Module 9

Going Places

What this module is about

Loops and roller coasters are very interesting rides. Have

you ever tried one? Did you experience the sudden jerks and
lurks? And what about the sudden turn around the loops? Aren’t
they amazing? We never fall off our seats! That’s Physics.

Physics is a very interesting course. It is usually described as

the study of matter and energy, which includes several branches
such as mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism,
waves and optics, and relativity and atomic physics. Mechanics
includes the concepts about motion and its causes. Kinematics is
said to be the quantitative description of the motion of the
objects. Dynamics, on the other hand, includes concepts about
the causes of motion. Mechanics provides explanations of many
phenomena such as the motion of skydivers, the parachutes, and
why we jerk when the vehicle suddenly stops.

In this module you will learn many things about Physics particularly about motion.
This module includes four (4) lessons such as:

 Lesson 1 - Describing Motion

 Lesson 2 - Linear Motion
 Lesson 3 - Curvilinear Motion
 Lesson 4 - Physics and Transportation

Read, enjoy, and discover the secrets of Physics!

What you are expected to learn

After going through the module, you are expected to:

1. define the fundamental principles of mechanics, specifically motion;

2. apply the concepts and principles in mechanics to practical situations and
problems;

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 3. trace the development in transportation facilities from the animal-driven to engine-
powered vehicles.
4. solve problems in a logical and organized manner; and,
5. develop appreciation of physics.

How to learn from this module

Here’s a simple guide for you in going about the module.

1. Read and follow the instructions very carefully.

2. Take the pretest. It is a simple multiple-choice test provided at the start to
determine how much you know about the content of this module.
3. Check your answers against the correct answers provided at the last page of the
module.
4. Be very honest in taking the test so you know how much knowledge you already
have about the topic.
5. Read the different lessons about the earth, sun and moon.
6. Perform all the activities, as these will help you have a better understanding of the
topic.
7. Take the self-tests at the end of each lesson to determine how much you
remember about the lesson.
8. Finally, take the posttest at the end of this module.

Good Luck and have fun!

What to do before (Pretest)

Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. When you look at the speedometer in a moving car, you can see the car’s ________.
a. average speed
b. average acceleration
c. instantaneous speed
d. instantaneous acceleration

2. Suppose you are in a car that is going around a curve. The speedometer reads a
constant 30 km/h. Which of the following is NOT true?
a. Your speed is constant
b. Your velocity is constant
c. You and the car are accelerating.

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 3. A ball is thrown straight up. At the top of its path its acceleration is ______________.
a. 0 m/s2
b. about 5 m/s2
c. about 10 m/s2
d. about 20 m/s2

4. If you drop a feather and a coin at the same time in a tube filled with air, which will
reach the bottom of the tube first?
a. The coin
b. The feather
c. Neither – they will both reach the bottom at the same time.

5. At what part of a path does a projectile have minimum speed?

a. when it is thrown
b. half-way to the top
c. at the top of its path
d. when it returns to the ground

6. A ball is thrown straight up. What is its acceleration before it strikes the ground?
a. 0 m/s2
b. about 5 m/s2
c. about 10 m/s2
d. about 20 m/s2

7. A ball is thrown straight up. After 2 seconds what is the acceleration of the ball?
a. 0 m/s2
b. about 5 m/s2
c. about 10 m/s2
d. about 20 m/s2

8. In the absence of air friction, the vertical component of a projectile’s velocity doesn’t
change as the projectile moves.
a. always true
b. always false
c. sometimes true

9. If a freely falling object were somehow equipped with an speedometer, by how much
would its speed reading would increase each second?
a. about 5 m/s
b. about 10 m/s
c. about 15 m/s
d. A variable amount

10. A ball is thrown vertically upward. What is its velocity at the top of its path?
a. 0
b. 5 m/s

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 c. 10 m/s
d. 10 m/s2

11. A ball is thrown vertically upward. What is its acceleration at its maximum height?
a. 0
b. 5 m/s
c. 10 m/s
d. 10 m/s2

12. A ball is thrown vertically upward. What is its acceleration after about 1 second?
a. 0
b. 5 m/s
c. 10 m/s
d. 10 m/s2

13. A ball is thrown vertically upward, with an initial velocity of 50 m/s and caught back at
the same level as when it was thrown. What is the velocity of the ball at that point?
a. 50 m/s
b. 50 m/s, downward
c. 9.8 m/s
d. 9.8 m/s2

14. What force is exerted on the ball at the top of its path?
a. 9.8 N
b. 9.8 N
c. Gravitational force
d. Force exerted by the hand that threw the ball

15. What do you call the motion of an object with a constant acceleration?
a. Motion
b. Uniform Motion
c. Constant Motion
d. Uniformly Accelerated Motion

16. A ball is thrown vertically upward. What is its instantaneous speed at its maximum
height?
a. 0
b. 5 m/s
c. 9.8 m/s
d. 9.8 m/s2

17. If you whirl a tin can on the end of a string and the string suddenly breaks, the tin can
will
a. fly directly toward you.
b. fly directly away from you.
c. spiral away from your hand.
d. fly off tangent to its circular path.

