Physics S.

Thiha

CHAPTER (2)
MOTION
VECTORS
Two types of physical quantities
Physical quantities can be classified into two kinds, scalar quantity and vector quantity.
1. Scalar quantities (Scalar)
The quantities that have only magnitude are called scalar quantities.
e.g. length, mass, time, temperature, area, volume, density, speed, pressure, electric current,
work, energy, power, etc.
2. Vector quantities (Vector)
The quantities that have both magnitude and direction are called vector quantities.
e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, weight, momentum, electric field intensity, etc.

Vector
Vector is a line segment with an arrow-head. The length of the arrow is proportional to the
magnitude of the vector and the direction of the arrow gives the direction of the vector.
Vector symbols
The symbols of vectors are usually indicated by placing arrows on the top of their symbols.
Vector quantity Vector symbol
Displacement s
Velocity v
Acceleration a
Force F
Weight w
Momentum p
Vector diagram
➢ The arrows drawn in a vector diagram represent the respective vectors.
➢ The direction of the arrow represents the direction of the vector.
➢ The length of the arrow is proportional to the magnitude of the vector.

e.g. F1 = 4 N (east) ⎯⎯⎯

F1 = 4N
⎯→

F2 = 3 N (west) ⎯⎯⎯
F2 = 3N
⎯

F3 = 2N (north) F3 = 2 N

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Addition of vectors
The process of summation of two or more given vectors is called addition of vectors. (or) The
process of finding the result vector of two or more given vectors is called addition of vectors.
Resultant vector
A single vector which is equal to the magnitude and direction of the combined effect of two or
more given vectors is called the resultant vector.
e.g. (1)

F1 = 5 N F2 = 3 N F =8N
=
e.g. (2)
F is the resultant vector of F1 and F2
F1 = 5 N F2 = 3 N F =2N
=

Methods of addition of vectors

1. Triangle method (tip and tail method)
2. Parallelogram method (tail and tail method)
3. Calculation method

1. Triangle method (tip and tail method)

R = A + B R
B B
+ =
A A
2. Parallelogram method (tail and tail method)
B R

+ B =
A A
Vector subtraction
Vector subtraction is, in effect, vector addition. It is also called vector difference.
R = A - B = A + (- B )
A
A -
B A + −B = −B
=

B - A = B + (- A )

Note : A + B = B+ A Vector addition is commutative.

A - B = - (B - A ) Vector subtraction is not commutative.

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Using triangle method

1. The two vectors are in the same direction .

2. The two vectors make an angle θ ( θ <90˚)

3. The two vectors are perpendicular to one another.

4. The two vectors make an angle θ ( θ >90˚).

5. The two vectors are in the opposite direction.

Notes :
1. The resultant will be maximum if the two vectors are in the same direction.
The resultant will be minimum if the two vectors are in the opposite direction.
2. The magnitude of resultant vector of two vectors having the same magnitude can be,
(a) Equal to the magnitude of each vector if they are inclined 120˚ to each other.
(b) Greater than the magnitude of each vector if they are in the same direction.
(c) Smaller than the magnitude of each vector if they are in the opposite direction.
Triangle of forces
If three forces acting on a body are in equilibrium, we can always represent these three forces by
the sides of a triangle, with the direction of the forces taken in order.

250 N 150 N
150 N → 200 N
250 N

200 N
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Relation between two vectors

1. A = B , A and B have equal magnitude and same directions.
2. A = - B , A and B have equal magnitude and opposite directions.
3. If A = 6 units (to east)
B = 3 units (to east)
A 6
=
B 3
A =2B (scalar form)
A =2 B (vector form)
The magnitude of A is two times the magnitude of B and the direction of A is the same
as that of B .
4. If A = 9 units (to east)
B = 3 units (to west)
A 9
=
B 3
A = 3 B (scalar form)

A = - 3 B (vector form)

The magnitude of A is three times the magnitude of B and the direction of A is the

opposite as that of B .

