Lesson 3.
Motion Descriptors
General Physics 1/2
1
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Motorcycles and tricycles are two of the main
modes of transportation in the Philippines.
One of the advantages
that might convince
someone to buy a
motorcycle is that it
can pass through
small spaces during
heavy traffic
congestion in the
cities.
With this in mind, can we actually say that
motorcycles are faster than normal vehicles? In
order for us to answer this more scientifically,
we have to understand first what motion
descriptors are.
What are motion descriptors?
Learning Competencies
This lesson serves as a prerequisite for the following DepEd competencies:
● Convert a verbal description of a physical
situation involving uniform acceleration in
one dimension into a mathematical
description (STEM_GP12Kin-Ib-12).
Learning Competencies
This lesson serves as a prerequisite for the following DepEd competencies:
● Recognize whether or not a physical
situation involves constant velocity or
constant acceleration (STEM_GP12Kin-Ib-
13).
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Define motion.
● Enumerate the different motion descriptors.
● Describe velocity and acceleration.
● Explain the relative nature of motion.
How can we say that an object
is moving?
Motion
Consider a soccer ball kicked by a soccer player.
Motion
The ball ‘moves’ because the soccer player kicked it.
Motion
The ball changed position from the soccer player’s initial
position to a target position, preferably the goal.
Motion
Motion is defined as the change of position of an object in
a specific span of time relative to an observer.
Motion
Motion requires position and time.
how much time, t
ball’s initial position ball’s final position
x0 xf
What are the quantities that
describe motion?
Motion Descriptors
Time
● It is a quantity that describes when an event took place.
● It is a necessary parameter to describe and to observe
changes in a specific space.
● It is measured in terms of seconds (s) and usually noted
by t.
Motion Descriptors
Distance and Displacement
Motion Descriptors
Distance and Displacement
● Distance is always greater than or equal to displacement.
● These two quantities can only be equal if the object in
motion travels towards one direction only and does not
go back to its original position.
Motion Descriptors
The skater moves from A to B, B to C, and finally, C to D.
Motion Descriptors
What is the distance covered by the skater?
Motion Descriptors
In general, distance can be calculated using the equation
below.
Distance is the total length travelled by an object.
Motion Descriptors
What is the displacement covered by the skater?
Motion Descriptors
In general, displacement can be calculated using the
equation below.
Displacement is defined as the length of the line that
separates the initial position (x0) to the final position (xf).
Motion Descriptors
Speed and Velocity
● These are quantities that combine the concept of time
and space.
● Speed is the rate of change in position. It can be noted as
v or s and has a unit of m/s or ms-1.
● Velocity is the rate of change in position with respect to a
reference point. The direction on how the object moves
is important in determining velocity.
Motion Descriptors
Speed and Velocity
Motion Descriptors
Speed and Velocity
● Mathematically, speed and velocity can be described
using the equations below.
speed velocity
(average)
Motion Descriptors
What is the skater’s speed?
Motion Descriptors
What is the skater’s velocity?
At which instance are speed and
velocity equal?
Motion Descriptors
Acceleration
● It describes how an object changes its velocity per
elapsed time.
● It is a vector quantity with an SI unit of m/s2.
Motion Descriptors
Acceleration
Three ways to say that an object is accelerating:
1. if the magnitude of the velocity of the object is
changing;
2. if the direction of the motion of the object is
changing; and
3. if both the magnitude of the velocity and the direction
of motion are changing.
What are the indications of the
sign of acceleration?
Motion Descriptors
Signs of Acceleration
● Positive acceleration ⟶ a and v are of the same
direction ⟶ speeding up
● Negative acceleration (deceleration) ⟶ a and v have
opposite directions ⟶ slowing down
● Zero acceleration ⟶ object is travelling at constant v or
not moving at all
Relative Nature of Motion
● Motion is relative.
● This means that an object which is moving for you might
not be moving relative to another person.
● Consider you and your classmate who is sitting on your
respective chairs. Are you in motion?
Relative Nature of Motion
Can you tell what does each person see in this figure?
Check Your Understanding
Write T if the statement is true and F if not.
1. Motion is relative.
2. If you are on a train and you look at a tree outside the
train, that tree is moving relating to you.
3. People sitting on a bus are not moving relative to each
other but are moving relative to the ground.
Check Your Understanding
Identify the correct motion descriptor described in
each item.
1. It is measured in terms of seconds.
2. It is defined as the rate of change in velocity.
3. If this quantity is negative, it means that the object is
slowing down.
Let’s Sum It Up!
● Motion is defined as the change of position of an
object in a specific span of time relative to an
observer.
● There are six motion descriptors, namely: time,
distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and
acceleration.
Let’s Sum It Up!
○ Time is a quantity that describes when an event
took place.
○ Distance is the total length traveled by a moving
object. It is a scalar quantity.
○ Displacement is the length and direction of the
line that connects the initial and final position. It is a
vector quantity.
Let’s Sum It Up!
○ Speed is the rate of change in position. It is a scalar
quantity.
○ Velocity is the rate of change in position with
respect to a reference point. It is a vector quantity.
○ Acceleration is the rate of change in velocity. It is a
vector quantity
Let’s Sum It Up!
● A positive acceleration means that the object is
speeding up, and a negative acceleration means
the object is slowing down. If the acceleration is
zero, then the object is following a constant
motion.
Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Use this formula to
Distance
solve for distance if
where
the positions are given.
● d is distance
● x is position
Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Use this formula to
Displacement
solve for
where
displacement if the
initial and final
● is displacement
positions are given.
● xf is the final
position
● xi is the initial
position
Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Use this formula to
Speed
solve for speed if the
where
distance and the time
● v is speed
elapsed are given.
● d is distance
● t is elapsed time
Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Use this formula to
Velocity
solve for velocity if the
where
displacement and the
time elapsed are given.
● is velocity
● is displacement
● t is elapsed time
Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Acceleration
Use this formula to
where solve for acceleration
if the object’s initial and
● is acceleration
final velocity, and the
● is final velocity
time elapsed are given.
● is elapsed time
Challenge Yourself
A car that is traveling at a constant
speed passed through a curved road.
Do you think the car accelerated?
Why or why not?
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A Level Physics Coursebook. UK: University Printing House. 2014.
Serway, Raymond A., and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics (9th
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