Distance and Displacement –
Distance and displacement are two related but distinct concepts in physics that
describe the position of an object in space.
Distance is a scalar quantity that describes the length of the path travelled by an
object. It is a measure of how far apart two points are, and it is always positive. For
example, if you travel 10 miles north and then turn around and travel 10 miles
south, your total distance travelled would be 20 miles.
Displacement, on the other hand, is a vector quantity that describes the change in
position of an object. It is the difference between the final position of the object
and its initial position, and it can be positive, negative, or zero. For example, if you
travel 10 miles north and then turn around and travel 10 miles south, your
displacement would be zero because your final position is the same as your initial
position.
In general, distance is a measure of how much ground an object has covered, while
displacement is a measure of how far an object has moved from its starting point,
taking into account both distance and direction.
Velocity –
Velocity is a vector quantity that describes the rate at which an object
changes its position. It is defined as the rate of change of displacement with
respect to time. Mathematically, velocity is expressed as:
Velocity = displacement / time
The SI unit of velocity is meters per second (m/s), but it can also be expressed in
other units, such as kilometres per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph).
, Velocity has both a magnitude (speed) and a direction. For example, if an object
moves 10 meters north in 2 seconds, its velocity is 5 m/s north. If the object instead
moves 10 meters south in 2 seconds, its velocity is -5 m/s north (the negative sign
indicating a southward direction).
Velocity is an important concept in physics and is used to describe the motion of
objects, including their speed and direction of travel. It is also used to calculate
other physical quantities, such as acceleration and momentum.
Uniform and Non-Uniform motion along a straight line-
Uniform motion along a straight line is the motion of an object that moves at a
constant velocity (speed and direction). In other words, the object moves the same
distance in the same direction in equal intervals of time. For example, if a car is
moving at a constant speed of 50 km/h in a straight line, it is said to be in uniform
motion.
Non-uniform motion along a straight line, on the other hand, is the motion of an
object that does not move at a constant velocity. This means that the object
changes its speed or direction of motion at different times during its motion. For
example, if a car moves at a speed of 20 km/h for the first 10 seconds and then
increases its speed to 50 km/h for the next 10 seconds, it is said to be in non-
uniform motion.
In both cases, the motion is along a straight line, but the key difference is in the
constancy of the velocity. Uniform motion has a constant velocity, while non-
uniform motion does not.
Distance and displacement are two related but distinct concepts in physics that
describe the position of an object in space.
Distance is a scalar quantity that describes the length of the path travelled by an
object. It is a measure of how far apart two points are, and it is always positive. For
example, if you travel 10 miles north and then turn around and travel 10 miles
south, your total distance travelled would be 20 miles.
Displacement, on the other hand, is a vector quantity that describes the change in
position of an object. It is the difference between the final position of the object
and its initial position, and it can be positive, negative, or zero. For example, if you
travel 10 miles north and then turn around and travel 10 miles south, your
displacement would be zero because your final position is the same as your initial
position.
In general, distance is a measure of how much ground an object has covered, while
displacement is a measure of how far an object has moved from its starting point,
taking into account both distance and direction.
Velocity –
Velocity is a vector quantity that describes the rate at which an object
changes its position. It is defined as the rate of change of displacement with
respect to time. Mathematically, velocity is expressed as:
Velocity = displacement / time
The SI unit of velocity is meters per second (m/s), but it can also be expressed in
other units, such as kilometres per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph).
, Velocity has both a magnitude (speed) and a direction. For example, if an object
moves 10 meters north in 2 seconds, its velocity is 5 m/s north. If the object instead
moves 10 meters south in 2 seconds, its velocity is -5 m/s north (the negative sign
indicating a southward direction).
Velocity is an important concept in physics and is used to describe the motion of
objects, including their speed and direction of travel. It is also used to calculate
other physical quantities, such as acceleration and momentum.
Uniform and Non-Uniform motion along a straight line-
Uniform motion along a straight line is the motion of an object that moves at a
constant velocity (speed and direction). In other words, the object moves the same
distance in the same direction in equal intervals of time. For example, if a car is
moving at a constant speed of 50 km/h in a straight line, it is said to be in uniform
motion.
Non-uniform motion along a straight line, on the other hand, is the motion of an
object that does not move at a constant velocity. This means that the object
changes its speed or direction of motion at different times during its motion. For
example, if a car moves at a speed of 20 km/h for the first 10 seconds and then
increases its speed to 50 km/h for the next 10 seconds, it is said to be in non-
uniform motion.
In both cases, the motion is along a straight line, but the key difference is in the
constancy of the velocity. Uniform motion has a constant velocity, while non-
uniform motion does not.