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18. Which of the following would not be considered as projectile?
a. A cannonball rolling down a slope.
b. A cannonball thrown through the air.
c. A cannonball rolling off the edge of a table.
d. All of the above.

19. A ladybug rests at the bottom of a tin can that is being whirled horizontally on the end of
a string. Since like the tin the ladybug can moves in a circle, there must be a force on
it. What exerts this force?
A. gravity
B. your hand
C. the tin can
D. the string

20. Acceleration is defined as the CHANGE in ______________.

a. distance divided by the time interval
b. velocity divided by the time interval
c. time it takes to move from one speed to another
d. time it takes to move from one place to another

Key to answers on page 32

Key to answers on page 21

Lesson 1 Describing Motion

Motion is everywhere. We can see it in the everyday

activities of people, of vehicles in the road, in the plants
that sway and even in the smallest particles – the atoms
that vibrate and jostle. We can move because of the
contraction and expansion of our muscles. Everything
moves. Even the things that are physically at rest are in
motion (jostling molecules). Like in our case, even when
asleep our lungs and heart continue to vibrate and pump.

The number of times our heart beats in a minute is called

Fig 1.1 The Heart our heartbeat. The normal heartbeat is equal to or less
than 100 times per minute for adults. A heartbeat
consists of 2 parts: diastole and systole. During diastole,
the heart muscle relaxes, allowing blood to flow into the atria and ventricles. During systole,
the ventricles contract pumping blood to the different parts of the body. The “lub dub” sound
of the heartbeat that is heard in an instrument called stethoscope is caused by the closing of

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the heart valves. They move with respect to or relative to certain objects like the sun, the
stars and the moon. This means that motion is relative.

Motion is very easy to recognize but has been very hard to describe. There are
several physical quantities that can quantitatively describe the motion of objects. Some of
them are distance and displacement.

Distance vs. Displacement

Distance is usually described as the total path length. It is the length between an
identified reference point and a designated position. It is a scalar quantity, which means that
distance is expressed as magnitude only. It is expressed in units such as meter, kilometer,
feet and the like. However, the standard (SI) unit for distance is meter. Here are some
examples of distances.

Example 1.1 The distance between the tower and the boy is 10 m. This means that the
length between the reference point (the tower) and the identified position (boy) is 10 m.

d = 10
m
Identified position Reference point

Example 1.2. The distance between the house and the church is about 5 m. This means
that the total path length between the reference point (the house) and the identified position
(church) is the sum of the different lengths (1m, 0.5m, 2m, and 1.5m), which is equal to 5 m.

1.5 m

2m

0.5 m

1m

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REMEMBER THIS! Displacement, on the other hand, is the measure
of how far an object has moved in a particular
Distance
– total path length
direction from its original position. This is usually
– symbol: d described as the length between the initial and the
– SI unit: m final position or the change in position including
Total Distance the sign of the change. Displacement is a vector
– Sum of different length of a quantity. This means that displacement is
given path
expressed as magnitude with the corresponding
direction. It is usually given a symbol d, which is a symbol for a vector quantity. It is also
expressed in units such as meter, kilometer, feet and the like. However, the standard (SI)
unit for displacement is meter. Here are some examples of displacements.

Example 1.3. When the boy move from point A to point B, the distance of the boy from the
tower is 10 m but the boy’s displacement from the tower is 10 m, W. This means that the
length between the initial position of the boy (point A) and the final position of the boy (point
B) is 10 m moving toward the west. In symbols;

d = 10 m ,W

d = 10
m
Point B Point A

Example 1.4. However, if the boy who started from the tower (point A) moved to point B
then went back to point A (tower), then the boy’s initial position is point A (tower) while his
final position is still point A (tower). Then the length between the initial and the final position
is 0 m. Therefore, his displacement from the tower is 0 m.

d = 0m

d = 10
m
Point B Point A

Displacement can also be described as the difference between two distances.

d1 = 10
m

d2 = 10
7
m
 d = ∆d
= d2 - d1
= (10 m) – (10 m)
= 0m

What you will do

Objective:
To measure
Activity and determine
1.1 Measuring displacement of a 10-centavo coin or a washer
Displacement

Materials: washer or 10 centavo-coin, centimeter ruler paper

Procedure:

Place a washer or a 10-centavo coin on the number line with the center
of the washer or the 10-centavo coin at the position marked zero.

Draw a circle around the inside of the washer or the 10-centavo coin.

Mark the center of this circle with the letter I for the word "initial"
position of the washer.

Move the center of the washer 5.0 cm to the right. Label this circle F for
the "final" position of the washer.

Guide Questions:
0
What was the initial position of the washer?

What is the final position of the washer?

What is the distance traveled by the washer?

What is the displacement of the washer?

