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Uniform Motion In A Straight Line

When an object travels in a straight line and covers the same distance simultaneously, it is said that the object is in uniform motion. Simply, the rate of change in velocity will always remain constant in the case of uniform acceleration.

Uniform motion is described in physics as motion in which the velocity of a body travelling in a straight line remains constant. A uniform motion occurs when the distance travelled by a moving object is the same at multiple time intervals, regardless of time length.

As there is a constant velocity with regard to time, the Distance/Time graph implies a uniform or consistent shift in the distance.

Slope = dy/dx = Displacement/Time

Velocity = d/t =  Constant

What is uniform motion? 

  • The most fundamental type of mechanical motion is uniform linear motion. As the name implies, it is a regular movement of a physical point along a straight line, i.e., at the same rate. 
  • The speed of linear straight-line motion is defined as a change in the location of an item during a particular time interval. A uniform linear movement is distinguished by a displacement equal to the travelled distance.
  • When a body travels the same distance in the same period of time, we say it is moving at the same pace. 
  • The connection between distance and time is always the same in a linear uniform movement. Constant speed refers to an object moving in the same direction in a straight line at the same pace for the same period of time.

Examples of uniform motion

  • The clock’s hands operate at a constant speed, covering a certain distance in an hour.
  • An aeroplane travelling at a constant speed and altitude.
  • A car travelling at a constant speed along a straight, flat route.
  • A sewing machine’s vibrating spring.
  • A ship sailing in a straight line at a constant pace.
  • A train moving at a steady pace along the tracks.
  • The motion of the Earth around the sun is consistent.
  • A constant-speed cooling fan is used.
  • The moving fan.
  • The amplitudes of both sides of a pendulum are equal.

Equation

The uniform motion formula is d = St,

where d or distance, relates to the motion’s real length.

The speed is denoted by the letter S.

The term t or time, relates to the length of time that the motion lasts.

Graph 

A position-time graph of an object’s motion can be used to determine if it has uniform motion. The motion is uniform if the graph forms a straight line with a constant slope and the slope of the graph equals the object’s velocity.

Properties

  • The velocity of uniform motion is independent of the origin.
  • In uniform motion, the velocity is independent of the time interval chosen.
  • The amount of the displacement for uniform motion is in the same direction along a straight line and is equal to the actual distance covered by the object.
  • If the object is travelling to the right of the origin, the velocity is positive; if the object is going to the left of the origin, the velocity is negative.
  • No force is required to maintain the motion of an object in uniform motion.
  • In uniform motion, the instantaneous velocity is always equal to the average velocity since the velocity is constant at each instant or at each location along the path.

Difference between Uniform and Non-uniform Motion in a Straight Line

                      Uniform Motion

              Non-uniform Motion

A distance of the same length is covered in the same time intervals.

Unequal distances are covered in unequal time intervals.

Zero acceleration.

Non-zero acceleration.

Identical to the actual speed.

Different from the actual speed.

Distance-time graph is a straight line.

Distance-time graph is a curve.

The direction of motion remains the same.

The direction of motion changes.

The speed of the body is constant.

The speed of the body is not constant.

No change in velocity.

Velocity changes.

Conclusion 

The term “motion” refers to a change in an object’s position. Three important ideas are utilised to classify types of motion: speed, distance and time. Motion can be defined as uniform or non-uniform depending on the time and distance travelled. Uniform motion occurs when an object moves at a constant speed in a specific direction at regular intervals of time.

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What's the difference between uniform motion and uniform speed?

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