Calculating speed

Science

Measuring speed: practical

Measuring speed accurately

Reading distance-time graphs

Interpreting distance-time graphs

Changing speed

Newton's First Law

Streamlining

Comparing the speeds of different parachutes

Changing the speed of a parachute

In the Measuring and calculating motion unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn how to measure and calculate velocity and acceleration, and how to interpret velocity-time graphs. 

In the Forces unit, pupils learn to accurately describe and explain the actions of forces in a range of situations. 

This unit explores speed, forces, and motion, including effects on objects. It covers deriving equations, calculations, and distance-time graphs. Learn to use force arrows, identify balanced and unbalanced forces, and understand their impact on movement.

Moving by force

A small wheeled object used to investigate movement.

The steepness of a slope, the larger the gradient the steeper a slope is.

A device used to precisely measure time, usually to 0.1 s or 0.01 s.

The overall distance travelled divided by the overall time for a journey.

The average speed of an object is the distance it travels per unit of time, measured in metres per second (m/s). It is a scalar quantity.

The instantaneous speed of an object is its speed at a particular moment.

Manual timings include some timing errors. These can be due to reaction times or observing from incorrect positions.

Random errors are errors that vary from test to test in an uncontrolled way.

A distance-time graph is used to show how far an object has travelled over a period of time.

The horizontal axis on a distance-time graph shows the time and the vertical axis shows the distance.

Each axis has a scale which shows the variable name and the minimum and maximum values.

Scales are marked with divisions so that values can be read from the distance-time graph.

The overall distance travelled divided by overall time for a journey.

The gradient (steepness) of a line on a distance-time graph shows its speed. Higher gradients (steeper lines) show faster objects.

A stationary object is not moving. It has a speed of 0 m/s.

The overall effect of a set of forces acting on an object.

A measurement of how fast something is moving, found from the distance travelled divided by the time taken.

A small wheeled cart used in motion experiments.

A change in speed or direction of movement.

A resultant forces the sum of all forces acting on an object.

Frictional forces act between surfaces, to oppose the movement of an object.

The gravitational force on an object pulls it downwards, towards Earth.

When an object moves through a liquid or a gas (a fluid), a drag force acts on it as it pushes particles out of its way.

The drag force on an object moving through air is called air resistance.

A streamlined object is shaped to reduce the drag forces acting on it.

The drag force on an object moving through water is called water resistance.

When an object moves through a fluid there is a drag force that opposes the movement.

A parachute is used to increase the size of drag forces. This slows down the object it is attached to.

The gravitational force on something pulls it downwards, towards Earth.

A resultant force is the overall effect of a set of forces on an object, taking their directions into account.

An object reaches a terminal velocity when the drag and gravitational forces are equal.

Moving by force

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