Which of the underlined quantities (final position, distance traveled, and

displacement) are numerically equal?
Speed and Velocity
Key to answers on page 32
Key to answers on page 21

Key to answers on page 29

 The idea of rate is also a good tool in the description of motion. A rate is a quantity
divided by time. It tells how fast something happens, how much something changes in
certain amount of time. Speed is one example of a rate. It is a measure of how fast
something is moving. It is also known as the rate at which distance is covered. In symbols;
d
ν =
t
where:
v = speed
d = distance covered
t = time of travel

The SI units used for speed is m/s, km/h, m/min, etc.

d Here’s a good way of remembering this equation and all other equations that
can be derived from the given equation. If you need an equation for distance
then cover distance and write the symbol d in your paper. In such a case, ν
ν t and t are adjacent thus they are expressed as products.

Hence,

d = ν t

If you want to have an equation for t, then cover t on the triangle and write the symbol t in
your paper, then since d is written above ν , then they appear as quotient. Thus, d and ν
must be written as ratio. In symbols,

t = d/ν

Are you now ready to take a look at the example below and see how we can use the
different equations?

Example 1.5

Elma Muros, the fastest female sprinter in the South East Asia can run along a 200-m
distance in 24.42 seconds. What is Elma’s speed?

Given: d = 200 m
t = 24.42 s
RTF: v
d
Solution: ν =
t

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 100 m
ν =
10 .49 s
ν = 9.53 m/s

Instantaneous Speed and Average Speed

Take a look at the dashboard of car or a jeep when

you ride in one of them. The circular gauge encircled in
figure 1.2 is called a speedometer. A speedometer is an
instrument that determines the instantaneous speed of a
vehicle. Does the speedometer always register the
same speed? At a red light, the car has a 0 km/h speed,
and along the highway, its speed is probably 80 km/h.
These individual speeds are known as instantaneous
speeds. Instantaneous speed is the speed of an object
at an instant. Fig 1.2. Car Dashboard

Average speed, on the other hand, is the total distance

covered by an object in a certain period of time. It is the
representative speed of the whole course of travel. Using the
sample of instantaneous speeds above, the average speed can
be computed by getting the sum of all the individual speeds and
dividing the sum by the number of instantaneous speeds. In the
case above, the average speed is about (80 km/h + 0 km/h)/ 2,
40 km/h. On the other hand, a much easier way of determining
the average speed is to look at the odometer. An odometer like
the one encircled in figure 1.3 is an instrument that informs the
Fig 1.3 Car Dashboard total distance traveled by the vehicle. Average speed is the ratio
of the total distance traveled and the total time of travel. In
symbols,

dT
ν =
tT
where:

vave = average speed

dT = total distance traveled
tT = total time of travel

Our blood, which flows from one part of the body to another, has an average
speed of about 0.6 m/s

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Velocity

In everyday situations, speed and velocity are just the same. They only describe how
fast an object moves. In physics, however, they are a lot different. Velocity is a speed in a
given direction. It is known as the distance traveled in a particular direction in a given time
interval. In symbols,
d , dir
(3) ν =
t int
where:
ν = velocity
d, dir = distance in a given direction
tint = time interval

More often than not, d + dir which means distance in a given direction is also called
displacement. Both speed and velocity are expressed in units such as m/s, km/h, m/min,
etc. Thus,
d
ν =
t int
where:
v = velocity
d = displacement
tt = time interval

Example 1.6.

Karen drove to the city to pick up a friend. She went 280 km east in about 9.6 hours.
Calculate her velocity.

Solution:
1. Given Required to Find
d = 280 km, E vave
tt = 9.6 hr

d
1. Equation: vave =
t int
d
2. Solution: vave =
t int
280 km , E
vave =
9.6hr

What you will do

Activity 1.2 Determining Average Speed and Average Velocity

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Objective:

To determine the average speed and the average velocity of a skier

To differentiate average speed and average velocity

Procedure:

Below is a diagram of a man who is skiing. Ski is a sport that is done on places where
we have snow.

Use the diagram to determine the average speed and the average velocity of the skier
during these three minutes.

Results:

Distance
(0-1) minDistance
(1-2) minDistance
(2-3) minTotal DistanceTotal TimeAverage Speed100 m3 min
Initial PositionFinal PositionDisplacement
(0-3) minTotal TimeAverage VelocityAD3 min

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Guide Question:

1. Differentiate average speed and average velocity.

Key to answers on page 32

Key to answers on page 21

Acceleration

Imagine yourself driving your bicycle along the road when suddenly a man crosses
the road. What would you do? Definitely you step on the brake! What happens to the bicycle
as you step on the brake? When an object changes its velocity the object is said to
accelerate. Acceleration is a measure of how fast the velocity changes with respect to time.
This means that a body accelerates whenever there is a change in speed; a change in
direction, or a change in both the speed and direction. Acceleration is expressed in units
such as m/s2, km/h2, m/min2, etc. Blood flow also exhibits acceleration. When the heart
pumps the blood is pushed away from the heart. The sudden surge or push to the blood
makes the flow of the blood change in speed or direction.

∆ν
a =
t int
where:
a = acceleration
∆v = change in velocity
tint = time interval

or
νf −νi
a =
t int

where:
vf = final velocity
vi = initial velocity

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 What you will do
Self-Test 1.1

Oops! Before you go on, try this one!

A. Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1 Which of the following is an example of acceleration?

