4 Moving About
1. Vehicles do not typically travel a constant speed
-Identify that a typical journey involves speed changes
-Distinguish between the instantaneous and average speed of vehicles and other
bodies
Describing Motion
Speed
- A vehicle is stationary at the start and the end of the journey. When
moving it will often change speed and direction. These changes in
motion determine where the journey ends and how long the journey
takes.
Instantaneous and average speed
- The average speed of a vehicle will determine how long it takes to
cover a given distance.
- Instantaneous speed is, of what the vehicle is doing at a particular time
as the speed changes and no information is given
- Kinetic energy of a vehicle depends on the instantaneous speed
- Speed of an object is calculated by dividing the distance travelled by
the time taken.
Velocity
- Displacement (r): The vector quantity related to distance. The
displacement between two points is given by the length and direction
of a straight line.
- Velocity (v): The vector quantity related to speed. The velocity of an
object is the objects speed in a particular direction.
- Average velocity (Vav) is calculated by the equation: vav = r/ t
These definitions mean that the magnitude of an objects velocity is
not always the same as its speed.
Relative motion
- When describing the velocity of a vehicle, we usually give the velocity
that would be measured by a stationary observer, such as someone
standing by the side of the road. However, the velocity measured by
another moving observer would be different.
Vector diagrams
- Vector subtraction is more complicated because the motion of the
object is in two dimensions.
- Vector calculations in one dimension are relatively simple and may
even be worked out intuitively. Vector diagrams make it much easier to
describe and analyse the problem allowing the correct calculations to
be made.
-Explain the need for a net external force to act in order to change the
velocity of an object
-Interpret Newtons second Law of motion and relate it to the equation:
F=ma
-Describe the actions that must be taken for a vehicle to change direction,
speed up and slow down.
Acceleration
- Moving objects rarely travel with a constant velocity. Their velocity will
change. The magnitude of the velocity will either increase or decrease
or it will change direction. In each case, the object is accelerating.
-Define average acceleration as: aav=v/t., therefore aav=vu/t.
Average acceleration
- Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. The unit is (m/s/s or ms to
the power of -2) which is defined as: aav=v/t
- If u is the velocity at the start of the acceleration (The initial
velocity) and v is the velocity at the end (Final velocity), then the
average can be given by: aav=vu/t.
The forces between the wheel and the road depend on the forces
applied with the wheel. The wheel is attached to the engine, the wheel
goes in the same direction as when the engine turns. If breaks are
applied then force is applied to the opposite direction
Air resistance
- As the vehicle moves upwards it forces air out of its way. As it does
this, the air pushes back creating a retarding force. This is called air
resistance
Momentum in collisions
- Momentum describes how difficult it is to change the motion of an
object. It is the product of the objects mass and velocity: p=mv
- When a force acts on an object, its momentum will change
instantaneously, this is called impulse: Impulse=Ft
- Impulse relationship allows for the average force during a collision to
be calculated.
- Momentum is also governed by a conservation law. The law of
conservation of momentum states: The total momentum in a closed
system remains constant
Newtons 1st Law of motion doesnt apply to many real world situations
e.g.
A book pushed across a table will stop as soon as the pushing force
ceases & a vehicle will soon come to a stop if the drivers foot is taken
off the accelerator. This is because in these two situations, there are
retarding forces caused by an interaction between the object and its
surroundings which results in the objects deceleration.
The inertia of objects in vehicles during collisions often results in injury
for the vehicles occupants.
In a collision objects will continue to move regardless of the fact that
the vehicle has come to a stop. The vehicles occupants will be injured
by these unrestrained objects.
Similarly unrestrained objects body parts will continue in their original
motion whereas restrained body parts will experience the same
acceleration as the vehicle.
-Assess the reasons for the introduction of low speed zones in built-up areas and
the addition of air bags and crumple zones to vehicles with respect to the
concepts of impulse and momentum
injuries can be sustained due to the force being applied over a small
area, and by unrestrained parts moving due to their inertia.
Antilock braking: Antilock braking systems are designed to prevent the
vehicle from skidding and sliding between the tyres. In an antilock
braking pad sensors detect when the wheels stop turning which then
leads to the brakes quickly releasing and reapplying up to 20 times a
second, reducing the amount of time required to stop the vehicle and
allows the driver to maintain control. It is effective by reducing the
effects of driver error, the time it takes for the vehicle to stop and
enabling the driver to maintain control.