Class 7: Motion and Time- NCERT topic wise important Q & A

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Motion and Time

Class 7 Physics - Comprehensive NCERT Guide

Motion

Straight Line Motion

This is when an object moves in a straight line.

Examples:

A car moving on a straight road.

A stone dropped vertically down.

A train moving on a straight track.

Circular Motion

This is when an object moves along a circular path, around a fixed point or axis.

Examples:

A fan blade rotating.

The moon revolving around the Earth.

A child on a merry-go-round.

Periodic Motion

This is when the motion repeats itself after a fixed interval of time.

Examples:

A pendulum swinging back and forth.

The vibration of a guitar string.

Earth's revolution around the Sun.

What are the two types of circular motion?

1. Rotation - Motion in which an object spins around its own axis. The axis is inside the object.

Examples:

Earth rotating on its own axis (causes day and night).

A spinning top.

A fan blade spinning.

2. Revolution - Motion in which an object moves in a circular path around another object or external point. The axis is outside the object.

Examples:

Earth revolving around the Sun (causes seasons).

Moon revolving around the Earth.

A student walking around a circular park.

Identify the type of motion for these examples:

Soldier in march past - motion in straight line (Rectilinear Motion)

Motion of a train on a straight bridge - motion in straight line (Rectilinear Motion)

Motion of a horse pulling a cart on a straight road - motion in straight line (Rectilinear Motion)

Bullock cart on straight - motion in straight line (Rectilinear Motion)

Hand of athlete in race - Periodic

Pedal of bicycle - Circular Motion

Motion of a child in a merry-go-round - circular motion

Earth around the Sun - Circular (Revolution) + Periodic

Motion of a child on a see-saw - oscillatory + periodic

Motion of the hammer of an electric bell - oscillatory

Motion of Swing - Periodic Motion + Oscillatory

Motion of Pendulum - Periodic Motion + Oscillatory

Motion of your hands while running - periodic + oscillatory

Speed

What is speed?

Speed is the distance covered by an object in a unit time. It is the measure of how fast an object is moving.

speed = distance covered / time taken
What is average speed?

It is defined as total distance covered by total time taken.

What is the difference between speed and average speed?

Speed - Tells how fast something is moving right now

Average Speed - Tells how fast something moved on average over a trip

Speed - Can change from moment to moment

Average Speed - Takes the whole journey into account

Example:

Speedometer of a car shows current speed

Average speed: Total distance covered in journey ÷ total time taken

What is uniform motion?

If an object moving along a straight line with a constant speed, it is said to be in uniform motion. Or, if an object covers equal distance in equal interval of time, it is said to be in uniform motion.

What is non-uniform motion?

If the speed of an object moving along a straight line keeps changing, its motion is said to be non-uniform. Or, if an object doesn't cover equal distance in equal interval of time.

Measure of Time

How did elders in earlier times tell the time of day without clocks?

They looked at the position of the sun or the length and direction of shadows to estimate the time of day.

How is the time interval of a day measured?

A day is the time between one sunrise and the next sunrise.

How is a month measured in ancient times?

A month was measured from one new moon to the next new moon.

How is a year measured?

A year is the time taken by the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun.

Why do we use clocks and watches?

We use clocks and watches to measure time intervals shorter than a day.

What is periodic motion?

The motion which repeats itself at regular interval of time is known as periodic motion. For example, motion of the Earth around the Sun.

What is common in the working of all clocks and watches?

All clocks and watches work using some kind of periodic motion, which repeats regularly.

Simple Pendulum

What is simple pendulum?

A simple pendulum is a device that consists of a small metallic ball (called a bob) suspended from a rigid stand using a thread or string. The bob can swing freely back and forth.

What is bob?

The metallic ball of the pendulum is called bob.

What is oscillatory motion?

The to and fro (back and forth) motion of simple pendulum is called oscillatory motion.

What is meant by one complete oscillation?

One complete oscillation of a pendulum occurs when its bob starts from the mean position, moves to one extreme position, then to the other extreme position, and finally comes back to the mean position.

What is the time period of pendulum?

The time taken to complete one oscillation is called the time period of the pendulum.

Time period (T) = total time taken / no. of oscillations
A simple pendulum takes 32 s to complete 20 oscillations. What is the time period of the pendulum?

Given:

Total time = 32 seconds

Number of oscillations = 20

Time Period = Total Time / Number of Oscillations
Time Period = 32 / 20 = 1.6 seconds
What Galileo found in his experiments with various pendulum?

He found that a pendulum of a given length takes always the same time to complete one oscillation.

What does it mean by the statement "a pendulum of a given length takes always the same time to complete one oscillation"? Which device is based on this observation?

It means that: If we do not change the length of the pendulum, then it will always take the same amount of time for one complete oscillation, no matter how many times we swing it.

Example:

Suppose a pendulum is 1 metre long, it will always take, say 2 seconds for one complete oscillation. Then it will always take 2 seconds, no matter how many time we swing it.

This observation led to the development of pendulum clocks. Winding clocks and wristwatches were refinements of the pendulum clocks.

On what thing the time period of pendulum depends?

The time period of a pendulum depends on the length of the thread.

It does NOT depend on:

i. The mass of the bob

ii. The material of the bob

iii. The size of the bob

What are Quartz Clocks?

A quartz clock is a clock that uses a tiny piece of quartz crystal to keep time very accurately. They are more accurate than old mechanical clocks.

How does it work? (not important for exam)

Quartz is a special mineral. When electricity passes through it, it vibrates (oscillates) at a very constant rate. These vibrations help the clock count time accurately, second by second.

Units of Time and Speed

What is the basic unit of time?

The basic unit of time is second (s).

What is the basic unit of speed?

The basic unit of speed is metre per second (m/s).

How was time measured when pendulum clocks were not available?

Some of the time measuring devices that were used before pendulum clocks were Sundials, water clocks and sand clocks etc.

Which device is used to measure speed (or instantaneous speed) of a vehicle?

Speedometer is the device which is used to measure speed. It records the speed in km/hr.

Which device is used to measure distance traveled by a vehicle?

Odometer is a device which is used to measure distance traveled by a vehicle.

Do You Know?

Who provides time-keeping services in India?

The National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi provides time-keeping services in India.

Where is the National Physical Laboratory located?

It is located in New Delhi, India.

How accurate is the clock used by the National Physical Laboratory?

The clock they use can measure time intervals with an accuracy of one-millionth of a second.

Which country has developed the most accurate clock in the world?

The most accurate clock in the world has been developed in the U.S.A.

Which institute in the U.S.A. developed the most accurate clock?

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S.A. developed it.

Why is measuring time very accurately important?

Measuring time accurately is important for scientific research, space missions, communication, and navigation systems.

Which is the most accurate clock?

Atomic Clock

What do you think are the uses of such highly accurate clocks in real life? (HOTS)

They are used in GPS, space research, atomic experiments, and to keep global time standards.

Horizon Academy • Class 7 Physics • Motion and Time

NCERT-Based Curriculum • Comprehensive Q&A Resource

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