I was looking through 2008 GCE O Level Additional Mathematics Exam Papers (Subject Code: 4038) and as expected, there was a Kinematics question (worth 6 marks) in Paper 1.
Kinematics is a application topic for Differentiation and Integration. To master this topic, you do not necessarily need to bring in your physics knowledge though it could be useful at times.
Instead, how I get my students to be a master in this topic is to be familiarize with a KINEMATICS VOCABULARY LIST.
Here's some of the vocabulary words that are useful and common:
- Momentarily at rest, instantaneously at rest, changes direction of motion, stationary
- Initial displacement, initial velocity, initial acceleration
- Greatest displacement, greatest velocity, greatest acceleration
- Distance travelled in the 4th second VS Distance travelled in the first 4 seconds
- Maximum distance from Point O
- Particle returns to Point O
- Constant Velocity
I would say for Kinematics, it is one of the few topics in A-Math which uses extensive vocabulary. This is also the reason for you to decipher the meaning behind these words.
So do you know the meaning behind these words? I would love to hear about it in the comments section.
I have also taken a few questions from my A-Math TREQ book (Topical Real Exam Questions) to illustrate some common exam questions on Kinematics, further highlighting the importance of knowing your Kinematics well. (Click on the image for bigger view)
I would be sharing the step by step solutions for Question 8 in the next post. Subscribe to my blog to be updated again!
Ai Ling Ong
Hi, I'm Ai Ling Ong. I enjoy coaching students who have challenges with understanding and scoring in 'O' Level A-Maths and E-Maths. I develop Math strategies, sometimes ridiculous ideas to help students in understanding abstract concepts the fast and memorable way. I write this blog to share with you the stuff I teach in my class, the common mistakes my students made, the 'way' to think, analyze... If you have found this blog post useful, please share it with your friends. I will really appreciate it! :)
Being an O level and A level teacher in Brunei, I find
your approach towards all topics in Maths is excellent
We big brains think alike.
Keep up the good work Ai Ling Wong.
From Mr Jeya Brunei.
Mr Jeya, I'm honoured by your comment.
Thank you. I look forward to learning from you.
Do drop me an email, we can explore more.
The best way i explain to my students is by taking different examples. let say a particle starting from the origin and travelling in the positive x axis and after time t1 returning (vel is zero ) and coming back towards the origin and again stopping ( vel zero ) and the distance increasing the positive x axis... or coming back towards the origin and again stopping (vel zero)this time behind the origin ,negative x axis and back again returning toward the +x axis..some times the starting point is +2 instead of origin or -2 etc..
i do different case study before doing the questions and make them to come out with their own problems.finding the total distance travelled in a given time is a tricky one because in some cases you have to see whether it has gone up to the maximum and returning. I can explain better verbally.Bye
Your notes are very Good and helpfull for the students.,. I am also teaching online math .Msc math in Punjab university.
Like your efforts for the students.