Distance, Speed and Acceleration

• What can forces do?

  Change the position, shape or motion of an object
• What can forces make objects do?

  Speed up, slow down or change direction
• What shows the different between a scalar and vector measurement?

  The direction of movement
• What is a scalar quantity?

  A quantity that requires only a size e.g distance travelled= 20m
• What is a vector quantity?

  A measurement with a size(magnitude) and direction e.g 4m North
• What is speed?

  A measure of how fast something is travelling
• What is the equation for speed?

  Speed= distance/time
• What is the equation for time?

  Time= distance/speed
• What is the equation for distance?

  distance=speed * time
• What is the difference between speed and velocity?

  Velocity has a direction, speed does not
• What are some examples of a scalar quantity?


  Distance, speed, volume and time
• What are some examples of vector quantities?

  Acceleration, force and velocity
• What does an object do when it changes velocity?

  It accelerates
• What is acceleration?

  The change in velocity per second
• What is the unit of measurement for acceleration?

  The unit of measurement for acceleration is m/s²
• What does the v represent in the acceleration equation?

  Final velocity
• What is the formula for acceleration?

  A= v-u/t
• What does the u represent in the acceleration equation?

  Initial velocity
• What do distance time graphs show?

  How the distance travelled by a moving object changes with time
• What do distance time graphs also show?

  If the object is moving at a constant speed, going back to the starting point or stationary
• What is constant speed shown by?

  A straight rising line
• What can the gradient of the line on a distance time graph be used to work out?

  The speed
• What does a steep line mean?

  The vehicle is moving fast
• What does a line curving upwards mean?

  The vehicle is accelerating
• What does a flat horizontal line mean?

  The vehicle is still as the distance isn’t changing
• What do velocity time graphs show?

  How the velocity (speed) of a moving object changes with time
• What do velocity time graphs also show?

  If the object is moving at a constant speed, decelerating or still
• How is acceleration shown on a graph?

  A straight rising line
• How is deceleration shown on a graph?

  A straight falling line
• How is constant speed shown on a graph?

  A horizontal line
• What does a horizontal line along the x-axis mean?

  That the speed is zero
• What does the area under the graph show?

  The distance moved
• What does a curve to a horizontal line mean?

  The vehicle is increasing at a decreasing rate
• What is stopping distance?

  The total distance needed by a car to stop
• What is the equation for stopping distance?

  Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance.
• What is thinking distance?

  Distance travelled between reacting and braking
• What is braking distance?

  Distance travelled when braking
• What are some factors that affect thinking distance?


  distractions, alcohol and visibility
• What are some factors that affect braking distance?

  Speed, worn brakes/tyres and icy roads
• What does thinking distance depend on?

  The drivers reaction time