Distance, Speed, Time, and Acceleration

Introduction to Mechanics

In this course, Professor David Berman (Queen Mary University of London) gives an introduction to mechanics at a GCSE level. In the first mini-lecture, we define distance, speed, and acceleration before looking at how they are related mathematically and graphically in distance versus time graphs and speed versus time graphs. In the second mini-lecture, we discuss Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. In the third mini-lecture, we explore gravity, weight, and the acceleration due to gravity (g). The fourth mini-lecture introduces momentum and the relationship between momentum and force. In the fifth mini-lecture, we go over an example that illustrates Newton’s Third Law.

Distance, Speed, Time, and Acceleration

In this mini-lecture, we define distance, speed, and acceleration, focusing in particular on: (i) the relationship between speed s and distance d given by s = d/∆t, where ∆t is the change in time, and some examples using this equation; (ii) distance vs. time graphs, where we learn that the speed is the slope of the graph; (iii) speed vs. time graphs, where we learn that the slope of the graph, that is the change in the speed, is the acceleration, and the area under the curve is the distance travelled; and (iv) the relationship between acceleration a and speed s given by a = ∆s / ∆t, where ∆t is the change in time, followed by an example using this equation.