1

Kinematics of a Particle

The subject of dynamics is classified into the following two branches:
1. Kinematics: In studying the kinematics, we only describe the motion of the particle
without considering the forces that act upon it, i. e, we study the variations of the
particle` s position, velocity, and acceleration with the time.

2. Kinetics: In kinetics, all the forces that act upon the particle are considered. We
first apply Newton`s second law of motion or the principle of work and energy to
determine the acceleration or the velocity of the particle, respectively, then, we
complete the analysis of the motion by studying the kinematics.

Rectilinear Motion
In rectilinear motion, the particle moves along a straight line, which is considered to be the
x axis. The kinematics of the motion is described as follows:

The position ( x ):
The position of the particle is defined by the distance x between the particle and a fixed
origin O on the straight line. The position may be positive (if the particle is to the right of
the origin ) or negative ( if it is to the left ). The position x varies with the time during the
motion, i. e, x =u ( t )
where u ( t ) is a certain function of the time t.
The velocity ( v ):
x
x
O
2
The instantaneous velocity of the particle ( its velocity at any instant ) is defined by the rate
of change of its position with respect to the time, i. e,
dt
dx
v=
The acceleration ( a ):
It is defined as the time rate of change of the particle`s velocity, i. e,

dt
dv
a=
In some cases, as we will see later, it will be necessary to substitute the acceleration in
the following mathematical form:

dx
dv
v a =
Which is derived as follows :
dt
dx
dx
dv
dt
dv
a = = v
dt
dx
, =
dx
dv
v a=
The displacement ( A x ) :
The displacement of a particle during a certain time interval is defined as the change of
its position. If at a certain instant t
i
the corresponding position is x
i
and at another
instant t
f
( t
f
> t
i
) the corresponding position is x
f
then, the displacement that happened
during the time interval ( At =t
f
t
i
) will be Ax =x
f
x
i
. The displacement Ax may be
positive or negative.

3
The distance traveled ( D ) :
The distance traveled during a time interval At is defined by the total length of the path
over which the particle travels. To determine the distance traveled during a certain time
interval At from t = t
i
up to t = t
f
, the following steps must be followed:
a- determine the position x
i
that corresponds to t
i
and x
f
that corresponds to x
f
.
b- substitute v =0 into the relation ( v , t ) to determine the solutions of this algebraic
equation ( v =0 ) , say t
1
, t
2
,.
c- determine the corresponding positions that correspond to the instants t
1
, t
2
, , that
are contained inside the time interval At.
d- plot, on the straight line, the values of the position x that correspond to the instants
t
i
, t
f
, t
1
, as shown and calculate the path length between each two successive
instants.
D =d
1
+d
2
+d
3
.






Types of applications:
1. Differentiation problems:
Given: The relation between the position and the time ( x , t ).
Required: The velocity v and the acceleration f at any instant.
x
2

x
i

t
2

t
i

t
1

x
1

t
f

x
f

x
d
1

d
2

d
3

4
Method of solution: By differentiating ( x , t ) we obtain (v , t ), then differentiating ( v ,
t ), we obtain ( a , t ).
Example ( 1 ):
A particle is moving along a straight line such that its position is given by :
x =t
3
6t
2
+9t m, where t is in seconds. Determine the distance traveled during the
first 2 seconds.
Solution:
x =t
3
6t
2
+9t
v =dx / dt =3t
2
12t +9
the distance traveled is determined as follows :
x
0
=0 , x
2
= ( 2 )
3
6 ( 2 )
2
+9( 2 ) =2 m
when v =0 :
3t
2
12t +9 =0 t
2
4t +3 =0
( t 1 ) ( t 3 ) =0 t =1 sec or t = 3 sec
the solution t = 3 sec. is outside the time interval from t = 0 to t = 2 sec., then we determine
the position x
1
only. x
1
=1 6 +9 =4 m
D =4 +2 =6 m




