a PowerPoint that will be helpful for teachers to use whilst teaching this topic on motion in one dimension

1. MOTION IN ONE
DIMENSION
REFERENCE FRAME, POSITION, DISPLACEMENT AND DISTANCE
BY KEYURI GOVENDER

2. Questions to make you think…
1)What is your understanding of the term “motion in one dimension”?
2) What is an example of one-dimensional motion?
3) What is your understanding of the term “position”?
4) What is the term used to describe the pathway between two points?
5) Is that the same as the difference between point A and point B ?

3. LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Define what one dimensional motion is
• Describe the concept of a frame of reference and position
• Differentiate between distance and displacement
• Calculate distance and displacement in one dimensional
motion
• Illustrate the difference between displacement and
distance

5. MOVEMENT IN ONE
DIMENSION
• Movement in one
dimension refers to
objects moving in a
straight line.
• This can be vertically
up/down or left/right
• Any other examples?

6. REFERENCE POINT AND POSITION

7. Reference point: is a point from which the position of an object is
measured
Position: is the place where an object is relative to the reference point
- Symbol: x
- SI unit: m
- Vector
- Positive or negative (relative to the reference point)
A B

8. EXAMPLE:

9. Distance and displacement
Displacement
- Shortest distance between start and end
point
- Direction is measure from start to end
point
- Symbol: x (horizontal) y (vertical)
- Vector quantity, therefore direction is
important
- It is measured from the start to the end
point and includes direction
- Vector direction can be positive or
negative
Distance
- total length of the route
- symbol: D (distance)
- SI Unit: m
- Scalar quantity, therefore the direction does
not play a role. Thus it is always postive
Distance is the length of the path
followed by a moving object
Displacement is the change in position with
respect to the starting point

10. Displacement of an object is the change in its position (final
position minus the initial position)
Δx =x f− x i
Example:
Komal walks to meet Kevin at his house before
walking to school. What is Komal's displacement and
what distance did he cover if he walks to school via
Kevin's house?

11. Distance (D) =path travelled
=400 m+500 m
=900 m
Displacement (Δx)=x f − x I
=−100 m + 0 m
=−100 m
=100 m (in the negative x direction)

12. References
Siyavula (n.d) Natural science grade 8: motion on one dimension. Received from:
https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-8
Khan Academy (n.d.) Unit: one-dimensional motion. Received from:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion