Lecture 5: Motion with constant acceleration

Objectives
• Solve problems involving motion with constant
acceleration and free falling bodies

𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕
𝟏
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒙 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕𝟐
𝟐
𝒗𝟐𝒙 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟐𝒂𝒙 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎
𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒗𝒙
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒕
𝟐
Derivation of the kinematic equations

For constant acceleration,

𝑣2𝑥 − 𝑣1𝑥
𝑎𝑥 =
𝑡2 − 𝑡1
Let 𝑡1 = 0 and 𝑡2 = 𝑡.
Let 𝑣1𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥 , initial velocity at time 𝑡1 = 0 and
𝑣2𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥 , final velocity at time 𝑡2 = 𝑡.
𝑣2𝑥 − 𝑣1𝑥 𝑣𝑥 − 𝑣0𝑥
𝑎𝑥 = =
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 𝑡
Rearranging,
𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕

2
Derivation of the kinematic equations
𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕
The average velocity is given by
𝑥 − 𝑥0
𝑣𝑎𝑣−𝑥 =
𝑡
For a constant acceleration,
𝑣𝑜𝑥 + 𝑣𝑥
𝑣𝑎𝑣−𝑥 =
2
Using the above expressions, we have
𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒗𝒙
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒕
𝟐
𝟏
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒙 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕𝟐
𝟐
Derivation of the kinematic equations

Isolating 𝒕 from
𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕

And substituting to this expression:

𝟏
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒙 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕𝟐
𝟐

We have
𝒗𝟐𝒙 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟐𝒂𝒙 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎

4
Kinematic equations for constant acceleration

𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕

𝟏
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒙 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕𝟐
𝟐

𝒗𝟐𝒙 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟐𝒂𝒙 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎

𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒗𝒙
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒕
𝟐

5
Graphical representation of
constant (positive) acceleration
𝒙
𝟏
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒙 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕𝟐 𝒙𝟎
𝟐 0
𝒗 𝒕

𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕 𝒗𝟎𝒙
0 𝒕
𝒂
𝒂𝒙 = constant
𝒕
6
Guides in problem solving
 Determine if problem assumes constant 𝑎.

 When 𝑥𝑜 is not specified, it can well be taken as 0.

 When stated that object is “initially at rest”, 𝑣0𝑥 = 0

 You need at least two values to solve any of the four

equations. Find which pair is given and use
appropriate form of equation.

7
Approach in problem solving

 Write the given and draw the situation.

 Determine what was asked.

 Determine the right expression to solve the

problem.

 To check if your answer is right or wrong:

 See if the value you got makes sense.
 Check the units.

8
Sample Problem:
A motorcyclist heading east accelerates after he
passes a signpost. His acceleration is constant at
4.0m/s2. At time t = 0 he is 5.0m east of the signpost,
moving east at 15m/s.
(a) Find his position and velocity at time t = 2.0s.
(b) Where is the motorcyclist when his velocity is
25m/s?

9
 Given: ax = 4.0m/s2 v0 = 15m/s
x0 = 5.0m t = 2.0s

(a) Find his position and velocity at time t = 2.0s.

To solve for the position x at time t = 2.0s;
1
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣0 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2
1
𝑥 = 5.0𝑚 + (15𝑚/𝑠)(2.0𝑠) + (4.0𝑚/𝑠2)(2.0𝑠)2
2
𝒙 = 𝟒𝟑𝒎
Then, for velocity at time t = 2.0s:
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡
𝑣𝑥 = 15𝑚/𝑠 + (4.0𝑚/𝑠2)(2.0𝑠)
𝒗𝒙 = 𝟐𝟑𝒎/𝒔
10
 Given: ax = 4.0m/s2 v0 = 15m/s
x0 = 5.0m vx = 25m/s

(b) Where is the motorcyclist when his velocity is 25m/s?

Note that time is not given here but we know vx, v0x, ax and x0,
therefore we can use:

𝑣𝑥 2 = 𝑣0𝑥 2 + 2𝑎𝑥(𝑥 − 𝑥0)

Solving for x and substituting the known values:
𝑣𝑥2 − 𝑣0𝑥2
𝑥 = 𝑥0 +
2𝑎𝑥
(25𝑚/𝑠)2 − (15𝑚/𝑠)2
𝑥 = 5.0𝑚 +
2(4.0𝑚/𝑠2)
𝒙 = 𝟓𝟓𝒎 Evaluate: Do our results make sense?

Positive acceleration; velocity is increasing 11
Before 1600’s “Fire, Air, Water, Earth”

“Heavier objects
fall faster than the
lighter ones…”

Aristotle

“all objects
fall at the
same rate…”

Galileo’s inclined plane Galileo 12

Special case: free fall
All bodies at a particular
location fall with the
same downward
acceleration regardless
of size and weight

Neglect air resistance

Distance of fall is
smaller compared to
the radius of the earth
Ignore effects due to the
earth’s rotation
13
 Acceleration due to gravity, 𝒈
Constant acceleration of a free-falling body

𝒈 = 9.81 m/s2 = 981 cm/s2 = 32 ft/s2

𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 𝒗𝒚 = 𝒗𝟎𝒚 − 𝒈𝒕

1 𝟏 𝟐
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣0𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2 𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒚 𝒕 − 𝒈𝒕
2 𝟐
2
𝑣𝑥2 = 𝑣0𝑥 + 2𝑎𝑥 𝑥 − 𝑥0 𝒗𝟐𝒚 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒚 − 𝟐𝒈 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎

𝑣0𝑥 + 𝑣𝑥 𝒗𝟎𝒚 + 𝒗𝒚
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑡 𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒕
2 𝟐 14
Free fall: How fast, how far?
DROPPED (DOWNWARD
MOTION ONLY) with ZERO
INITIAL VELOCITY

𝒗𝒚 = 𝒗𝟎𝒚 − 𝒈𝒕

𝟏 𝟐
𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒚 𝒕 − 𝒈𝒕
𝟐

15
 Sample Problem:
You throw a ball vertically upward from the roof of a tall
building. The ball leaves your hand at a point even with the
roof railing with the speed of 15.0m/s; the ball is in free fall.
On its way back down, it just misses the railing. Find:
(a) the position and velocity of the ball 1.00s and 4.00s
after leaving your hand;
(b) the velocity when the ball is 5.00m above the railing;
(c) the maximum height reached; and
(d) the acceleration of the ball at its maximum height.

