IGCSE: Forces and Motion Revision Guide: Units & Movements and Position

a) Units

1.1 Use kilogram (kg), metre (m), metre/second (m/s), metre/second2 (m/s2), newton (N),
second (s), newton per kilogram (N/kg), kilogram metre/second (kg m/s).
b) Movement and position

1.2: The speed of an object is the distance
travelled.

- When stationary -> horizontal line
- Constant speed -> Straight line increasing in
distance
- Increasing in speed -> increasing gradient
1.3: Know the relationship between average
speed, distance moved and time.

Average speed = distance moved / time taken


1.4: describe experiments to investigate the
motion of everyday objects

Eg: Push a toy car along a ruler and time the
time taken
1.5: Know the relationship between
acceleration, velocity and time.

Acceleration = change in velocity / time taken

=m/s
2

If the velocity (speed in a direction) changes,
it accelerates
NOTE:

If an object changes direction, it changes
velocity.
1.6: Plot and interpret velocity-time graphs

y axis = velocity (m/s)
x axis = time take (s)

line = acceleration
Steeper the gradient greater the acceleration
Line is horizontal = no acceleration (steady
speed)
Negative gradient = deceleration.

1.7: determine acceleration from the gradient of
a velocity-time graph

acceleration = gradient = 12m/s 4m/s / 10s
=0.8m
2

1.8: determine the distance travelled from a
velocity-time graph

The area between velocity time graph and the
time axis is the distance travelled.

Eg: Velocity = 4 m/s Time = 2s
Distance = 4 x 2 (area) = 8m