Resolution of vectors
The process of sub-dividing a vector into two or more vectors is called resolution of a vector.
Vector components
In the process of resolution of a vector, the new vectors obtained are called vector components of
the original vector.
Y
Fx = F cos θ

Fy F Fy = F sin θ
θ X

Fx F = original vector

Fx = X-component of A , Fy = Y-component of A

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Scalar Vector
1. Scalar quantities have only magnitude. 1. Vector quantities have both magnitude and
e.g, speed, density, pressure, work, energy, direction.
power e.g.displacement,velocity,acceleration,force
2. When scalar quantities are added, the total or 2. When two vector quantities are added, the
resultant is the sum of their magnitudes. resultant may or may not be the sum of their
magnitude, depending on the directions of
vectors.

EXTRA 1 . Choose the correct answer to complete the sentences.

The two vectors are 10 units (north) and 2 unit (south). The magnitude and direction of
resultant vector is
A. 12 units (north) B. 12 units (south)
C. 20 units (south) D. 8 units (north)
EXTRA 2. Find by means of a vector diagram or otherwise the resultant of two forces of 7 N
and 3 N acting at right angles to one another.
EXTRA 3. A garden roller is pulled with a force of 200 N acting at angle of 50 with the
ground level. Find the effective force effective force pulling the roller along the
ground.
EXTRA 4. A force of 25 N and another of 35 N act on the same object. Find the maximum
total force and the minimum total force they can exert.
EXTRA 5. What is the resultant of a 12 N force and a 9 N force pulling an objects and
forming an angles of 60˚ with each other?

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Questions And Problems

Example (1) A boat travels east at 10 mih-1 in a river that flows south at 3 mih-1.
Find the boat’s velocity relative to the river bank. 10 mih-1
θ = 17

Velocity of the boat (Vboat)

3 mih-1
10.4 mih-1
Velocity of the river current (Vriver)

If ‘v’ is the boat velocity relative to the river bank; v = v b + v r

The magnitude of v is; v2 = vb2 + vr2
v2 = 102 + 32
v = 10.44 mih-1
vr 3
The direction of the boat is; θ= =
v b 10

θ = tan −1 0.3000 = 16 24 17
The magnitude of the boat’s velocity relative to river bank = 10.44 mih-1
The direction = east 17 south (or 17 south of east)
Example (2) A force of magnitude 5 N is inclined at an angle 37 to the horizontal
and vertical components. ( sin 37 = 0.6 , cos 37 =0.8)
y
F

37
x
Fx
F = 5 N , θ = 37
Horizontal component ; Fx = F cos 37 = 5 × 0.8 = 4 N
Vertical component ; Fy = F sin 37 = 5 × 0.6 = 3 N
Review Exercise
1.Given that A = 2 units (west) and B = 4 units (south), draw vector diagrams to carry
out the following vector operations. (i) A + B (ii) 2A + B (iii) B − A
2. A force 4 N, directed east, and a force 6 N, directed west, act on a particle. Find
the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.

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PQ (1) Add two vectors having 3 units each and both pointing east.
A B R
Ans: + =
A = 3 units (east), B = 3 units (east)

The resultant vector is ; R = A + B

The magnitude of R is; R = A + B = 3 + 3 = 6 units
R is pointing east.
PQ (2) Find the sum of a vector having 10 units pointing north and a vector
having 6 units pointing south.
A + B = 10 units (north),

+ = B = 6 units (south)
B R
The resultant vector is ; R = A + B
A The magnitude of R is ; R = A – B
R = 10 – 6 = 4 units
R is pointing north.

PQ (3) A force of 3 N directed east and a force of 4 N directed north are acting
on a particle. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the two
forces.
F1 = 3 N (east)
Ans;
F2 = 4 N (north)

The resultant force is ; F1 = F1 + F2

F F2
+ F2 = The magnitude of the resultant force is ;
F1
F1 F2 = F2 + F22
1

F = 32 + 42 = 25
2

F=5N
F2 4
The direction of F is; tan = =
F1 3

= tan −1 1.3333 = 53 8

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PQ (4) A force of 3 N is perpendicular to a force of 4 N. Find the magnitude of

the resultant of the two forces.