A. 5 m/s
B. 5m/s2
C. 5 km/h
D. 5 m/min

2. Suppose you are in a car that is going around a curve the speedometer reads a constant
30 km/h. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Your speed is constant
B. Your velocity is constant.
C. You and the car are accelerating

3. Which of the following exhibits acceleration?

A. A body at rest
B. A body at uniform speed
C. A body with uniform velocity
D. A body moving with constant speed in a circle

4. Which of the following instruments measures the distance traveled by a vehicle?

A. Odometer
B. Manometer
C. Speedometer
D. Anemometer

5. Which among the following is an example of velocity?

A. 50 km/h
B. 40 km/h
C. 50 mi/h
D. 40 mi/h, E

B. Direction: Write ”A” if the situation shows an accelerated motion and write “B” if
the situation shows that the motion of the object is not accelerated.

1. The initial velocity of a boy in a bike is about 5 km/h E while his final
velocity is about 7 km/h E.
2. A boy on his bike moves around a curve with a constant speed of 5 km/h.

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 3. A man initially running at 7 km/h E, moves west at the same speed of 7
km/h.
4. A boy initially running at around 3 km/h suddenly stops because of a truck.
5. A girl initially sitting on a bench stood up and started running.

Key to answers on page 33

Key to answers on page 21

Lesson 2 Linear Motion

Take a look at the parachuters. Are they falling? Are

they moving horizontally? Motion comes in 2 forms: linear
motion and curvilinear motion. Linear motion refers to the
movement of an object along a straight path. Examples of
these are vehicles and other objects with a constant
acceleration and freefall. Curvilinear motion is the motion
of bodies along curved paths. Projectile and object moving
along circular paths are some examples.

Fig 2.1. Parachuters

Uniformly Accelerated Motion

If a vehicle maintains a constant or a uniform change in its velocity in a given time

interval along a straight line, then the vehicle is said to have a constant acceleration. Its
motion is known as uniformly accelerated motion. This constant acceleration could be
derived using the equation:

vf −vi
a =
t int

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Free Fall

Are there waterfalls in your vicinity? How would you

describe them? The water is usually called a freely falling
body. Its motion is known as free fall. Freefall is an example
of a uniformly accelerated motion. In such a motion, the
only force acting on the body is the gravitational pull of
the earth which is also called the earth’s gravity. For an
object in freefall, the acceleration is a constant popularly
known as gravitational acceleration or acceleration due
to gravity also directed downward (-g). On the earth’s
Fig 2.2 Water falls surface at sea level the exact magnitude is 9.8 m/s2. Ten
(10 m/s2) is used, however, for easier analysis of motion.
This means that the velocity of an object in freefall changes by 9.8 m/s or 10 m/s every
second of fall.

If an object is dropped a certain distance from the ground, then its motion is also
known as freefall. In such a case the initial velocity of the object dropped with respect to the
vertical axis is zero (0). ν i = 0

Did you know that the concept of freefall helps determine our reaction time? Reaction
time is the time it takes for the information sent to the brain to travel to the different parts of
the body for execution. Here’s one way of determining your reaction time

What you will do

Activity 2.1 My reaction time

Here’s a great task that you can do.

Ask a friend to help you.
Have a 12-in ruler and let your friend hold its tip for you.
Position your hand on the zero-mark of the ruler but take extra care not to touch the
ruler.
When your friend releases the ruler, catch it with your fingers initially positioned at
the zero-mark.
Note the distance covered from the zero mark to where your fingers are when you
caught the ruler. This represents the distance covered.
Determine your reaction time using the equation:

t = √(2d)/g

where: tr = reaction time

d = distance covered
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2)

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 Another example of a freely falling body is an object thrown vertically downward. For
convention, the initial velocity of such case is always expressed as a negative value
(downward, -ν i). ν i = -ν

Objects thrown vertically upward are also considered freely falling bodies. Whether
the object goes up or goes down the only force acting is the pull of earth’s gravity. The
initial velocity of the object is only a result of the initial force exerted by the launcher.

What you will do

Self-Test 2.1

Answer the following very carefully. Write your answers on a separate sheet.

A ball is thrown vertically upward.

a. What is the acceleration of the ball after 1 s? ___________

b. What is the acceleration of the ball at its maximum height? _____________
c. What is the velocity of the ball at the top of its path? _____________
d. If the ball is thrown with an initial velocity of 50 m/s, what is the final velocity of the
ball at a point at the same level as when it was thrown? ___________
e. What force was exerted on the ball 1 second after it was thrown? ___________
f. What exerts this force? _____________
g. What is the acceleration of the ball 10 seconds after being thrown up?
___________
h. If the ball took 5 s to reach its maximum height, how long will the ball go back to
where it was initially launched?
i. What is the acceleration of the ball at the top of its path? ___________
j. What is the speed of the ball at the top of its path? _____________

Key to answers on page 33

Key to answers on page 21

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 Lesson 3 Curvilinear Motion

Projectile Motion

When the player hits the “Sepak”, the motion of the

“Sepak” is called projectile motion. The “Sepak” itself is
called projectile. The “Sepak” will follow a parabolic path
called trajectory especially if air resistance is negligible. Two
coordinates are usually used to describe projectile motion:
horizontal and vertical axes. The horizontal distance traveled
by the projectile is called the range. While the vertical
distance, that is, the distance from where it was launched to
Fig 3.1 Sepak Takraw the top most point of its path is called its height.
Players
Examples of projectiles are cannon ball launched by a
cannon, golf ball hit by a golfer, and an ice skater jumping over some barrels. Usually, a
strong, abrupt force initiates the motion of a projectile. Following this force, the projectile
moves through the air and is influenced only by the earth’s gravitational force pulling it down
and by air resistance. If the effect of air resistance is ignored, equations in free fall are
readily used to analyze the motion
of a projectile – how high it will
travel, how far it will go and so on.

