Describing Motion Around Us Mind Map

A reference frame is the surroundings or point from which we observe the position of an object. An object is at rest or in motion depending on whether its position changes with respect to that reference frame.

In one-mark and two-mark answers, include the reference point clearly; this makes the answer scientifically complete.

Distance is the total length of the actual path travelled. Displacement is the shortest straight-line change in position from the initial point to the final point, with direction.

For displacement, mark the starting point and ending point first; the actual route matters for distance, not for displacement.

Speed is the distance travelled per unit time. Velocity is the displacement per unit time in a specified direction.

Read whether the question asks speed or velocity; then choose distance for speed and displacement for velocity.

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. It tells how quickly velocity changes in magnitude or direction.

Use final velocity minus initial velocity, not initial minus final, unless the sign convention demands it.

A position-time graph shows how the position of an object changes with time. The slope of the graph gives velocity.

For graph questions, always look at slope first: flat means rest, straight slope means uniform velocity, changing slope means changing velocity.

A velocity-time graph shows how velocity changes with time. Its slope gives acceleration, and the area under the graph gives displacement.

First identify the graph type. In velocity-time graphs, slope gives acceleration and area gives displacement.

Kinematic equations of motion are formulae used to connect initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration, time, and displacement for uniformly accelerated motion.

Write u, v, a, t, and s before selecting the formula; this prevents most substitution mistakes.

Uniform circular motion is motion along a circular path with constant speed, while the direction of velocity changes continuously.

For circular motion, mention both points: speed is constant, but velocity changes because direction changes.