Secondary 4 Additional Mathematics

Chapter 18: Kinematics

(NA)

Name: ______________________ Class: ____________ ( ) Date: _________________

Displacement

The displacement of a particle is defined as the change in position of the particle with respect
to a fixed point, at a particular instant. It has both magnitude and direction. Displacement can
be positive, zero, or negative.

Positive Displacement
Direction (left → right)
Displacement
position
Original position

Magnitude

When a particle travels a straight distance with direction and magnitude fixed to one ending
point. The particle is in positive displacement motion.

Negative Displacement
+ve border
original
Direction (left → right)

Direction (right → left)

-ve

When a particle travels a straight distance with direction and magnitude fixed to one ending.
However, reverses due to bounce or wind affection, travels backwards. The particle is in
negative displacement motion.

Zero Displacement

When a particle is still or is moving at a constant speed from starting to ending position. The
particle is in zero displacement.

The Kinematical Analysis

There are 2 types of measure of motion, velocity, and acceleration.

Velocity – rate of change of displacement.

ds
v=
dt
Velocity

Velocity is the rate of change of displacement. If a particle is moving at x km/hr for y

minutes, its velocity is calculated to:
ds x km/ h
v= = .
dt y mins