A remarkable thing to note is

that the same range is obtained
from two different projection angles
– complementary angles. An object
thrown into the air at an angle of
75o, for example, will have the
same range as if it were thrown at
the same speed at an angle of 15o.
Range
An object thrown at 60o will have
the same range as when the object
is launched at 30o. As you can see, Fig 2.4 Angle of Projection vs. Range
when we get the sum of 75o angle
and 15o angle, 60o angle and 30o
angle, in both sets we would obtain a 90o angle. This means that 75o angle and 15o angle
are called complementary angles. Similarly, 60o angle and 30o angle are also
complementary angles. Thus, complementary angles (angles whose sum is equal to 90o)
would result to equivalent range. For smaller angles, object remains in the air for a shorter
time. A maximum range is attained when an object is launched 45o from the horizontal.

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 Projectile motion is a very
helpful and practical concept in Physics.
For example, if there are floods and
rescuers could not reach the place, a
rescue plane is usually used to drop a
package of emergency rations to the
victims
Fig 3.2 Plane to the rescue

Circular Motion

Have you experienced riding the merry-go-round? Which

moves faster – the horse near the outside rail or the horse
near the inside rail? Have you tried swinging a tin can
overhead? When the string breaks, how does the can move?
Does it move directly outward or does it move tangent to the
circle?

You and your friends would probably answer the

Fig 3.3 Merry-go-round questions differently. Some may chose the horse near the
inside rail, while others the horse near the outside rail. That’s
because some of you maybe are thinking about linear speed while others rotational speed.

All objects that turn around on axis located within the object is said to be rotating.
When an object turns about an external axis the rotational motion is called revolution.

Linear speed is what we have been calling simply “speed” – the distance traveled
per unit of time. A point outside the merry-go-round moves a greater distance in one
complete rotation than a point inside it. Linear speed is thus greater on the outside of a
rotating object than closer to the axis.

Rotational speed (angular speed/velocity) refers to the number of rotations or

revolutions per unit of time. All parts of a rotating object share the same rate of rotation. This
rate of rotation is usually expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM). A common
phonograph record, for example, rotates at 33.33 RPM.

However, linear and rotational speeds are related. Linear speed is directly
proportional to rotational speed. This relationship is expressed in an equation as

ν = rω
where:
ν = linear speed
r = radius of the circular path

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 ω = angular/rotational speed

From the equation above,

we note that linear speed also depends on
In any rigid rotating system, all parts have the
same rotational speed. Linear speed varies as. the distance from the center. The greater
it depends on the rotational speed and the the radius the greater the linear speed if
distance from the axis of rotation. the rotational speed is kept constant. At the
very center (the axis of the rotating object)
you have no linear speed but you still
rotate.

What you will do

Activity 3.1 Whirling cans

Objective:

To observe circular motion.

Materials: tin can, string, cutter or scissors

Procedure:

Tie a long string to a tin can.

Whirl the tin can at the end of the string above your head until you are able to
make horizontal circles.
Observe how the tin can moves while traveling along the circular path.
Observe how your hand holding the string tied to the tin can behave.

What do you notice? Did you notice that you kept on pulling the string to maintain its
circular motion? This force that causes the tin can to follow a circular path is called
centripetal force. Centripetal force means “center-seeking” or towards the center. In the
case of the can your hand exerts the centripetal force.

20
 Gravitational force is the centripetal force exerted on moon by
earth to maintain an almost circular path. The same centripetal force
(gravitational force) is responsible for keeping the planets in their orbit
about the sun. And in an atom, the electron orbits the nucleus because
of the electrical force between them.

Centripetal force depends on the mass (m), the tangential speed

(ν ), and the radius of curvature (r) of the circularly moving object. In
symbols;
mv 2
Fc =
r
where:
Fc = centripetal force
Fig 3.4 (upper) Solar System m = mass
(lower) Atom r = radius of curvature
ν = tangential speed

What you will do

Activity 3.2 Whirling cans

Objective: To observe circular motion.

Materials: tin can, string cutter or scissors

Procedure:

While whirling the tin can, cut the string.

Observe the motion of the can while it moves away from the circular path.

If the string breaks how does the tin can move? In the early years people thought that
a “center-fleeing” force counteracts the centripetal force. This is known as centrifugal
force. It is believed that centrifugal force pulls the can from its circular path. But the fact is
that when the string breaks, the can goes off in a tangent, straight-line path because no
force acts on it! Similarly, if you are in a car that rounds a sharp corner to the left, you tend
to pitch outward to the right – not because of an outward force but because of the absence
of centripetal force holding you in circular motion (as a seatbelt provides).

