Science 9

SCIENCE 9
QUARTER 4

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LESSON 1 : SPEED and VELOCITY

Just as distance and displacement have distinctly different meanings (despite their
similarities), so do speed and velocity. Speed is a scalar quantity that refers to "how fast an
object is moving." Speed can be thought of as the rate at which an object covers distance. A fast-
moving object has a high speed and covers a relatively large distance in a short amount of time.
Contrast this to a slow-moving object that has a low speed; it covers a relatively small amount of
distance in the same amount of time. An object with no movement at all has a zero speed.
Velocity is a vector quantity that refers to "the rate at which an object changes its position."
Imagine a person moving rapidly - one step forward and one step back - always returning to the
original starting position. While this might result in a frenzy of activity, it would result in a zero
velocity. Because the person always returns to the original position, the motion would never result
in a change in position. Since velocity is defined as the rate at which the position changes, this
motion results in zero velocity. If a person in motion wishes to maximize their velocity, then that
person must make every effort to maximize the amount that they are displaced from their original
position. Every step must go into moving that person further from where he or she started. For
certain, the person should never change directions and begin to return to the starting position.
Velocity is a vector quantity. As such, velocity is direction aware. When evaluating the
velocity of an object, one must keep track of direction. It would not be enough to say that an
object has a velocity of 55 mi/hr. One must include direction information in order to fully describe
the velocity of the object. For instance, you must describe an object's velocity as being 55
mi/hr, east. This is one of the essential differences between speed and velocity. Speed is a scalar
quantity and does not keep track of direction; velocity is a vector quantity and is direction aware.

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ACTIVITY
Solve the following.
1. Pete is driving down 7th street. He drives 150 meters in 18 seconds. Assuming
he does not speed up or slow down, what is his speed in meters per second?

2. A train travels 120 km in 2 hours and 30 minutes. What is its average speed?

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LESSON 2 : UNIFORM ACCELERATED MOTION (UAM) :

HORIZONTAL DIMENSION

If a body maintain maintains a constant change in Velocity in given time interval along a
straight line, then the body is said to have a uniform accleration.

Equation A : V=d
t

Equation B: Vave = V1 + V2
2

Equation C: a = Vf – Vi
T

Where:
V = velocity
Vi = initial Velocity
Vf = Final Velocity
Vave = Average Velocity
d = displacement
t = time
a = Acceleration

Equation D: d = vt

d = [Vf + Vi] t
2

Rearrange equation C to arrive at Vf = Vi + at and substituting the Vf in Equation D, you

will get
d = [Vf + Vi] t
2

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Combining Vi you will arrive at,

Distributing it will give you

Simplifying it will provide you,

Equation E :

This shows that the displacement of the body is directly proportional to the square of
time, this confirms that for equal interval of time displacement increases quadratically.

To find out how velocity depend on displacement, substitute v and t from equations B
and C to d = vt and you will find that.

Simplifying:

Rearranging:

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LESSON 3 : MECHANICAL ENERGY

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Mechanical Energy as the Ability to Do Work

An object that possesses mechanical energy is able to do
work. In fact, mechanical energy is often defined as the
ability to do work. Any object that possesses mechanical
energy - whether it is in the form of potential
energy or kinetic energy - is able to do work. That is, its mechanical energy enables
that object to apply a force to another object in order to cause it to be displaced.
Numerous examples can be given of how an object with mechanical energy can harness
that energy in order to apply a force to cause another object to be displaced. A classic
example involves the massive wrecking ball of a demolition machine. The wrecking ball
is a massive object that is swung backwards to a high position and allowed to swing
forward into building structure or other object in order to demolish it. Upon hitting the
structure, the wrecking ball applies a force to it in order to cause the wall of the
structure to be displaced. The diagram below depicts the process by which the
mechanical energy of a wrecking ball can be used to do work.

A hammer is a tool that utilizes mechanical energy to do work.

The mechanical energy of a hammer gives the hammer its
ability to apply a force to a nail in order to cause it to be
displaced. Because the hammer has mechanical energy (in the
form of kinetic energy), it is able to do work on the nail.
Mechanical energy is the ability to do work.

Another example that illustrates how

mechanical energy is the ability of an object
to do work can be seen any evening at your local bowling alley. The
mechanical energy of a bowling ball gives the ball the ability to apply
a force to a bowling pin in order to cause it to be displaced. Because

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the massive ball has mechanical energy (in the form of kinetic energy), it is able to do
work on the pin. Mechanical energy is the ability to do work.
A dart gun is still another example of how
mechanical energy of an object can do work on
another object. When a dart gun is loaded and the
springs are compressed, it possesses mechanical
energy. The mechanical energy of the compressed
springs gives the springs the ability to apply a force
to the dart in order to cause it to be displaced. Because of the springs have mechanical
energy (in the form of elastic potential energy), it is able to do work on the dart.
Mechanical energy is the ability to do work.
A common scene in some parts of the countryside is
a "wind farm." High-speed winds are used to do work
on the blades of a turbine at the so-called wind farm.
The mechanical energy of the moving air gives the air
particles the ability to apply a force and cause a
displacement of the blades. As the blades spin, their
energy is subsequently converted into electrical
energy (a non-mechanical form of energy) and
supplied to homes and industries in order to run
electrical appliances. Because the moving wind has
mechanical energy (in the form of kinetic energy), it
is able to do work on the blades. Once more,
mechanical energy is the ability to do work.

The Total Mechanical Energy

As already mentioned, the mechanical energy of an object can be the result of its
motion (i.e., kinetic energy) and/or the result of its stored energy of position
(i.e., potential energy). The total amount of mechanical energy is merely the sum of the
potential energy and the kinetic energy. This sum is simply referred to as the total
mechanical energy (abbreviated TME).
TME = PE + KE

As discussed earlier, there are two forms of potential energy discussed in our course -
gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. Given this fact, the above
equation can be rewritten:
TME = PEgrav + PEspring + KE

The diagram below depicts the motion of Lee Ben Fardest (esteemed American ski
jumper) as he glides down the hill and makes one of his record-setting jumps.

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The total mechanical energy of Lee Ben Fardest is the sum of the potential and kinetic
energies. The two forms of energy sum up to 50 000 Joules. Notice also that the total
mechanical energy of Lee Ben Fardest is a constant value throughout his motion. There
are conditions under which the total mechanical energy will be a constant value and
conditions under which it will be a changing value.

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LESSON 4 : ENERGY TRANSFORMATION

Energy Conversion: Transfer and Transform
Energy transfer is the movement of energy from one location to another. For example,
when electricity moves from a wall plug, through a charger, to a battery.

Energy transformation is when energy changes from one form to another – like in a
hydroelectric dam that transforms the kinetic energy of water into electrical energy.

While energy can be transferred or transformed, the total amount of energy does not
change -– this is called energy conservation.

Here are some examples;

Flashlight

chemical energy

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Activity 1:
Identify the different energy transformations occurred on the following.

1. Car

2. Windmill

3. Electric Fan

Activity 2:
Create a poster showing energy transformation.

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