GCSE›Edexcel GCSE Physics›Mind mapsDescribing MotionEdexcel GCSE Physics: Mind mapStudy pack PDFAlso for this subtopic:Revision notesFlashcardsSubtopic testCover factsScalar or vectorScalar: magnitude onlyVector: magnitude and directionScalars: distance, speed, mass, energyVectors: displacement, velocity, force, momentumVelocity is speed in a stated directionSpeedspeed=distancetime\text{speed} = \frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}speed=timedistanceDistance = average speed × timeWalking about 1.5 m/sCar in town about 13 m/sSound in air about 330 m/sAccelerationRate of change of velocitya=v−uta = \frac{v-u}{t}a=tv−uMeasured in m/s²No time given: v2−u2=2axv^2 - u^2 = 2axv2−u2=2axFree fall: g=10 m/s2g = 10\,\text{m/s}^2g=10m/s2Motiondescribing motionm/sm/s²GraphsDistance-time gradient = speedFlat distance-time line = stationaryVelocity-time gradient = accelerationVelocity-time area = distanceNegative gradient = decelerationMeasuring speedLight gate plus timerSpeed = card length ÷ time blockedExam tipsGradient gives acceleration, area gives distanceGradient = change in y ÷ change in xSpeed and velocity are not the same