21
Lesson 4 Physics and Transportation

Which among the following vehicles do

you often use? Does it make traveling more
convenient or it is better to travel on foot. Which
do you prefer?

Have you ever tried riding on one of the following forms of transportation? Do you
have any idea what forms of transportation were used by your ancestors like your
grandmother or great grandmother?

Brief Account of Transportation

No one basically knows when humankind first
tamed the ox, the burro, the horse and the carabao.
All we know is that we do move from one place to
another to trade using our feet. American Indians
shipped copper, iron oxide and other valuables from
Minnesota to Alabama on foot over “forest highways”
or downriver.

22
 The principal innovation on land transportation was
the construction of roads where horses and riders
could keep a message moving at the speed of about
two hundred miles a day. Freight was carried by a
camel, an elephant, a burro or an ox. Human
porters, on the other hand, carried cargos in China.
In the Philippines, the most famous animal is the
carabao (kalabaw). It carries freight for its owner
who is usually a farmer. Later, carriages were
connected to these animals to improve the transport
of goods and people..

In the Philippines, we call a horse-driven

carriage as “kalesa”. The kalesa or karitela was
introduced during the 18th century. Spanish officials
and nobles used it as a chief means of
transportation. The illustrados, the rich Filipinos who the motorcycle was first invented. By the
In 1867,
had their own businesses, used the kalesa not only
1880’s inventors tried very hard to make cars that
for traveling but as a means of transporting theirrun well enough to use everyday. Since the
would
goods. cars replaced the horses and they ran on steam,
they were called “Iron Horses” (steam-powered
cars). By 1890’s Europeans were buying and driving
cars by Benz.

In the United States, automotive progress was

exemplified by the Old Motor Works, which mass
produced 425 cars in 1901. In 1908-1927 Henry
Ford made the Ford Model T, which was ran by
gasoline but costs much less than other cars. By It the 1930’s transoceanic “flying boats” were
ran well on dirty and bumpy roads. During this era,plying the ocean of the world at speeds greater
the Wright brothers invented the first heavier-than-
than 150 miles an hour. Aircraft played a
air flight. dominant role in World War II. In the Philippines,
the exotic jeepney is a post-war creation
inspired by the GI jeeps that the American
soldiers brought to the country in 1940’s.
Enterprising Filipino salvaged the surplus
engines and came out with a unique vehicle of
art.

In land transportation, one of the fastest vehicles is

the bullet train or the MagLev (Magnetically
Levitated) Trains. These are run by electricity,
which also creates magnetism on both the rails
and the road. Since both (rail and road) are like
poles they then repel each other causing the train
to be levitated
Today, there or many
to bemodes
at a vertical distance
Then the jet are
passenger of came.
aircraft transportation
These
(floating)
available from the road. In
in thebyPhilippines.such
Therea case, friction
are buses, is
taxi, 23
were followed supersonic transport. Not long
decreased
jeepneys, and the velocity of the train is
after, the the LRT (Light
aerospace Rail Transit)
planes and MRT
and spaceships
increased.
(Metro Rail Transit).
came.
 What you will do
Activity 4.1 Transportation: a history

Objective: To be able to complete the timeline below.

Materials: worksheet, pencil

Procedure:

Complete the timeline illustrated below. You may do this by illustrating or identifying the
means or form of transportation according to the passage Brief Account of
Transportation.

Timeline:

Bicycle
(1790)

Motorcycle
(1867)

Ford Model T (gas-

powered, 1908)

Jeepneys
(1940’s)

Key to answers on page 34

MagLev
Key to answers on page 21
Trains
24
 What you will do
Self-Test 4.1

Answer the following very carefully. Write your answers on a separate sheet.

A B

C D
Which among the sets of vehicles would your prefer? Cite the advantages and
disadvantages of your choice.

Key to answers on page 34

Key to answers on page 21

25
 What you will do
Activity 4.2 Physics of Transportation

Objective: To identify basic physics principles that are related to transportation.

Materials: worksheet, pencil

Procedure:

1. Below is a picture of a vehicular accident. Identify as many physics concepts related

to the accident as you can.

Physics concepts:

Key to answers on page 35

Key to answers on page 21

Understanding transportation accidents requires knowledge of the physics of moving

bodies. Although these physical laws were discovered largely by Galileo and by Sir Isaac
Newton in the 1600's, they were not always clearly understood. However, they really are
very simple, and depend only on a few key principles, which are familiar to you Newton's
laws of motion. Newton correctly explained the behavior of most objects. Transportation
problems require the application of Newton's Second Law, which states that the
acceleration of a body is proportional to the force applied and inversely proportional to the
body's mass.

Acceleration is not just "gaining speed." Gaining speed is only one form of
acceleration. Braking or losing speed is another form, and it is usually expressed as
negative acceleration. Regardless of its type, acceleration requires force and is resisted by
mass.

