KS3 & KS4 science curriculum

This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Moving by force, where they explored the effects of forces on objects, including motion changes and interactions. It deepens their understanding by focusing on measuring and calculating motion, including speed, velocity, and acceleration, using mathematical and graphical methods. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Energy of moving objects, where they will apply their knowledge to explore the relationship between motion and energy, enhancing their grasp of how forces influence energy transfer in moving systems.

1. Different speeds (v=s/t)
2. Measuring instantaneous speed practical (v = s ÷ t)
3. Measuring instantaneous speed analysis (v=s/t)
4. Displacement and velocity as vectors: including movement around a circle
5. Velocity on displacement-time graphs (v = s ÷ t)
6. Calculating from displacement-time graphs: including tangents (v = s ÷ t)
7. Calculating acceleration (a = Δv/t)
8. Measuring acceleration practical (v=s/t, a = Δv/t)
9. Measuring acceleration analysis (v = s ÷ t, a = Δv ÷ t)
10. Velocity-time graphs: acceleration and distance travelled (a = Δv/t)
11. Calculating from motion graphs: including displacement (a=Δv/t and v=s/t)
12. Motion calculations: including complex ones (a=Δv/t, v²−u²=2as & v=s/t)

• Speed measures how quickly an object is moving.
• Speed = distance / time.
• Speed is measured in m/s or km/h or miles/h.
• m/s is the number of metres travelled each second.
• Counting down ‘3, 2, 1, go’ helps start a stopwatch at the right moment.
• Observing with eyes in line with the finish line helps stop a stopwatch at the right moment.
• A level line on a distance-time graph shows no movement.
• The steeper the line on a distance-time graph, the faster the movement.