Skip to main content

Rate of Motion

 

We have observed moving objects around us. From the observation we know that some objects move faster than other and some slower. For example, a man walks slower than a biker and a train run faster than a bike. In physics, there are two ways to measure the motion known as; Speed and Velocity.

 

To measure how fast or slow an object is moving, we simply note the time taken by the object to cover a particular distance. Lesser the time is taken; greater speed will be or greater the time is taken lesser the speed is. Simply it is defined as, total distance travelled by an object in a time unit or total distance is covered in 1 second. SI unit of speed is m/s. mathematically speed is calculated as; 

Speed = distance travelled (in meter) / time (1 second).

 

Speed is something we measure, how much an object can travel in a unit time. Now suppose, in a particular time, some distance has been travelled by an object. There are time intervals when speed of the object was increased or decreased.


For example, a boy went to the park 50 meter away from his house. His walking speed was 2 m/s. In park he jogged a circular path of 100-meter radius one round. His jogging speed was 10 m/s. After jogging he sat on the park bench for 5 minutes. At this moment, his speed was 0 m/s. then he walked to home with 2 m/s speed. In this total motion he covers a total distance of (Home to park = 50 m + jogging in circular path = 2*π*100 = 628 m + Sitting on the bench = 0 m + walking back to home = 50 m) = 728 m and total time taken is (Time taken to walk from Home to park = 50/2 = 25 s + time taken in jogging = 628/10 = 62.8  s + time taken while sitting on bench 60*5=300s + time taken while walking back to home is 50/2=25s) = 412.8s.


In this situation it is not possible to calculate the speed of the complete motion because speed of the object is not uniform. Hence, we calculate the average speed of the object. To calculate an average speed of the motion we divide total distance travelled by total time taken. Hence average speed of this motion will be = 728/412.8 = 1.7636 m/s.

 

Speed is a quantitative unit in which direction of motion is not defined. But if we fix the direction of motion for example train is moving towards north with speed 50 m/s then this quantity becomes Velocity. Hence, Velocity is defined as total distance travelled by an object per unit time in a particular direction. It is calculated exactly as speed.

As we calculate average speed for non-uniform motion, we will also calculate average velocity for a non-uniform motion but with different approach. First way to calculate is when the velocity is changing with non-uniform rate. In this case average velocity is calculated by dividing net displacement of object by total time taken. Second way to calculate is when velocity is changing with uniform rate. In this case average velocity is calculated by dividing the sum of initial and final velocity by 2.




Tags:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Electric Motor - Brief History, Definition, Application and FAQs

Brief history of Electric Motor The history of the electric motor is a fascinating journey through centuries of innovation and technological advancements. Here is a detailed overview of its evolution: The concept of electromagnetism, the fundamental principle behind electric motors, was first discovered by Hans Christian Ørsted in 1820. His experiments demonstrated that an electric current could produce a magnetic field, laying the groundwork for the development of electric motors. Michael Faraday, a British scientist, made significant contributions to the understanding of electromagnetism. In 1821, he built the first electric motor by using a simple electromagnetic apparatus. Faraday's experiments paved the way for further research into electric motors. The late 19th century saw the commercialization of electric motors for various industrial applications. Inventors such as Thomas Davenport, who patented one of the earliest electric motors in 1837, and Nikola Tesla, who dev...
Post a Comment
Read more

Non-Conventional Sources of Energy - Introduction, Brief History, Types, Applications and FAQs

Brief history of non-conventional sources of energy Our reliance on fossil fuels is a relatively recent phenomenon. Throughout history, humanity has explored various ways to harness energy from the environment, laying the groundwork for the non-conventional energy sources of today. Let's embark on a journey through time to explore the development of these sustainable alternatives. Early Renewable Efforts: Wind and Water Power the Way The use of non-conventional energy sources stretches back centuries. Windmills, the forerunners of modern wind turbines, emerged in Persia (modern-day Iran and surrounding regions) around 7th century AD. These wind-powered machines were used for grinding grain and pumping water, showcasing the early understanding of harnessing wind's kinetic energy. Water power also played a significant role in early societies. Water wheels, powered by flowing rivers or streams, were used for milling grains and powering various mechanical processes. The concept ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Electric Circuits - A brief overview of history, definition and applications

  Brief history of Electric Circuits Early Concepts: Ancient Wonders: While the concept of electric circuits as we know them didn't emerge until more recent times, early civilizations like the ancient Greeks had inklings of electrical phenomena. They observed static electricity through materials like amber, a substance that, when rubbed, attracted lightweight objects. 18th Century Enlightenment: Franklin's Experiments: In the mid-18th century, Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment demonstrated the connection between lightning and electricity. This period laid the groundwork for understanding the nature of electric charge. 19th Century Innovations: Ohm's Law: In the 1820s, Georg Simon Ohm formulated Ohm's Law, a fundamental principle that defines the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in a circuit. This was a pivotal moment in understanding the quantitative aspects of electricity. Telegraphy and Electrical Communication: Morse ...
Post a Comment
Read more