26
 The law of friction states that the frictional force between two surfaces is proportional
to the "normal" force between them times the coefficient of friction. The normal force is the
force tending to press the surfaces together. In automotive situations, the normal force is the
weight of the car on the tires. In normal operation, the frictional forces of the tires are the
main acceleration and braking forces on an automobile, and those forces limit the
acceleration, braking and cornering ability of the automobile. With these ideas and concepts
it is possible to predict the braking distance of an automobile when the speed and coefficient
of friction with the road are known.

Clearly, researches in physics brought about many inventions such as airbags,

computerized fuel injection, electric sensors, General Pocket Radio Service (GPRS) and the
likes which are very helpful in upgrading both the efficiency of the engine and the safety of
the passengers. Physics has helped transportation a lot.

Let’s summarize

1. Distance is usually described as the total path length. It is the length between an
identified reference point and a designated position
2. Displacement is the length between the initial and the final position.
3. Motion is relative. It is easy to recognize but hard to describe.
4. Rate, which describes motion, is a quantity per unit time.
5. Speed determines how fast an object moves. It is the ratio of the distance traveled
and unit time.
6. Velocity describes how fast an object moves in a given time in a particular direction.
7. Acceleration is the change in velocity that happened in a period of time.
8. The two types of motion are linear motion and curvilinear motion
9. Uniformly accelerated motion and freefall are examples of linear motion.
10. Projectile and circular motions are examples of curvilinear motion.
11. A body is said to be moving in a uniformly accelerated motion when it maintains a
constant acceleration throughout the motion.
12. The motion of a body on which the only force acting on it is the gravitational pull of
the earth is known as freefall.
13. Projectile is a motion of an object when the only force acting on it is gravity. It
includes both horizontal and vertical components of motion.
14. Circular motion occurs when there is a force exerted on an object that is directed
towards the center. This force is known as centripetal force.
15. Linear speed is what we have been calling simply as “speed” – the distance traveled
per unit of time.
16. Physics plays an important role in the advancement of transportation.

27
 Posttest
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper

1. Which statement is true?

A. Speed indicates the direction of motion.
B. Velocity indicates the direction of motion.
C. Velocity measures the rate of motion only.
D. The magnitudes of velocity and speed are always equal.

2. A projectile is thrown 30o above the horizontal. What happens to its acceleration as it
moves upward?
A. It decreases because its velocity is directed upward
B. It increases because its velocity is directed upward
C. It decreases because its velocity is decreasing
D. It remains the same

3. Which of the following is an example of acceleration?

A. 5 m/s
B. 5m/s2
C. 5 km/h
D. 5 m/min

4. Suppose you are in a car that is going around a curve and the speedometer reads a
constant 30 km/h. Which of the following is not true?
A. Your speed is constant.
B. Your velocity is constant.
C. You and the car are accelerating.

5. Which of the following exhibits acceleration?

A. A body at rest
B. A body at uniform speed
C. A body with uniform velocity
D. A body moving with constant speed in a circle

6. Which of the following instruments measures the distance traveled by a vehicle?

A. Odometer
B. Speedometer
C. Anemometer
D. Manometer

28
7. When you throw a ball directly upward, it is accelerated ______________.
A. at all times
B. only as it falls
C. during the instantaneous stop and during fall

8. Which of the following instruments measures the instantaneous speed of a vehicle?

A. Odometer
B. Speedometer
C. Anemometer
D. Manometer

9. Suppose an object is in freefall. The object falls each second _________________.

A. with the same average speed
B. with the same change in velocity
C. with the same instantaneous speed
D. with the same distance as in the second

10. If you drop a feather and a coin at the same time in a vacuum tube, which will reach the
bottom of the tube first?
A. The coin
B. The feather
C. Both will reach the bottom at the same time

For Nos. 11-16 the choices are:

A. 0 m/s2
B. 9.8 m/s
C. 9.8 m/s2
D. –50 m/s

11. A ball is thrown vertically upward. At the top of its path what is its velocity?

12. A ball is thrown vertically upward. At the top of its path what is its acceleration?

13. A ball is thrown vertically upward, with an initial velocity of 50 m/s and caught back at the
same level as when it was thrown. What is the velocity of the ball at that point?

14. A ball is thrown vertically upward. What is its instantaneous speed at its maximum
height?

15. A ball is dropped from a cliff. What is the acceleration of the ball before it touches the
ground?

16. A ball is thrown vertically upward. What is the change in velocity of the ball after 1
second?

29
17. The positions of two blocks at successive 0.20-second time intervals are represented by
the numbered squares in the figure below. The blocks are moving toward the right. Do
the blocks ever have the same speed?
A. No.
B. Yes, at instant 2.
C. Yes, at instant 5.
D. Yes, at instants 2
and 5.
E. Yes, at some time during the interval 3 to 4

18. A steel ball is attached to a string and is swung in a circular path in

a horizontal plane as illustrated in the accompanying figure. At
the point P indicated in the figure, the string suddenly breaks
near the ball. If these events are observed from directly above as
in the figure, which path would the ball most closely follow after
the string breaks?