Ans: F1 = 3 N, F2 = 4 N F2

The resultant force is; F = F1 + F2 F1 F

The magnitude of the resultant force is;

F2 = F2 + F22
1

F2 = 32 + 42 = 25
F=5N
PQ (5) Draw the respective x and y components of vector Q shown in figure.
Write down the values of these components.
y
The horizontal component or ‘x’ component is;

Q
Qx = Q cos 30
Qy 30 Qx = 10 cos 30 = 10 × 0.866 = 8.66 units
x
Qx
The vertical component or ‘y’ component is;
Qy = Q sin 30
Qy = 10 sin 30 = 10 × 0.5 = 5 units

PQ (6) A man walk 2 mi east and then 3 mi a direction 60 north of east. Find
the magnitude of his resultant displacement from his starting point.
Ans; Let the resultant displacement be AC. We have,
BD = BC cos 60
= 3 cos 60 = 3 × 0.5
= 1.5 mi
AD = AB + BD
= 2 + 1.5
= 3.5 mi
CD = BC sin 60
= 3 sin 60 = 3 × 0.866
= 2.598 mi
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2 2 2
AC = AD + CD
= (3.5)2 + (2.598)2
= 12.25 + 6.749
AC = 18.999
= 4.359 mi
PQ (7) In the equation s = v0t + a t2, s, v0 and a are magnitude of the respective
vector quantities. Write down the equation in vector form.
Ans; In vector form the equation becomes as:
1
s = v0 t + a t2
2
PQ (8) If A = - 2B , compare the magnitudes and directions of A and B .

Ans ; Since A = - 2B , the magnitude of A is 2 times that of B .

A and B are in opposite in opposite direction .

PQ (9) A vector of magnitude 5 units is inclined at angle 37 to the axis. Find the
magnitude of the vector components along x and y axis.
Ans; The ‘x’ component of A is; Ax = A cos 37
y
= 5 × 0.7986
= 3.993 units
A
Ay 37 x
The ‘y’ component of A is; Ay = A sin 37
Ax
= 5 × 0.6018
= 3.009 units
Exercises
1. Which of the following quantities are scalars and which are vectors?
(a) speed (b) velocity (c) average velocity (d) acceleration (e) displacement

2.Given that A = 2 units (west) and B = 4 units (south), draw vector diagrams to
carry out the following vector operations. (i) A + B (ii) 2A + B (iii) B − A

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3. A force 3 N pointing east and a force 6 N pointing north acts on a particle.

Find the magnitude of the resultant force. Check your answer by drawing
a vector diagram.
The resultant force is;
F = F1 + F2
F
+ F2 = F2 The magnitude of F is;
F1
6N
3N F2 = F2 + F22
1
(north) F1
(east) = 32 + 62
F = 45 = 6.71 N
4. A vector of magnitude 5 units is inclined at an angle 37 to the ‘x’ axis and
another vector of magnitude 10 units is inclined at an angle 53 to the x axis.
What is the magnitude of the sum of the vector components (i) along the x axis
(ii) along the y axis? . ( sin 37 = cos 53 = 0.6 , sin 53 = cos 37 =0.8)

B
y
53
A

37
x
A x Bx

The ‘x’ component of A is; Ax = A cos 37 = 5 × 0.8 = 4 units

The ‘x’ component of B is; Bx = B cos 53 = 10 × 0.6 = 6 units
The sum of the horizontal vector components is; Ax + Bx = 4 + 6 = 10 units
The ‘y’ component of A is; Ay = A sin 37 = 5 × 0.6 = 3 units
The ‘y’ component of B is; By = B sin 53 = 10 × 0.8 = 8 units
The sum of the vertical vector components is; Ax + Bx = 3 + 8 = 11 units

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Chapter 2
Part-2
Describing Motion

Two kinds of motion

1. Uniform motion
2. Non-uniform motion or Accelerated motion
Uniform motion
Motion with constant velocity is called uniform motion.
Note : In uniform motion both speed and direction of a moving body remain the same.
Accelerated motion
Motion with changing velocity is called accelerated motion.
Note : Velocity changes when there is change of direction, change of speed or change of both
direction and speed. Any change in velocity gives rise to an acceleration.

