a
• Recognise from the shape of a speed- distance-time graph
time graph when a body is • Calculate acceleration from the gradient
– at rest of a speed-time graph
– moving with constant speed • Recognise linear motion for which the
– moving with changing speed acceleration is constant
• Calculate the area under a speed-time • Recognise motion for which the
graph to work out the distance travelled acceleration is not constant
for motion with constant acceleration • Understand deceleration as a negative
• Demonstrate understanding that acceleration
acceleration and deceleration are related • Describe qualitatively the motion of bodies
to changing speed including qualitative falling in a uniform gravitational field with
analysis of the gradient of a speed-time and without air resistance (including
graph reference to terminal velocity)
• State that the acceleration of free fall
for a body near to the Earth is constant
Speed – The distance travelled by
an object per unit time

A
Speed = Distance
Time
Average speed+= Total Distance
Total Time

A
Average speed+= Total Distance
Total Time

Distance measured in metres (m)

Time measuredA in seconds (s)
Speed - metres per second (m/s)
 Average speed+= Total Distance
Total Time

Example:
A
Car travels 50m
time 2s

speed = 50/2 = 25 m/s

25 m.s-1
 So if that’s
speed, what is
velocity?
Velocity is speed in a given
direction.
Velocity is speed in a given
direction.

Velocity is 25m/s due west

Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:

Cyclist +10m/s to the right

Example:

Cyclist +10m/s to the right

-10m/s to the left
 What’s your
vector Victor?
 What’s your
vector Victor?

Quantities such as
velocity are called
vectors because they
have size and direction
Acceleration is the rate at which an
object increases speed or velocity.
Acceleration is the rate at which an
object increases speed or velocity.

Acceleration = change in velocity

time taken
Acceleration is the rate at which an
object increases speed or velocity.

Acceleration = change in velocity

time taken

Also written as: a = v - u

t
Acceleration is the rate at which an
object increases speed or velocity.

Acceleration = change in velocity

time taken

Velocity measured in m/s

Time measured in s
Acceleration measured in m/s/s or m/s2
Example: a drag car increases its
velocity from zero to 60m/s in 3s.

a = v - u
t
Example: a drag car increases its
velocity from zero to 60m/s in 3s.

a = v - u
t

a = 60 – 0
3
Example: a drag car increases its
velocity from zero to 60m/s in 3s.

a = v - u
t

a = 60 – 0
3

a = 60 = 20m/s-2
3
Example: a drag car increases its
velocity from zero to 60m/s in 3s.

a = v - u
t

a = 60 – 0
3

a = 60 = 20m/s-2
3
Don’t forget that
acceleration is a vector
– it has size and
direction
Deceleration (retardation)

Deceleration
is negative
acceleration –
the object is
slowing down.
Eg. – 4m/s2
 Constant acceleration example
6s
A B

Car passes point A with a velocity of 10m/s. It has a steady (constant) acceleration of
4m/s2. What is the velocity when it passes point B?
 Constant acceleration example
6s
A B

Car passes point A with a velocity of 10m/s. It has a steady (constant) acceleration of
4m/s2. What is the velocity when it passes point B?

Solution: car gains 4m/s of velocity every second. In 6s

it gains an extra 24m/s.
 Constant acceleration example
6s
A B

Car passes point A with a velocity of 10m/s. It has a steady (constant) acceleration of
4m/s2. What is the velocity when it passes point B?

Solution: car gains 4m/s of velocity every second. In 6s

it gains an extra 24m/s.

Final velocity = initial velocity + extra velocity

 Constant acceleration example
6s
A B

Car passes point A with a velocity of 10m/s. It has a steady (constant) acceleration of
4m/s2. What is the velocity when it passes point B?

Solution: car gains 4m/s of velocity every second. In 6s

it gains an extra 24m/s.

Final velocity = initial velocity + extra velocity

Final velocity = 10 + 24 = 34m/s

Motion graphs
Travelling at constant speed
 Stationary

Travelling at constant speed

 Travelling at
constant speed

Stationary

Travelling at constant speed

Speed = distance
time
Speed = distance
time
Speed = distance
time
Speed = distance
time

Speed = 8 = 1 km/h
8
Acceleration from velocity : time graph
Acceleration from velocity : time graph

Steady acceleration
Acceleration from velocity : time graph

Steady velocity

Steady acceleration
Acceleration from velocity : time graph

Steady velocity

Steady deceleration

Steady acceleration
Acceleration from velocity : time graph

Acceleration = V - U
t
Acceleration from velocity : time graph

Acceleration = V - U
t
Acceleration from velocity : time graph

Acceleration = 3 – 0 / 2
= 1.5 m/s/s (m.s-2)
 Velocity-time graphs
Acceleration can be calculated by the gradient of a velocity:time graph. (Remember
gradient is the difference up divided by the difference across)

80 Calculate the acceleration for each

of the 4 sections of the graph.

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
Acceleration can be calculated by the gradient of a velocity:time graph. (Remember
gradient is the difference up divided by the difference across)

80 Acceleration = V - U Calculate the acceleration for each

t of the 4 sections of the graph.