19. A bowling ball accidentally falls out of the cargo bay of an

airliner as it flies along in a horizontal direction. As
observed by a person standing on the ground and viewing
the plane as in the figure at right, which path would the
bowling ball most closely follow after leaving the airplane?

20. If you whirl a tin can on the end of a string and the string
suddenly breaks, the tin can will
A. fly directly away from you.
B. fly off tangent to its circular path.
C. fly directly toward you.
D. spiral away from your hand.

Key to answers on page 35

Key to answers on page 21

30
 Key to Answers

Pretest
1. C 11. D
2. B 12. D
3. C 13. B
4. A 14. C
5. C 15. D
6. C 16. A
7. C 17. D
8. B 18. D
9. B 19. B
10. A 20. C

Lesson 1

Activity 1.1
1. 0 cm-mark
2. 5 cm-mark
3. 5 cm
4. 5 cm, right
5. distance and displacement

Activity 1.2

Distance Distance Distance Total Total Average

(0-1) (1-2) (2-3) Distance Time Speed
min min min
140.00
180 m 140 m 100 m 420 m 3 min
m/min

Displacemen
Initial Final Total Average
t
Position Position Time Velocity
(0-3) min
46.67
A D 140 m 3 min m/min,
right

* Velocity is the rate of displacement while speed is the rate of distance.

31
 Self-Test 1.1

A. B.
1. B 1. B
2. B 2. A
3. D 3. A
4. A 4. A
5. D 5. A

Lesson 2

Self-Test 2.1 e. Gravity

f. Earth
a. 9.8 m/s2 g. 9.8 m/s2
b. 9.8 m/s2 h. 5s
c. 0 i. 9.8 m/s2
d. –50 m/s j. 0

Lesson 4

Self-Test 4.1

Choice A Choice C

Advantages Advantages
• no use of fuel or • faster than
gasoline animal driven
• lesser accidents • much more
Disadvantages convenient
• slow • carry more
• tiring load and passengers
Disadvantages
Choice B use fuel and gasoline
pollutes air
Advantages Choice D
• no use of fuel or Advantages
gasoline • very fast
• lesser accidents • very
• faster than on foot convenient
Disadvantages • carry lots of
• slow load and passengers
• tiring
Disadvantages
• high use of
fuel

32
 • pollution

Activity 4.1

Anima
ls

Carriage/Ka
lesa

Bicycle
(1790)

Motorcycle
(1867)

Iron Horse (Steam-

powered, 1880)

Ford Model T (gas-

powered, 1908)

First Airplane

Flying boats
(1930’s)

Jeepneys
(1940’s)

Jets and
spacecrafts

MagLev
Trains

33
Activity 4.2
1. Newton’s Laws
2. Friction
3. Momentum
4. Impulse
5. Energy

Posttest

1. B 11. A
2. D 12. C
3. B 13. D
4. B 14. A
5. D 15. C
6. A 16. B
7. A 17. A
8. B 18. B
9. B 19. D
10. C 20. B

-End of Module-

References:

Carter, J. (1974).Physical science:a problem-solving approach. Massachusetts: Gin and Company.

Cohen, M. (1992). Discover science. Metro Manila: Academe Publishing House.

Halliday, D., Resnick, R. and Krane, K. (1994). Fundamentals of physics. Singapore: John Wiley & Sons
Inc.

Hewitt, P. (1989). Conceptual physics (6th Ed.) London: Scoot, Foresman and Company

Heuvelen, A. (1986). Physics: a general introduction (2nd Edition). Sta. Cruz, Manila: UNI-ED Inc.,

Jones, E. and Childers, R. (1999). Contemporary college physics. New York: Mc Craw-Hill Co.

Morales, M.P. (2000). Worktext in physical sciences. Manila: PNU Press.

Young, Hugh. D. (1996). University physics (9th Edition). NY : Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.

Transportation Physics
By Norwood S. Wilner
Published on 2004, Retrieved last December 11, 2004 from
www.spohrerwilner.com/transpor.htm

34
Photo credit

Carabao
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.atbp.com/philippines/festiva.htm

horse.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.expage.com/chhsale

camel.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.islamnet.it/arte/paesaggi/pages/camel.htm

ford_school_bus_LG.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.1-87vehicles.org/photo46/ford_school_bus.php

car_3.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.lucas-houston.com/silver35th.htm

246_austhug_10_tricycle.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.sailfish.de/ontour/asien/alonabeach_bilda_2002.htm

bicycle.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.Latis.ex.ac.uk/cfarchive/copyrightfree0004.htm

death_march_M_to_S.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.proviso.w-cook.k12.il.us/Bataan%20Web/Death%20March.htm

Maglev3.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.mhasd.k12.wi.us/teacherpages/nemes/maglev.html

roll_a3.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.pavillon.co-uk/lcs/projects/spacecraft.htm

am728ar.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.worldaircorps.com/airplane/am728.html

PI_Jeepney_WL.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.jarsoftware.com/PI_Jeepney_WL.html

RtW_Scan_1915FordModelT.jpg
Retrieved last December 7, 2004 from
www.bergoiata.org/fe/vieilles-vortures/10.htm

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