Uniform Motion and Non Uniform Motion - Overview, Structure, Properties & Uses

Q: What is difference between Uniform motion and Non-uniform motion?

Uniform motion Non-uniform motion An object covers equal distance which is equal interval of the time then object is said to have uniform motion. An object covers the unequal distance which is equal intervals of time then the object is said to have non-uniform motion. Steady speed or velocity Variable speed or velocity Graph plotting between distance and time is always a straight line. Graph plotting between distance and time is a not a straight line. Acceleration is Zero. Acceleration is non-zero.

Uniform Motion and Non Uniform Motion - Definition, Example, Types, FAQs

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jun 09, 2022 01:47 PM IST

What is uniform motion and Non-Uniform motion?

In our surroundings there are several living and non-living things present whether we are humans, animals, birds, fishes, trains, cars, etc. All these objects, some do motion (move) while some stay at rest. A body is said to be in motion when it continuously changes its position with respect to time and stationary object taken as a reference point and an object said to be in rest if it does not change its position with respect to time and stationary object taken as reference point. For example, you are driving a car with a constant speed, the position of the car also changes constantly with respect to time and your stationary object like house, office or school etc. it means the car is in motion. Motion can be of two types: uniform motion and non-uniform motion let discuss one by one in brief.

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What is uniform motion and Non-Uniform motion?
Motion: Definition, Example, Types
What is non uniform motion?
Difference between uniform and nonuniform motion

Motion: Definition, Example, Types

Motion Definition: When an object changes its position by the time along with surroundings it is to be known as in motion. For example: moving cars, buses, trains, flying birds, running man etc.

Motion

(Source: using MS word shapes)

Uniform motion definition: An object is said to have uniform motion when object cover equal distance in equal interval of time within exact fixed direction.

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Example of uniform motion: If an object in uniform motion covers 1m in 1 minute in a given direction, it indicates that it covers 2m in every 2min, 3m in every 3min, 4m in every 4min… and so on.

uniform motion graph

(Source: using MS word graph)

Some Important features of Uniform motion:

For uniform motion along a straight path in same direction magnitude of displacement is equal to actual distance covered by body.

2. No force is required in order to maintain the motion.

When a body is having uniform motion along a straight line in a given direction then, the magnitude of the displacement of the body is equal to the actual distance travelled by body in given time.
In a uniform motion along a straight line the slope obtained from the position-time graph gives the velocity of the body.

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What is non uniform motion?

Non-Uniform motion definition: When the velocity changes of a body by time then it is called by non-uniform motion. Example of non uniform motion: Suppose a vehicle starts moving from rest, its velocity increases for some time, then the velocity may become constant for some time along with finally slow down as well as come to rest again the velocity of vehicle is different at the different instants along with so it has non uniform motion.

Non-Uniform motion graph

(Source: using MS word graph)

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Difference between uniform and nonuniform motion

Uniform motion	Non-uniform motion
An object covers equal distance which is equal interval of the time then object is said to have uniform motion.	An object covers the unequal distance which is equal intervals of time then the object is said to have non uniform motion.
In uniform motion the object have steady speed or velocity.	In non uniform motion the object have variable speed or velocity.
Graph plotting between distance and time is always a straight line.	Graph plotting between distance and time is a not a straight line.
In uniform motion acceleration is Zero.	In non uniform motion acceleration is non-zero.

Terms related to Uniform and Non Uniform motion

Define uniform speed?

Uniform speed: An object is having the motion with uniform speed, and if it covers equal distance which is in equal distance in the equal interval of time. For example if the car is still in the motion on straight road from home to office, where the distance between office as well as home is 80km in 4 hour and covers 20km in every one hour10km in every half an hour 5km and so on, then we can say that car is with a uniform speed of 20km/h.

Define uniform velocity?

Uniform velocity: A body having motion with uniform velocity if the body over equal displacement in equal intervals of time however small-time intervals may be.

Define uniform acceleration?

Uniform acceleration: The acceleration of the object is uniformly accelerated when the velocity changes by the equal amount in that particular interval of time however small-time intervals may be.

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NCERT Physics Notes:

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. What do you mean by uniform velocity?

A body is said to be in the motion with uniform velocity even it covers the equal displacement by an equal interval of time although small time intervals may be.

2. What is difference between Uniform motion and Non-uniform motion?

Uniform motion	Non-uniform motion
An object covers equal distance which is equal interval of the time then object is said to have uniform motion.	An object covers the unequal distance which is equal intervals of time then the object is said to have non-uniform motion.
Steady speed or velocity	Variable speed or velocity
Graph plotting between distance and time is always a straight line.	Graph plotting between distance and time is a not a straight line.
Acceleration is Zero.	Acceleration is non-zero.

3. What does the body undergo uniform Acceleration?

The acceleration of an object is said to be uniform acceleration if its velocity changes by equal amounts in equal intervals of time however small-time intervals may be.

4. Is velocity the scalar quantity or vector quantity?

Velocity is the vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction. It can be positive, negative and zero.

5. Which speed is measured by the speedometer of your motorcycle?

The speedometer of the motorcycle measures instantaneous speed at a given instant of time. Instantaneous speed: is the speed of the object at a given instant of time is called instantaneous speed.