Distance (Distance travelled) (l) (d) (s)

Distance is defined as the length of the path along which the body moves.
Quantity – scalar (only magnitude)

Displacement( s )
Displacement is defined as the distance travelled along a particular direction. (OR)
Displacement is defined as the change of position in a certain direction.
Quantity – vector (both magnitude and direction )

Units of displacement and distance.

System Unit short form
SI metre m
MKS metre m
CGS centimetre cm
FPS foot ft

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Differences between distance travelled and displacement

Distance travelled Displacement
The distance between starting point and end the distance travelled along a particular direction.
point along a path.
Since it has only magnitude, it is a scalar. It has both magnitude and direction. It is a vector.
It depends on the path of travel It is independent on the path of travel
Velocity( v )
Velocity is defined as the rate of change of displacement.
s
In symbols, v =
t
Where , v = velocity
s = displacement
t = time taken
- Velocity is a vector
s
- In vector Form, v =
t
Two kinds of velocity
1. Uniform velocity/constant velocity
2. Average velocity
Uniform velocity
If the body moves equal displacements in equal intervals of time, the velocity of the body is called
uniform velocity or constant velocity.
Average velocity ( v )
Average velocity is defined as the ratio of the total distance travelled along a particular direction
to the time taken to travel that distance.
s
In symbols, v =
t
Where, v = average velocity
s = total displacement
t = total time taken
- Average velocity is a vector.
s
In vector form v =
t

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Speed (v)
Speed is defined as the rate of change of distance travelled.
d
In symbols, v =
t
Where, v = speed
d = distance
t = time taken
- speed is a scalar.
Instantaneous Speed
The instantaneous speed is defined as the time rate of change of distance.
s ds
v = lim =
t →0 t dt
Instantaneous Velocity
The instantaneous velocity is defined as the time rate of change of displacement.
s ds
v = lim =
t →0 t dt
Units of velocity and speed
System Unit short form
SI metre per second ms-1
MKS metre per second ms-1
CGS centimetre per second cms-1
FPS foot per second fts-1

Acceleration( a )
Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity.
v − v0
In symbols, a =
t
Where, a = acceleration
v0 = initial velocity

v = final velocity
t = time taken
- Acceleration is a vector.
v − v0
- In vector form, a =
t

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Units of acceleration
System Unit Short form
SI metre per second squared ms-2
MKS metre per second squared ms-2
CGS centimetre per second squared cms-2
FPS foot per second squared fts-2
Two kinds of acceleration
1. Positive acceleration
2. Negative acceleration
Positive acceleration
The acceleration due to an increase in velocity is called positive acceleration.
Negative acceleration
The acceleration due to a decrease in velocity is called negative acceleration.
Notes
- Negative acceleration is also called decelertation(or) retardation.
- If the body starts moving from rest, it gains positive acceleration.
- If the body stop moving, it gains negative acceleration.

Average Acceleration
Average acceleration is the ratio of the change in velocity to time taken.
Instantaneous Acceleration
The instantaneous acceleration is defined as the time rate of change of velocity.
v dv
a = lim =
t →0 t dt

Note; The limiting value are known as the time rate of change of corresponding quantities
Units of Displacement, velocity and acceleration
Quantity MKS/SI CGS FPS
Displacement/distance m cm ft
-1 -1
Velocity/speed ms cms ft s-1
acceleration ms-2 cms-2 ft s-2

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Linear motion
Motion in a straight line is called linear motion.
Equations of linear motion with constant acceleration.
v − v0
a=
t
v - v0 = at v = v0 + at

If the body moves along a straight line with constant acceleration,

v0 + v
v=
2
v0 + v0 + at
v=
2
2v0 + at
v=
2
2v0 at
v= +
2 2
at
v = v0 +
2
s
where, v =
t
s = v.t
at
s = (v0 + )t
2
1
s = v0 t + at 2
2