Given: v0y = 15.0m/s

𝒗𝒚 = 𝒗𝟎𝒚 − 𝒈𝒕 𝒗𝟐𝒚 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒚 − 𝟐𝒈 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎

𝟏 𝟐 𝒗𝟎𝒚 + 𝒗𝒚
𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒚 𝒕 − 𝒈𝒕 𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒕
𝟐 𝟐 16
17
(a) The position y and velocity vy a time t after the ball
leaves your hand are given by:
𝟏 𝟐 (1)
𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒚 𝒕 − 𝒈𝒕
𝟐
𝟏
𝒚 = 𝟎 + (𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝒎/𝒔)𝒕 − (𝟗. 𝟖𝟎𝒎/𝒔𝟐 )𝒕𝟐 (2)
𝟐
𝒗𝒚 = 𝒗𝟎𝒚 − 𝒈𝒕 (3)

𝒗𝒚 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝒎/𝒔 − (𝟗. 𝟖𝟎𝒎/𝒔𝟐 )𝒕 (4)

To get the position & velocity at time t = 1.0s, we substitute

it to eqs. 2 and 4:
𝒚(𝒕 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝒔) = +𝟏𝟎. 𝟏𝒎 𝒗𝒚 (𝒕 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝒔) = +𝟓. 𝟐𝟎𝒎/𝒔

We use the same equation to get position & velocity for t = 4.00s
𝒚 𝒕 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝒔 = −𝟏𝟖. 𝟒𝒎 𝒗𝒚 𝒕 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝒔 = −𝟐𝟒. 𝟐𝒎/𝒔
18
(b) The y-velocity vy at any point y is given by:

𝒗𝟐𝒚 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒚 − 𝟐𝒈 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 (5)

𝒗𝟐𝒚 = (𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝒎/𝒔)𝟐 −𝟐(𝟗. 𝟖𝒎/𝒔𝟐 ) 𝒚 − 𝟎 (6)

When the ball is 5.00m above the origin, y = +5.00m,

substituting this to eq. 6:

𝒗𝟐𝒚 = (𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝒎/𝒔)𝟐 −𝟐 𝟗. 𝟖𝒎/𝒔𝟐 𝟓. 𝟎𝟎𝒎 = 𝟏𝟐𝟕𝒎𝟐 /𝒔𝟐

𝒗𝒚 = ±𝟏𝟏. 𝟑𝒎/𝒔

We get two values of vy because the ball passes

through the point y = +5.00m twice!
19
(c) Just at the instant when the ball reaches the highest point;
it is momentarily at rest and vy=0. The maximum height y can
then be solve using:

𝒗𝟐𝒚 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒚 − 𝟐𝒈 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎

𝟎 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒚 − 𝟐𝒈 𝒚 − 𝟎
𝒗𝟎𝒚 𝟐 (𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝒎/𝒔)𝟐
𝒚= =
𝟐𝒈 𝟐(𝟗. 𝟖𝒎/𝒔𝟐 )

𝒚 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟓𝒎

(d) At highest point, the acceleration is

still ay = -g = -9.81m/s2
 Summary:
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡

1
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣0𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2
2
𝑣𝑥2 = 𝑣0𝑥 + 2𝑎𝑥 𝑥 − 𝑥0

𝑣0𝑥 + 𝑣𝑥
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑡
2

Note: for free fall:

Acceleration = -g
v0x, vx becomes v0y, vy 21
Seatwork Date:
1. Blah?
- solve problems in your
notebooks 2. Blah blah!
- write the answers only in
3. Blah blah blah!
your bluebook
- indicate the date 4. Blah blah blah blah!

22
(1) multiple choice (from previous long exam)

23
Seatwork: Young and Freedman, 2.21
An antelope moving with constant acceleration covers
the distance between two points 70.0 m apart in 7.00 s.
Its speed as it passes the second point is 15.0 m/s.
1) What is its speed at the first point?
2) What is its acceleration?

Hint: Given: x-x0 = 70.0m (assign x0=0)

t = 7.00s vx = 15.0m/s

Equations for motion with constant acceleration:

𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕 𝒗𝟐𝒙 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟐𝒂𝒙 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎

𝟏 𝒗𝟎𝒙 + 𝒗𝒙
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒙 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕𝟐 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒕
𝟐 𝟐 24
Seatwork: Young and Freedman, Prob. 2.39
A flea can jump straight up to a height of 0.440 m,
3) what is the initial speed as it leaves the ground?
4) how long is it in the air?

Given: y = 0.440m y0 = 0
g = 9.81m/s2 for SW3: vy = 0

Equations for motion with constant acceleration:

𝒗𝒚 = 𝒗𝟎𝒚 − 𝒈𝒕
multiply t*2
𝒗𝟐𝒚 = 𝒗𝟐𝟎𝒚 − 𝟐𝒈 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎

𝟏 𝟐 𝒗𝟎𝒚 + 𝒗𝒚
𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎𝒚 𝒕 − 𝒈𝒕 𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒕
𝟐 𝟐
25