t =0
x =0
t =2 sec.
x =2m
t =1 sec.
x =4m
x
4m
2m
5
2. I ntegration problems:
In the integration problems, the acceleration is given and the required is the position ( x
, t ), then we must execute two integration steps. To determine the constants of
integration, additional data must be given. Almost the initial conditions x
0
, v
0
are
given. According to the given data of the problem, the integration problems are
classified into four cases :
a Given: ( a , t ) and the initial conditions x
0
, v
0
.
Required : ( x , t )
Method of solution : substitute a =dv / dt in the relation ( a , t ) , the first integration
step results in ( v , t ) , then substitute v =dx / dt in the relation ( v , t ) and integrate
again , the relation ( x , t ) will be obtained.
Example ( 2 ) :
A particle moves along a straight line such that its acceleration is given by:
a =2t 6 m / s
2
, where t is in seconds. If the motion is started from the origin with a
velocity of 5 m / sec., determine the distance it travels during the first 6 seconds.
Solution:
a =dv / dt =2t 6 dv = ( 2t 6 ) dt
( )
} }
=
v
5
t
0
dt 6 t 2 dv
v 5 =t
2
6t v =t
2
6t +5
dx / dt =t
2
6t +5 dx =( t
2
6t +5 ) dt
( )
} }
+ =
x
0
t
0
2
dt 5 t 6 t dx
6
x =
3
t
3
- 3
2
t +5 t
To determine the distance traveled during the interval from t =0 up to t =6 sec.:
x
0
=0 x
6
=( 6 )
3
/3 - 3( 6 )
2
+ 5( 6 ) = - 6 m
when v =0 :
t
2
6t +5 =0 ( t 1 )( t 5 ) =0
t =1 sec. or t =5 sec.
x
1
=1/3 3 +5 = 7/3 m , x
5
=( 5 )
3
/3 - 3 ( 5 )
2
+5 ( 5 ) = - 25/3 m





D =7/3 + 32/3 +7/3 = 46/3 =15.33 m
b- Given : ( a , x ) + v
0
, x
0

Required: ( x , t )
Method of solution : substitute a =vdv / dx in the relation ( a , x ), the first integration
step will result in ( v , x ), then substitute v =dx / dt in the relation ( v , x ) and integrate
again , the relation ( x , t ) will be obtained.

Example ( 3 ) :
t =5 sec.
x
5
=25/3
t =6 sec.
x
6
=-6m
t =0
x
0
=0
t =1sec.
x
1
=7/3
x
7/3 32/3
7/3
7
A car starts from rest and moves along a straight line with an acceleration of
a =3x
-1/3
m / s
2
, where x is in meters. Determine the velocity and the position of the car
after 6 seconds.
Solution:
a =vdv / dx =3
1/3 -
x vdv =3
1/3 -
x dx
v d v
v
0
}
=
}
x
0
1/3 -
dx x 3 v
2
/2 =3(3/2)
2/3
x
v
2
=9
2/3
x v = 3 x
1/3

the positive sign is chosen because + a as 0 x , so the motion starts in the
positive direction and continues in the same direction.
( v , x ).
v =3x
1/3
=dx / dt , x
-1/3
dx =3 dt

0
}
x
x
-1/3
dx =3
0
}
t
dt ( 3/2 ) x
2/3
=3t x
2/3
=2t x =( 2t )
3/2

when t =6 sec. : x =( 12 )
3/2
=41.6 m, v =3x
1/3
=3 ( 41.6 )
1/3
=10.4 m/s
c: Given : ( a , v ) +v
0
, x
0

Required : ( x , t )
Solution : substitute a =dv/dt or a =vdv/dx according to the required relations and
integrate twice to obtain ( x , t ).
Example ( 4 ) :
A particle is moving along a straight line such that it starts from the origin with a velocity
of 4 m / sec. If it begins to decelerate at the rate of a =- 2v m / s
2
, where vis in m / s,
determine the distance it travels before it stops.
8
Solution :
a =dv/dt =- 2v , dv/v =- 2dt

4
}
v
dv/v = - 2
0
}
t
dt , ln v ln 4 =-2t = ln ( v / 4)
v =4 e
-2t
, v =dx/dt =4 e
-2t


