Kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics
Definitions
a = acceleration (ms-2)
u = initial velocity (ms-1)
v = final velocity (ms-1)
t = time (second)
s = displacement (metres)
v-u
∴ a=
t
so v = u + at (1)
As mentioned above the acceleration is constant hence the
average velocity is simply the average of u and v.
u+ v
average velocity =
2
Another definition is that:
displacement s
average velocity = =
time t
Therefore:
u+ v s
=
2 t
u+ v
∴ s = t (2)
2
By using equation (1) we can eliminate v.
u + u + at
∴ s = t
2
1
s = ut + at2 (3)
2
If equation (1) is rearranged to make t the subject:
v-u
t=
a
Then by substituting into equation (2):
u + v v-u
∴ s =
2 a
2as = v2 - u2
v2 = u2 + 2as (4)
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You must learn all four equations above and remember that they
only apply to constant acceleration problems. Since velocity is a
vector quantity, getting the direction right in these problems is
vital.
Example 1
A particle is moving in a straight line from O to P with a constant
acceleration of 4ms-2. Its velocity at P is 48ms-1 and it takes 12
seconds to travel from O to P. Find (a) the particle’s velocity at O
and (b) the distance OP.
With all problems of this nature, write down what you are
given and the one required. It should then be obvious as to
which equation you need to use.
a) a = 4, u = ?, v = 48, t = 12
Obviously we need to use equation (1):
v = u + at
48 = u + 4 × 12
Therefore u = 0ms-1
b) a = 4, u = o, v = 48, t = 12, s=?
Using equation (3):
1
s = ut + at2
2
1
s= × 4 × 122
2
s = 288m
Example 2
Percy starts from rest at a station S and moves with constant
acceleration. He passes a signal box B 14 seconds later with a
speed of 84kmh-1. Modelling the train as a particle, find the
acceleration of the train in ms-2 and the distance in metres
between the station and the signal box.
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1 5
s= × × 142
2 3
s = 163.33m = 163m
Example 3
ET is travelling up a hill on his BMX. He experiences a constant
retardation of magnitude 3ms-2. Given that his speed at the
bottom of the hill was 15ms-1 determine how far he will travel
before he comes to rest.
Retardation is simply deceleration.
a = -3, u = 15, v = 0, s=?
There is no mention of time therefore we use equation (4):
v2 = u2 + 2as
0 = 225 - 2 × 3 × s
s = 37.5m
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Example 4
A Kinder Surprise falls off a shelf which is 0.9 m above the floor.
Find:
(a) the time it takes to reach the floor
(b) the speed with which it will reach the floor.
1
0.9 = × 9.8 × t2
2
s = 0.429sec
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Example 5
A bouncy ball B is projected vertically upwards from a point O
with a speed of 42ms-1. Find:
(a) the greatest height h above O reached by B
(b) the total time before B returns to O
(c) the total distance travelled by the particle.
With questions of this nature one has to be careful as to
which direction is positive.
Max Height
Acceln = -9.8
42ms-1
Start/End
0 = 422 - 2 × 9.8 × s
422
s=
19.6
s = 90m
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0 = 42t-4.9t2
Factorising gives:
7t( 0.7t - 6 ) = 0
Example 6
A cricket ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of
15ms-1. Modelling the ball as a particle moving under gravity
alone, find for how long its height exceeds 10 m.
10 = 15t - 4.9t2
4.9t2 - 15t + 10 = 0
By using the quadratic formula we find the two values of t.
15 ± 225 − 4 × 10 × 4.9
t=
9.8
t = 2.08 or 0.98.
Therefore the ball is above 10m for 1.1 second.
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Questions A
Definitions
For constant acceleration problems the speed time graph will
be a straight line.
The gradient of the graph is the acceleration.
The area under the graph represents the distance traveled.
Example 1
A body starts from rest, accelerates uniformly to a velocity of
8ms-1 in 2 seconds, maintains that velocity for a further 5
seconds, and then retards uniformly to rest. The entire journey
takes 11 seconds.
Find:
a) the acceleration of the body during the initial part of the
motion.
b) The retardation of the body in the final part of the motion.
c) The total distance traveled by the body
6
velocity (m/s)
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
tim e (s)
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Example 2
A car accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 10ms-1 in T
seconds. The car then travels for 4T seconds and finally
decelerates uniformly to rest in a further 70s. The total distance
traveled by the car is 1250m. Find:
a) the value of T.
b) the initial acceleration of the car.
Once again, sketch the journey.
10ms-1
T 5T 5T+70
Example 3
A train is traveling along a straight track between the points P
and Q. It starts from rest at P and accelerates at 3ms-2 until it
reaches a speed of 54ms-1. It continues at a constant speed of
54ms-1 for a further 180seconds and then decelerates at a
constant deceleration of 6ms-2.
a) sketch a speed time graph for the train’s journey.
b) calculate the total time for the journey from P to Q.
c) calculate the distance between P and Q.
a) The train will take 54/3 seconds to reach the constant speed
(18seconds). It will take 54/6 seconds to decelerate to rest (9
seconds). Hence the graph will have the following shape.
54ms-1
18 198 207
Example 4
Two particles A and B are traveling along a straight path PQ of
length 20m. A leaves P, heading for Q, from rest with
acceleration of 2ms-2 and at the same time B leaves Q, in the
direction of P, from rest with a constant acceleration of 5ms-2.
Find how far from A the two particles collide?
Let the point of collision be x metres from P and hence (20 – x)m
from Q.
So for particle A: u=0 a=2 t=T s=x
Using:
1
s = ut + at2
2
x = t2 (i)
So for particle B: u=0 a=5 t=T s=
20 - x
Using
1
s = ut + at2
2
20 - x = 2.5t2
Substituting (i) gives:
20 - t2 = 2.5t2
t = 2.39sec
Using (i) again:
x = 2.392
x = 5.71m
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Questions B
1 The diagram shows the sketch of a velocity time graph for a
particle moving in a straight line. Find the value of T given that:
10ms-1