A level Physics · Edexcel 9PH0 · Topic 2A

Motion and kinematics

Key points

Displacement, velocity and acceleration are vectors; distance and speed are scalars.
For uniform acceleration use the suvat equations: $v = u + at$ , $s = \frac{(u + v)t}{2}$ , $s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2$ , $v^2 = u^2 + 2as$ .
On a displacement–time graph the gradient is velocity; on a velocity–time graph the gradient is acceleration and the area under the line is displacement.
An acceleration–time graph: the area under it gives the change in velocity.
Resolve a vector into components: $F_x = F\cos\theta$ and $F_y = F\sin\theta$ ; add perpendicular vectors with Pythagoras and trigonometry.
Projectile motion: horizontal velocity stays constant (ignoring air resistance) while the vertical velocity changes at $g = 9.81$ m s $^{-2}$ downwards. Time links the two directions.
Core practical: measure $g$ by timing a falling object, e.g. with light gates, and plot a suitable straight-line graph.

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Kinematics describes how objects move: where they are, how fast they are going and how their velocity changes. These notes cover vectors, motion graphs, the suvat equations, projectiles and core practical 1, the free-fall measurement of g.

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