0
}
x
dx =
0
}
t
4 e
-2t
d. , x =-2 ( e
-2t
- e
0
)


x =2 ( 1 e
-2t
).
when v =0 : 4 e
-2t
=0 t
x =D =2m
d Given : a =constant + v
0
, x
0

Required : ( v , t ) , ( x , t ) or/and ( x , t )
Solution : substitute directly in the following relations of constant acceleration motion :
v =v
0
+at , x x
0
=v
0
t + a t
2
, v
2
=v
0
2
+2a ( x x
0
)

Example ( 5 ) :
A car has an initial velocity of 25 m/s and moves with a constant deceleration of 3 m/s
2
.
Determine the velocity of the car after 4 seconds. What will be the displacement of the car
during this time interval .
Solution :
v
0
=25 m/s , x
0
=0 , a =constant =- 3 m/s
2

9
v =v
0
+at , v =25 +( - 3 ) * 4 = 13 m/s.
x x
0
=Ax =v
o
t + at
2
=25* 4 + ( -3 ) ( 4 )
2
=76 m.
Example (6 ):
A particle moves along a straight line with an acceleration a =- 4x m/s
2
where x is in
meters. The initial conditions of the motion are : x
0
=0 , v
0
=4 m/s. Find the relations ( v , t )
, ( x , t ).
Solution :
x 4
dx
vdv
a = = ,
} }
=
x
0
v
4
xdx 4 vdv
2
x
4
2
4
2
v
2 2 2
= , ( )
2 2 2
x 4 4 x 4 16 v = =
2
x 4 2 v = , s / m 4 v
0
+ =
dt
dx
x 4 2 v
2
= = ,
} }
=

x
0
t
0
2
dt 2
x 4
dx

t 2 )
2
x
( sin
1
=

, t 2 sin 2 x= ( x , t )
t 2 cos 4 v= . v , t )
Another solution :
x x 4 a
2
e = = , where sec / rad 2 = e
The motion of the particle is a simple harmonic motion . The general solution of the simple
harmonic motion is :
t sin B t cos A x e e + =
10
t 2 sin B t 2 cos A x + = ( 1 )
t 2 cos B 2 t 2 sin A 2 v + = ( 2 )
Where A and B are constants to be determined .
To determine A and B , we substitute the initial conditions in the general solution .
When t =0 , x =x
0
=0 . Substituting into eqn. ( 1 ) :
0 =A * 1 +0 A =0
When t =0 , v =v
0
=4 m/s . Substituting into eqn. ( 2 )
4 =0 +2B B =2
Substituting the values of A and B into the general solution , we obtain :
t 2 sin 2 x= t 2 cos 4 v=



















11


SAMPLE PRPOBLEMS



















sec 2 t , sec 1 t , ) moment initial ( 0 t
: ) 1 ( in 0 v at
) 4 ...( .......... .......... 8 t 24 t 12
dt
dv
a
2
= = =
=
+ = =



) 1 ........( .......... 8 12 4
) 2 )( 1 ( 4
2 3
t t t
t t t v
+ =
=


With initial conditions :

) 2 ...( .......... .......... 4 0 m x t + = =

) 3 ....( .......... 4 4 4
4 4 4 ) 8 12 4 (
8 12 4
2 3 4
2 3 4
0
2 3
4
2 3
+ + =
+ = + =
+ = =
} }
t t t x
t t t x dt t t t dx
t t t
dt
dx
v
t x

SOLUTION

7. Starting from the position x =+4 m, a particle moving in a straight line has
a velocity ( ) s m t t t v / 2 ) 1 ( 4 = , where t is the time in seconds.
Determine the distance traveled by the particle:
- during the first 1.5 seconds.
- during the first 3 seconds.

