Movement and Position

Summary and Exam Tips for Movement and Position

Movement and Position is a subtopic of Forces and Motion, which falls under the subject Physics in the Edexcel IGCSE curriculum. This topic covers essential concepts such as speed, velocity, acceleration, and deceleration.

• Speed is defined as the distance traveled per unit time and is a scalar quantity because it only has magnitude.
• Velocity, on the other hand, is the change of displacement per unit time and is a vector quantity as it includes both magnitude and direction.
• Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, while deceleration refers to a decrease in speed or velocity.

In speed-time graphs, the gradient represents acceleration. A horizontal line indicates constant speed, while the area under the line shows the distance traveled. A curved line suggests changing acceleration. In distance-time graphs, the gradient represents velocity. A horizontal line means the object is stationary, and a curved line indicates changing velocity, implying acceleration.

For calculating uniform acceleration, the equation $v^2 = u^2 + 2as$ is used, where $s$ is distance, $u$ is initial speed, $v$ is final speed, and $a$ is acceleration. This formula helps in determining unknown quantities when time is not provided.

Exam Tips

• Draw Triangles on Graphs: When calculating gradients, draw triangles directly on the graph. Examiners often give credit for this method.
• Check Units: Always verify the units on each axis of graphs, as they may not always be in standard metric units.
• Focus on Relevant Information: Be aware that some questions may include unnecessary information to make them appear more challenging. Focus on what's relevant to avoid confusion.