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
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.
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.
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. |
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.