12
) right to reverse ( s / m 8 8 ) 2 ( 24 ) 2 ( 12 a
, ) left to (reverse s / m 4 8 ) 1 ( 24 ) 1 ( 12 a
m 4 4 ) 2 ( 4 ) 2 ( 4 ) 2 ( x
, m 5 4 ) 1 ( 4 ) 1 ( 4 ) 1 ( x
2 2
2
2 2
1
2 3 4
2
2 3 4
1
+ = + =
= + =
= + + =
= + + =


m 13 x
4 ) 3 ( 4 ) 3 ( 4 ) 3 ( x
: ) 3 ( in sec 3 t : at
, m 56 . 4 x
4 ) 5 . 1 ( 4 ) 5 . 1 ( 4 ) 5 . 1 ( x
: ) 3 ( in sec 5 . 1 t : at
3
2 3 4
3
5 . 1
2 3 4
5 . 1
=
+ + =
=
=
+ + =
=

From the path plot showing the positions of the particle at the different
instants of time, the distance traveled by the particle during the first
1.5 seconds and during the first 3 seconds can be calculated as follows:










t=0 ,

t=1s
t=3 s
t=1.5s
O A B
C
E
4m
5m
13 m
4.56 m
t=2s
D
13

m D
m D
T T
T T
11 ) 4 13 ( ) 4 5 ( ) 4 5 (
, 44 . 1 ) 56 . 4 5 ( ) 4 5 (
) 3 0 (
) 5 . 1 0 (
= + + =
= + =
= =
= =








(Ans. : t =4 sec , a =36 m/s
2
,

D =122m)





) 3 ( .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... t 12
t d
v d
a
) 2 ( .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... 24 t 6
t d
x d
v
) 1 ( .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... 6 t 24 t 2 x
2
3
= =
= =
+ =


- At v =72 m/s in (2) : sec 4 , 16 24 6 72
2 2
= = = t t t

- At s m v / 30 = in (2) : sec 3 , 9 24 6 30
2 2
= = = t t t

in (3):
2
s / m 36 ) 3 ( 12 a = =


- the distance traveled in the time interval sec 4 1 = = t t :
8. A particle moves along a straight line according to the relation between the
position x and the time t given by : x =2 t
3
24 t +6 meters .Determine :
- the time required till a velocity v =72 m/s can be attained
- the acceleration when s m v / 30 =
- the distance traveled in the time interval sec 4 1 = = t t


SOLUTION

14
at v =0 : in (2):

) direction ve the to reverse ( s / m 24 ) 2 ( 12 a
, sec 2 t 24 t 6 0
2
2
+ + = =
= =




m
BC AB D
m 6 24(4) - x 4 t at
m 26 - 6 24(2) - x 2 t at
m 16 - 6 24(1) - x t at
4) t 1 t (
122
) 86 26 ( ) 16 26 (
86 ) 4 ( 2 :
) 2 ( 2 :
) 1 ( 2 : 1
3
3
3
=
+ + =
+ =
+ = + = =
= + = =
= + = =
= =






















16m
t =3s

t =2s

t =1s

t =0
26 +86 = 112 m
(26-16)=10 m
C
A B
86 m
26m
15






























) 1 ....( .......... .......... t 6 A a
2
=

The initial conditions are:

s m v s t
m x v t
o o
/ 30 1
; 8 ; 0 0
1
+ = =
+ = = =


( )
( )
) 4 ..( .......... .......... .......... .......... t 6 32 a
) 3 ........( .......... .......... .......... t 2 t 32 v
: ) 1 ( ; ) 2 ( in s / m 32 A
2 A 30
: ) 2 ( in s / m 30 v s 1 t at
) 2 .......( .......... t 2 t A v
dt t 6 A dv
dt t 6 A dv
t 6 A
dt
dv
a
2
3
2
1
3
v
0
t
0
2
2
2
=
=
=
=
+ = =
=
=
=
= =
} }