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
Acceleration can be calculated by the gradient of a velocity:time graph. (Remember
gradient is the difference up divided by the difference across)

80 Calculate the acceleration for each

of the 4 sections of the graph.

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20 Acceleration = 40 - 0 = 4m/s2
10

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
Acceleration can be calculated by the gradient of a velocity:time graph. (Remember
gradient is the difference up divided by the difference across)

80 Calculate the acceleration for each

of the 4 sections of the graph.

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20 Acceleration = 0 (no change in

velocity)

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
Acceleration can be calculated by the gradient of a velocity:time graph. (Remember
gradient is the difference up divided by the difference across)

80 Calculate the acceleration for each

of the 4 sections of the graph.

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20 Acceleration = 20 - 0 = 2m/s2
10

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
Acceleration can be calculated by the gradient of a velocity:time graph. (Remember
gradient is the difference up divided by the difference across)

80 Calculate the acceleration for each

of the 4 sections of the graph.

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20 Acceleration = 0 - 60 = -3m/s2
20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically
equal to the distance travelled.

80

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically
equal to the distance travelled.

80
Remember that the area of a
triangle is ½ x base x height.
60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically
equal to the distance travelled.

80
Remember that the area of a
triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically
equal to the distance travelled.

80
Remember that the area of a
Area =
400m2 triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically
equal to the distance travelled.

80
Remember that the area of a
Area =
400m2 triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

Area =
20 400m2

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically
equal to the distance travelled.

80
Area =
100m2 Remember that the area of a
Area =
400m2 triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

Area =
20 400m2

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically
equal to the distance travelled.

80
Area =
100m2 Remember that the area of a
Area =
400m2 triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

Area = Area =
20 400m2 600m2

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-time graphs
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically
equal to the distance travelled.

80
Area =
100m2 Remember that the area of a
Area =
400m2 triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

Area = Area =
20 400m2 600m2

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50

The total distance travelled = 200 + 400 + 400 + 100 + 600 = 1700m
Free fall
Acceleration of free fall (g)

Which object
will hit the
ground first?
Acceleration of free fall (g)

Which object
will hit the
ground first?

Obviously the
brick (because the
feather is slowed
much more by the
air)
Acceleration of free fall (g)
No air
resistance,
objects both
fall with the
same downward
acceleration.

In a
In air
vacuum
Acceleration of free fall (g)
No air
resistance,
objects both
fall with the
same downward
acceleration.
Acceleration of
free fall =
9.8m/s2

In a Given the
In air
vacuum symbol ‘g’
Acceleration of free fall (g)
No air
resistance,
objects both
fall with the
o same downward
d t
de acceleration.
o un 2
n r /s
te 10m Acceleration of
Of
free fall =
9.8m/s2

In a Given the
In air
vacuum symbol ‘g’
Acceleration and gravity
Acceleration and gravity

Falling objects
accelerate towards
The atmosphere
the ground at
creates an upward
10m/s2 due to
force that slows
gravity. The force
down falling
of gravity always
objects. This is
acts towards the
known as air
centre of the
resistance or drag.
Earth.
Acceleration and gravity

Falling objects
accelerate towards
The atmosphere
the ground at
creates an upward
10m/s2 due to
force that slows
gravity. The force
down falling
of gravity always
objects. This is
acts towards the
known as air
centre of the
resistance or drag.
Earth.
Acceleration and gravity

Falling objects
accelerate towards
The atmosphere
the ground at
creates an upward
10m/s2 due to
force that slows
gravity. The force
down falling
of gravity always
objects. This is
acts towards the
known as air
centre of the
resistance or drag.
Earth.

The larger the surface area of the

object, the larger the drag force
Acceleration and gravity

Speed (m/s)

Drag

At first the force of

A gravity is larger than the
drag force, so the object
accelerates.
Weight

Time (s)
Acceleration and gravity

Drag

B As speed increases, so
does drag; the acceleration
Speed (m/s)

decreases
Weight

Time (s)
Acceleration and gravity

Drag

Terminal velocity
C
Speed (m/s)

Weight

When drag equals the

force due to gravity there
is no resultant force and
the acceleration is zero.
The object continues at
terminal velocity.

Time (s)
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1.2 Motion
Core Supplement
• Define speed and calculate average • Distinguish between speed and velocity
speed from total time / total distance • Define and calculate acceleration using
• Plot and interpret a speed-time graph or time taken change of velocity
a distance- time graph • Calculate speed from the gradient of a
• Recognise from the shape of a speed- distance-time graph
time graph when a body is • Calculate acceleration from the gradient
– at rest of a speed-time graph
– moving with constant speed • Recognise linear motion for which the
– moving with changing speed acceleration is constant
• Calculate the area under a speed-time • Recognise motion for which the
graph to work out the distance travelled acceleration is not constant
for motion with constant acceleration • Understand deceleration as a negative
• Demonstrate understanding that acceleration
acceleration and deceleration are related • Describe qualitatively the motion of bodies
to changing speed including qualitative falling in a uniform gravitational field with
analysis of the gradient of a speed-time and without air resistance (including
graph reference to terminal velocity)
• State that the acceleration of free fall
for a body near to the Earth is constant
PHYSICS – Speed, velocity and
acceleration