When squaring both side of equation, v = v0 + at,

v2 = (v0 + at)2
1
v2 = v02 + 2a (v0t + at 2 )2
2
v2 = v02+ 2as

Equations of linear motion with constant acceleration.

v = v0 + at v = final velocity
1
s = v0 t + at 2 v0= initial velocity
2
v2 = v02+ 2as a = acceleration

t = time taken
v0 + v
v= s = displacement, v = average velocity
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LINEAR MOTION WITH CONSTANT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS

1. (a) A body travels from A to B along a straight line and another body travels from A to B along
a curve (shown by the dotted line). If the straight-line distance between A to B is 3 km find the
displacement of each body.
(b) The first body moves along the straight line from B back to A. The second body moves
along the curved-path back to the same starting point A. What are the displacements of the
two bodies now? If the first body takes 2 h to travel from A to B, what will be its velocity?

2. A person goes from his house to a nearby shop at the corner of the street and then returns
home. Can you say that the distance travelled by him is equal to the magnitude of his
displacement?
3. In a one-round-about-town walking race, the starting point is the same as the finishing point.
Whose magnitude of displacement is greater? The one who completes the race or the one who
gives up half-way?
4. A body travels a straight line for 5s. The displacement of the body for each second is given
Time Os 1s 2s 3s 4s 5s
Displacement 0 cm 10 cm 25 cm 30 cm 48 cm 60 cm
Find the average velocity of the body. Is the body moving with uniform velocity?
5. In a 400 m race, the person running in the innermost lane clocked 50 s and won the gold medal.
Find his average velocity. Is the magnitude of the average velocity the same as the value of
average speed? (Hint: For the innermost lane the starting point is the same as the finishing
point.)
6. A man walks 3 miles east and then 3 miles north. Draw a vector diagram to show his resultant
displacement from his starting point. If he takes 2 hours to completes his journey, find his
average speed and average velocity.
7. A car moving in a straight road with constant acceleration arrives at a certain point after
travelling 5s from the starting point. If the initial velocity is 44 fts-1 and the final velocity is 66
fts-1 find the acceleration of the car and average velocity of the car. How far has it travelled
during this 5 s?
8. A plane starts from rest, speeds over a distance of 450 m with constant acceleration for 15 s
and takes off. What is the acceleration of the plane? Find its take-off velocity in km h-1.
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9. A car moving with a speed 108 km h-1 stops in 15 s due to uniform acceleration. Find the value
of the acceleration.
10. An object moves with an initial velocity of 5 m s-1. After 10 s, its velocity is 10 m s-1. If the
object moves with constant acceleration in a straight line, find
(a) its average velocity,
(b) the distance travelled in 10 s and
(c) its acceleration
11. A particle with initial velocity of 10 m s-1 travels in a straight line and stops completely after
12s. Find the uniform acceleration of the particle. How far has the particle travelled before
coming to rest?
12. A car is travelling with a constant velocity of 6 m s-1. The driver applies the brakes as he sees a
cow which is at a distance of 24 m from the car. Find the acceleration of the car if it stops just
in front of the cow.
EXTRA PROBLEMS LINEAR MOTION WITH CONSTANT ACCELERATION
13. An object moves with an initial velocity of 4ms-1. If it moves with a uniform acceleration of
2 m s-2, find its displacement after 20 s.
14. A particle starting from rest moves along a straight line with a constant acceleration of 2 m s -2.
What is the velocity of the particle 9 s after it started from rest?
15. A body moves from one point to another along a straight line with constant acceleration. If its
initial velocity is 40 cm s-1 and final velocity is 80 cm s-1, find the average velocity of the body.
16. An object takes 5s to travel a certain distance. If the path of travel is straight the average
velocity is 20ms-1 find the distance travelled by the object.
17. Find the average velocity of a sprinter who won the gold medal in a 100 m race with a time of
11.5 s.
18. An object moves with an initial velocity of 5 ft s-1. If it moves with a uniform acceleration of 2
ft s-2 find its displacement after 10s.
19. A particle starting from rest moves along a straight line with a constant acceleration of 3 cms-2.
What is the velocity of the particle 12 s after it started from rest?
20. A car starting from rest travel with uniform acceleration of 2ms-2 in the first 6s. it then travels
with a constant velocity for half an hour. Find the distance travelled in the first 6s as well as the
distance travelled in the following half an hour.
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MOTION GRAPH PROBLEMS

