A-Level Physics Revision — On the Move (Kinematics)
Revise On the Move (Kinematics) for A-Level Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
At a glance
- What StudyVector is
- An exam-practice platform with board-aligned questions, explanations, and adaptive next steps.
- This topic
- On the Move (Kinematics) in A-Level Physics: explanation, examples, and practice links on this page.
- Who it’s for
- Students revising A-Level Physics for UK exams.
- Exam boards
- Check your course page and the topic board notes for supported specifications.
- Free plan
- Sign up free to use tutor paths and feedback on your answers. Free access is Free daily revision · No card required. Pricing
- What makes it different
- Syllabus-shaped practice and progress tracking—not generic AI answers.
This page includes a topic explanation and a worked example. Check your course for current practice coverage.
Next in this topic area
Next step: Newton's Laws of Motion
Continue in the same course — structured practice and explanations on StudyVector.
Go to Newton's Laws of MotionTopic explanation
What is On the Move (Kinematics)?
Kinematics is the study of motion without considering the forces that cause it. This topic focuses on describing motion in terms of displacement, velocity, and acceleration. You will learn to use the SUVAT equations for objects moving with constant acceleration in a straight line, and how to interpret and draw displacement-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs. The principles are also extended to two dimensions to analyse projectile motion.
Board notes: Kinematics and the SUVAT equations are fundamental to all A-Level Physics specifications (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The complexity of projectile motion problems and the emphasis on graphical analysis can differ. Edexcel and AQA often feature multi-stage kinematics problems requiring careful application of both graphical and algebraic methods.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
A ball is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. To find the maximum height it reaches, we can use v² = u² + 2as. At the maximum height, the final velocity (v) is 0. Acceleration (a) is -9.81 m/s². So, 0² = 20² + 2(-9.81)s. Rearranging for displacement (s) gives s = -400 / (2 * -9.81) ≈ 20.4 m. The maximum height reached is 20.4 m.
Practise this topic
Start with low-focus cards for On the Move (Kinematics), then move into full exam-style practice when you want the heavier session.
Common mistakes
- 1Using SUVAT equations when acceleration is not constant. These equations are only valid for uniform acceleration. For non-uniform acceleration, graphical methods must be used.
- 2Confusing displacement and distance, or velocity and speed. Displacement and velocity are vector quantities (with direction), while distance and speed are scalar quantities.
- 3Mixing up horizontal and vertical motion in projectile problems. The key is to treat the horizontal motion (constant velocity) and vertical motion (constant acceleration due to gravity) completely independently.
On the Move (Kinematics) exam questions
Check the available question sets for On the Move (Kinematics). Use your course and exam board to confirm which practice is relevant.
On the Move (Kinematics) exam questionsGet help with On the Move (Kinematics)
Get a personalised explanation for On the Move (Kinematics) from the StudyVector tutor. Ask follow-up questions and work through problems with step-by-step support.
Open tutorSave your progress in On the Move (Kinematics)
Start a free account for low-focus question cards, feedback and Play routes across available topics. Free daily limits apply; no card required.
Continue your revision
A public question for On the Move (Kinematics) is still being reviewed. Your course page shows the topics currently available for practice.
Continue with On the Move (Kinematics)
Create a free account to keep your course choice and save your practice progress.
Start free low-focus cardsAlready have an account? Log in
Frequently asked questions
What do the gradients of motion graphs represent?
The gradient of a displacement-time graph represents velocity. The gradient of a velocity-time graph represents acceleration.
What does the area under a velocity-time graph represent?
The area under a velocity-time graph represents the displacement of the object. The area under an acceleration-time graph represents the change in velocity.