SOLUTION

9. Starting from rest at x =+8 m , a particle moves along a straight line
having an acceleration
2 2
s / m t 6 A a = , where (t) in seconds. If after 1s
the velocity became s / m 30 v + = , determine the distance traveled in the
first five seconds.
16
m 5 . 168 ) 5 . 95 136 ( ) 8 136 ( BC AB secnds 5 first in traveled Distance
m 5 . 95 8
2
) 5 (
) 5 ( 16 x
: (5) in s 5 t at
) left to reverse ( s / m 64 a
, m 136 8
2
) 4 (
) 4 ( 16 x
: ) 4 ( , ) 5 ( in sec 4 t
0 ) t 16 ( t 2 (3) in 0 v at
) 5 .....( .......... .......... .......... 8
2
t
t 16 x
dt ) t 2 t 32 ( dx
dt ) t 2 t 32 ( dx t 2 t 32
dt
dx
v
4
2
5
2
4
4
2
4
2
4
2
t
0
3
x
8
3 3
= + = + =
= + =
=
=
= + =
=
= =
+ =
=
= = =
} }

A
O B
C
95.5 m
8m
136 m
t=0
t= 4s
t=5 s
17















) 1 .....( .......... .......... .......... .......... 4 t 8 a + =

The initial conditions are:

s m v m x t
o
/ 8 ; 15 0
0
= + = =


) 3 .........( .......... 15 t 8 t 2 t
3
4
x
dt ) 8 t 4 t 4 ( dx
dt ) 8 t 4 t 4 ( dx 8 t 4 t 4
dt
dx
v
) 2 ..( .......... .......... .......... 8 t 4 t 4 v
d ) 4 t 8 ( dv
dt ) 4 t 8 ( dv 4 t 8
dt
dv
a
2 3
t
0
2
x
15
2 2
2
t
0
v
8
+ + =
+ =
+ = + = =
+ =
+ =
+ = + = =
} }
} }

10. Starting from the position x =+15 m with a velocity s m
o
/ 8 = u ,
a particle moves along a straight line having an acceleration
2
s / m ) 4 t 8 ( a + = , where (t) in seconds. Determine the relations
( ) t x , , and ) , ( t u . Determine the velocity of the particle at the end of
a trip of ( m
3
28
) distance traveled .
SOLUTION

18

right) to (Reverse s / m 12 a , m
3
31
x , sec 1 t 0 ) 2 t )( 1 t ( 4
: ) 2 ( in 0 v at
2
1 1
+ = = = = = +
=





































s / m 34 . 12 v ) 2 ( in s 81 . 1
)
3
4
( 2
)
3
4
)( 8 ( 4 4 2
t
0 ) 8 t 2 t
3
4
( 0 ) 8 t 2 t
3
4
( t 15 t 8 t 2 t
3
4
15
: ) 3 ( in 15 x ing Subistitut
m 15 x x
m
3
14
3
14
3
28
BC
3
28
BC AB ; m
3
14
3
31
15 AB
2 2 2 3
A C
= =
+ +
=
= + = + + + =
=
= =
= =
= + = =

15m
m
3
31

m
3
14

m
3
14

O A B
C
t=0 t=1
t
C
=1.81s
19










































6400km
10000km
16400km
h km v
A
/ 20000 =
B
v
B
A
y
+
O
11. A space ship is directed towards March planet where the radius is
(6400 km) and the gravitation acceleration on its surface
is (
2
/ 7 . 3 s m g
M
= ) . When the ship is at altitude of 10000 km the
velocity of the ship is . / 20000 hr Km Determine the ship velocity at the
moment when it strikes the surface of March planet.

SOLUTION
20











































h / km 31840 v
}
6400
1
16400
1
{ 40960000 } ) 20000 ( v {
2
1
y
dy
C vdv
y
C
dy
vdv
a
h / km 40960000 ) 6400 ( 47952 C
) 6400 (
C
47952
: ) 1 ( in 47952 g f , km 6400 y : B at
h / km 47952
1000
) 3600 ( 7 . 3
g
km 6400 y , h / km 20000 v , km 16400 y
, ) 1 ....( ..........
y
C
a
B
2 2
B
v
20000
6400
16400
2 2
2 3 2
2
March
2
2
March
B A A
2
B
=
=
= = =
= =
=
= = =
= =
= = =
=
} }