Course Content
Current Electricity
This topic discusses the following: - Introduction to electricity - Relationship between charges and current - Types of electric circuits - Direction of current flow
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Linear motion
This topic discusses distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.
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BGCSE: Physics
About Lesson

Motion is the change in position of an object with respect to time.

The quantities of motion are:

1. DISTANCE

  • Distance is the length between two points.
  • The standard symbol for distance is (s) and SI unit is metre (m).
  • For example a boy runs a distance of 100m.
  • Distance is a scalar i.e. it has magnitude (or size) only.

2. DISPLACEMENT

  • Displacement is the distance travelled in a stated or particular direction.
  • The standard symbol for displacement is (s) and SI unit is metre (m).
  • For example a boy runs a distance of 100m in the south east direction.
  • Displacement is a vector i.e. it has magnitude (or size) and direction.

3. SPEED

  • Speed is the distance travelled per unit time.
  • The standard symbol for speed is (v) and SI unit is metre per second (m/s).
  • For example a boy is running at 5m/s.     

VELOCITY                             

  • Velocity: is the distance travelled per unit time in a stated particular direction.
  • The standard symbol for speed is (v) and SI unit is metre per second (m/s).
  • For example a boy is running at 5m/s in the south east direction.

5. ACCELERATION

  • Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity (speed). 
  • The standard symbol for acceleration is (a) and SI unit is metre per second squared (m/s2).

  • Acceleration is a vector i.e. it has magnitude (or size) and direction.
  • Acceleration can either be positive or negative.

  • Negative acceleration is also known as deceleration or retardation.

  • Acceleration is calculated as:

$$ \text{a} = \frac{\text{v} – \text{u}}{\text{t}} $$