Kinematics — A-Level Mathematics Revision
Revise Kinematics for A-Level Mathematics. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel and OCR.
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Go to Forces & Newton's LawsWhat is Kinematics?
Kinematics at A-Level is the study of the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion. You will learn to use the constant acceleration formulae (suvat equations) and calculus to solve problems involving displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
Board notes: All A-Level Maths boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) cover kinematics in depth, including both constant acceleration and variable acceleration problems using calculus.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
A car accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 20 m/s in 8 seconds. What is its acceleration? We can use the suvat equation v = u + at, where u=0, v=20, and t=8. So, 20 = 0 + 8a, which gives a = 20/8 = 2.5 m/s².
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing displacement with distance and velocity with speed. Displacement and velocity are vector quantities, while distance and speed are scalar quantities.
- 2Using the suvat equations when the acceleration is not constant. These equations are only valid for motion with constant acceleration.
- 3Making errors when differentiating or integrating to find velocity from displacement, or acceleration from velocity. Remember that velocity is the rate of change of displacement, and acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
Kinematics exam questions
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for Kinematics
Core concept
Kinematics at A-Level is the study of the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion. You will learn to use the constant acceleration formulae (suvat equations) and calculu…
Frequently asked questions
What are the suvat equations?
The suvat equations are a set of five equations that can be used to solve problems involving motion with constant acceleration. They are: v = u + at, s = ut + 1/2at², v² = u² + 2as, s = 1/2(u+v)t, and s = vt - 1/2at².
How can I use calculus in kinematics?
You can use calculus to solve kinematics problems where the acceleration is not constant. If you know the displacement as a function of time, you can differentiate to find the velocity and differentiate again to find the acceleration. Conversely, if you know the acceleration, you can integrate to find the velocity and integrate again to find the displacement.