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The motion of any object such as a person, a car, a raindrop or a planet is likely to be very
complex because each is made up of a large number of particles of different mass. However we
usually think of these objects as one large particle!
We will begin our study of motion by considering the motion of mass-less particles. This branch
of Physics is known as kinematics (as distinct from dynamics, where the masses of the moving
particles are also considered).
X
A
Figure 1
Area = vt = s
Area = s
Area = [(v+u)/2]t = s
(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 2
schoolphysics 16-19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Text/Kinematics
Student investigation
The major difficulty when measuring high velocities is the determination of short time intervals.
(a)
Devise and carry out experiments to measure the time of contact that a ball makes with the
ground when dropped on to it from a height of 1 m.
You should carry out two separate methods of measuring this time.
(b) Measure the rate of rotation of an electric vacuum cleaner motor.
Velocity measurement
The measurement of velocity normally requires the measurement of two quantities
(displacement and time) but it can be found directly as the following investigation shows.
Student investigation
The police radar speed trap measures the
velocity of a car by the Doppler effect using the
beats between the transmitted and reflected
signals. Using the microwave apparatus shown
in Figure 3, measure the velocity of a trolley.
Figure 3
schoolphysics 16-19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Text/Kinematics
Figure 4