PHYSICS STICKY NOTES.
KINEMATICS
CIE AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS (9702)
Motion equations & definitions
◼ Scalar quantities – Quantities with magnitude only.
eg: speed, time, temperature, etc...
◼ Vector quantities – Quantities with both magnitude and direction.
eg: velocity, force, displacement, etc...
◼ Distance – Length between two points.
◼ Displacement – Distance moved by an object in a specific direction (This is the shortest distance between two
points).
◼ Speed – Distance travelled per unit time.
Speed(m\s) = distance(m) / time(s) Average velocity(m/s) = Total displacement (m) / total time (s)
◼ Velocity – Rate of change of displacement.
Velocity(m/s) = change in displacement(m) / time(s)
◼ Acceleration – Rate of change of velocity.
Acceleration(m/s²) = change in velocity(m/s) /
time(s)
Displacement-time graphs
Displacement (m)
Time (s)
Gradient of the Gradient of the Gradient of the
Straight line. graph is zero. graph becomes graph is gradually
Therefore, the Therefore, Object negative. changing with
object has a is stationary Therefore, Object time. Therefore,
constant velocity V=0 is moving back object is changing
the way it came its velocity
• The steeper the line, higher the velocity.
“ Be creative - Every day is a new day with new opportunities…”
KINEMATICS
CIE AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS (9702)
Motion equations & definitions
◼ Scalar quantities – Quantities with magnitude only.
eg: speed, time, temperature, etc...
◼ Vector quantities – Quantities with both magnitude and direction.
eg: velocity, force, displacement, etc...
◼ Distance – Length between two points.
◼ Displacement – Distance moved by an object in a specific direction (This is the shortest distance between two
points).
◼ Speed – Distance travelled per unit time.
Speed(m\s) = distance(m) / time(s) Average velocity(m/s) = Total displacement (m) / total time (s)
◼ Velocity – Rate of change of displacement.
Velocity(m/s) = change in displacement(m) / time(s)
◼ Acceleration – Rate of change of velocity.
Acceleration(m/s²) = change in velocity(m/s) /
time(s)
Displacement-time graphs
Displacement (m)
Time (s)
Gradient of the Gradient of the Gradient of the
Straight line. graph is zero. graph becomes graph is gradually
Therefore, the Therefore, Object negative. changing with
object has a is stationary Therefore, Object time. Therefore,
constant velocity V=0 is moving back object is changing
the way it came its velocity
• The steeper the line, higher the velocity.
“ Be creative - Every day is a new day with new opportunities…”
