Edexcel IGCSE Physics - Movement & Position

A graph that visualizes the relationship between the distance an object travels in a straight line and the time taken. It shows how far away an object is from its starting point at various times.

A straight line on a distance-time graph indicates that the object is moving at a constant speed.

The slope of a line on a distance-time graph represents the speed of the object. A steeper slope indicates a faster speed.

A horizontal line on a distance-time graph signifies that the object is stationary, not moving.

Distance-time graphs can be used to interpret the speed of an object. A straight line represents constant speed, a steeper slope indicates faster speed, and a flat line indicates the object is stationary.

Plotting distance-time graphs is a crucial skill in physics to visualize and analyze motion.

Distance-time graphs are essential for visualizing and understanding the motion of objects, as they provide information about the relationship between distance and time

The Edexcel IGCSE Physics syllabus requires students to understand distance-time graphs and be able to plot them.

Speed measures how fast an object is moving. It tells us how much distance an object covers in a given time.

Average speed is the overall speed of an object over a whole journey. It considers the total distance traveled and the total time taken.

A scalar quantity has only magnitude (size) but no direction.

To calculate average speed, you divide the total distance traveled by the total time taken.

A formula triangle is a visual representation of a formula, helping you rearrange equations to solve for different quantities.

To use a formula triangle, cover up the quantity you want to calculate, then see the relationship of the remaining quantities.

When an object's speed changes throughout its journey, it's more useful to know its average speed.

Average speed helps us understand the overall speed of an object, even if its actual speed changes during its journey.

A visual representation of an equation, where variables are arranged in a triangle to help rearrange the equation by covering up the variable you want to calculate.

The process of manipulating an equation to isolate the variable you want to solve for.

The total distance traveled divided by the total time taken.

The relationship between these three quantities in physics, where distance is directly proportional to both speed and time.

The process of transforming a measurement from one unit to another.

The variable that is being solved for in an equation.

A triangle where speed is at the top, distance at the bottom left, and time at the bottom right.

Covering up the variable 'speed' in the triangle leaves the equation 'distance = speed × time'.

The area under a velocity-time graph represents the distance traveled by an object.

To calculate the total distance travelled, you need to determine the area of all enclosed sections under the line of the graph.

A straight line on a velocity-time graph indicates constant acceleration.

The slope of a velocity-time graph represents the acceleration of the object. A steeper slope indicates a higher acceleration.

For a straight line on a velocity-time graph, the distance travelled can be calculated by determining the area of the enclosed triangle or rectangle.

The slope of a velocity-time graph represents the magnitude of acceleration. This means that a steeper slope indicates a greater acceleration.

Sections with a non-zero slope on a velocity-time graph indicate acceleration. Flat sections represent constant velocity (no acceleration).

The section with the steepest slope on a velocity-time graph represents the largest magnitude of acceleration.

The slope of a line is also known as the gradient. This term is often used in the context of velocity-time graphs.

Calculate the gradient of the velocity-time graph for the relevant time period. This gives the acceleration during that time interval.

A gradient triangle is a visual tool used on a velocity-time graph to calculate the gradient (and therefore, the acceleration) between two points in time.

Acceleration (a) is calculated as the change in velocity (∆y) divided by the change in time (∆x): a = ∆y/∆x

Using a large gradient triangle helps to minimize errors in the calculation of the slope and thus, the acceleration. It allows for more precise measurements.

The experiment aims to investigate the motion of everyday objects by measuring their speed. This is done by measuring the distance traveled and the time taken, and then calculating the average speed.

The independent variable is distance (d), the dependent variable is time (t), and control variables include using the same object for each measurement.

The experiment requires a paper cone or tennis ball, a stopwatch to measure time taken, and a tape measure or meter rule to measure the distance traveled.

Since directly measuring speed is difficult, you can calculate it by dividing the distance traveled by the time taken. This gives you the average speed of the object.

Examples include a paper cone or a tennis ball. These objects have different air resistance properties, resulting in different speeds when falling.

The resolution of a typical stopwatch is 0.01 seconds. This means that the measured time can only be accurate to the nearest hundredth of a second. This limitation can affect the accuracy of the calculated speed.

Speed is directly proportional to distance and inversely proportional to time. This means that if distance increases, speed also increases, holding time constant. Conversely, if time increases, speed decreases, holding distance constant.

Controlling variables ensures that any changes observed in the dependent variable (time) are directly caused by changes in the independent variable (distance) and not by other factors. This allows for a reliable and valid investigation.