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Uniform motion
Beginner
Constant velocity means zero acceleration.
x = x₀ + vtIn uniform motion velocity is constant, so acceleration is zero and the x–t graph is a straight line: x = x₀ + vt. No net force acts (Newton's first law).
A train at constant 25 m/s covers 900 m in 36 s.
Real objects rarely maintain this for long because of friction.
In more detail
Uniform motion means constant velocity, so the object covers equal displacements in equal times. Its position-time graph is a straight line with constant slope.
Real-world uses
- A cruise-control car holds nearly uniform velocity on a straight motorway.
- Conveyor belts move items at a uniform velocity for packaging lines.
- A cruise control system holds a car at constant speed on a straight road, which is uniform motion in practice.
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Frequently asked questions
Is uniform motion the same as constant speed?
Only on a straight line. Constant speed on a curve means changing velocity, so the motion is not uniform.
What does a horizontal velocity-time graph mean?
Constant velocity, so the object has zero acceleration.
Is uniform motion the same as no force?
Yes, in a sense. A body moving at constant velocity has zero net force acting on it, which is Newton's first law.
Related topics in Kinematics
Average velocity · Instantaneous velocity · Acceleration · Position–time graphs · Velocity–time graphs · Equations of motion: v = u + at