21. A train starts from a station A, with an acceleration of 0.2 ms-2 and attains its maximum speed
in 1.5 min. After continuing at this speed for 4 min it is uniformly retarded for 45 s before
coming to rest in station B. Find, by drawing a suitable graph,
(a) the distance between A and B in km,
(b) the maximum speed in km h-1,
(c) the average speed in ms-1
(d) acceleration during the last stage of motion.

22. A body starts from rest and accelerates at 3 m s-2 for 4s. Its velocity remains constant at the
maximum value so reached for 7s and it finally comes to rest with uniform negative
acceleration after another 5s. Find by the graphical method:
(a) the distance moved during each stage of motion.
(b) the average velocity over the whole period.

23. Draw a graph of velocity against time for a body which starts with an initial velocity of 4ms-1
and continues to move with an acceleration of 1.5m s-2 for 6 s. Show how you would find from
the graph: (a) the average velocity (b) the distance moved in those 6 s.

24. Motion of an object is recorded as shown in the table below.

(i) Draw the distance-time graph plotting time along x-axis,
(ii) Find the speed of the object.
time (s) 0 1 2 3 4 5
distance(m) 0 4 8 12 16 20

EXTRA PROBLEMS FOR MOTION GRAPH

25. A body moving with a constant acceleration reaches the velocity 4ms-1 after 10s. If the body
starts from rest, find the respective velocities after (a) 12s (b) 14s (c) 16s and (d) 18s. Draw the
velocity-time graph for the interval 10 s to 18 s. From the graph, find the velocities at 8s and
20s respectively.
26. The graph in figure shows the relationship between velocity and time for a moving body.
What kind of motion is represented by (a) AB, (b) BC, (c) CD?

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27. The figure represents graphically the velocity of a car moving along a straight level road over a
period of twenty minutes.

(a) Describe the motion of the car between A and B.

(b) Describe the motion of the car between D and E.
(c) How far has the car travelled between B and D?
(d) Calculate the acceleration of the car between G and H.

EXTRA PRACTICE QUESTIONS

28. The following equations are used to describe the motion of a body.
v = v0 + at
1
s = v0 t + at 2
2
v0 + v
v=
2
s = v.t
Express them in vector form. (The symbols carry their usual meanings).
Are the above equations true for motion with non-uniform acceleration?
What form will the equation in question assume for motion with constant velocity?
v +v
29. Is the formula for average velocity v = 0 always true?
2
30. For what particular case do the two equations s = v t and s = v t become equivalent?
31. Check whether the following statements are true or not.
(a) “If the speed changes, the velocity also changes”
(b) “Although speed changes, there is no acceleration.”
(c) “If the speed does not change, but the direction changes, there will be acceleration.”
32. Choose the correct answer from the following. Displacement is
(a) rate of change of velocity,
(b) magnitude of acceleration,
(c) distance
(d) change of position in a certain direction.
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33. Fill in the blanks.

Velocity is (a) position in a particular direction and (b) is the rate of change of velocity.
Since displacement has both magnitude and direction, displacement is a (c) quantity.
34. Define average velocity.
35. *A body moves along a straight line. What can you say about its speed and velocity?
36. Define speed and velocity such that two may be distinguished.
37. *What is the meaning of the unit cms-2 ?
38. *What component of a body’s motion does the gradient (slope) of a displacement-time graph
represent?
39. *How can a body’s acceleration be calculated from a velocity time graph of its motion?
40. Which graph represents the motion of a body moving with constant velocity?

41. A train decelerates at a constant rate during a period commencing at t = 0. Which graph
represents the displacement of the train?

42. A ball is projected vertically upward Which graph represents the velocity of the ball during its
flight when air resistance is ignored?

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