PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

BASICS OF KINEMATICS

MECHANICS

STATICS DYNAMICS

KINEMATICS KINETICS

KINEMATICS is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of points,
objects and systems of groups of objects, without reference to the causes of motion (i.e.,
forces ). The study of kinematics is often referred to as the “geometry of motion.”

To describe motion, kinematics studies the trajectories of points, lines and other
geometric objects, as well as their differential properties (such as velocity and
acceleration). Kinematics is used in astrophysics to describe the motion of celestial
bodies and systems; and in mechanical engineering, robotics and biomechanics to
describe the motion of systems composed of joined parts (such as an engine, a robotic
arm, or the skeleton of the human body).

In order to describe the motion of an object, you must first describe its position —
where it is at any particular time. More precisely, you need to specify its position relative
to a convenient reference frame. Earth is often used as a reference frame, and we often
describe the position of objects related to its position to or from Earth. Mathematically, the
position of an object is generally represented by the variable x.
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera
FRAMES OF REFERENCE

There are two choices you have to make in order to define a position variable x.
You have to decide where to put x = 0 and which direction will be positive. This is referred
to as choosing a coordinate system, or choosing a frame of reference. As long as you are
consistent, any frame is equally valid. Frames of reference are particularly important
when describing an object’s displacement.

DISPLACEMENT AND DISTANCE

DISTANCE
- d, a scalar quantity that refers to “how much space an object / body has covered”
- describe how far an object/body has moved
DISPLACEMENT
- D, a vector quantity that points from an object’s initial position to its final position
and whose magnitude equals the distance separating the points
- refers to “how far out of place an object is”
- we need not use vector symbols (↑↓→← , NEWS, 𝜃) for displacement in one
direction , positive and negative sign suffice

DISPLACEMENT FOR 2 DIMENSION:

- r – magnitude of displacement
- 𝜃 – direction of displacement, angle between the resultant and x-axis

DISPLACEMENT FOR 3 DIMENSION

- r – magnitude of displacement
- 𝛼, 𝛽, 𝛾 - direction of displacement, angle between resultant and x-axis, y-
axis and z-axis respectively
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

SPEED AND VELOCITY

Speed and velocity are similar quantities in that they both describe how fast an
object moves.
The units of velocity are same as the units of speed : m/s, km/h, mi/h

SPEED
- 𝜐, a scalar quantity that defines the rate at which an object covers a distance

VELOCITY
- v, a vector quantity that specifies both how fast and in what direction an object
moves

AVERAGE SPEED AND VELOCITY

AVERAGE SPEED

the distance traveled divided by the time required to travel

that distance.

EXAMPLE: In 26 of July 2009, Paul set the men’s 400m long course swimming (50 m
pool) record in 3 mins 40.07s. In 7 August 2016, Katie Ledecky set the women’s record
on the same category in 3 mins 21.07 s. By how many meters would Katie have beaten
Paul if they have raced each other?

Solution:
When thinking of the solution to this problem, try to visualize the situation at the end of
the race. Katie finishes the race 19.0 s before Paul. If we know Paul’s average speed, we
can determine the distance he travels in the last 19.0 s, that is his distance from the finish
line when Katie completes the race.
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera
Paul’s average speed for the whole race is:

In the last 19.0s while traveling at this speed, he moves a distance

Thus, he would have been beaten by 34.58 m

AVERAGE VELOCITY

the displacement during a certain time period

for one dimension:

for two or three dimensions:

EXAMPLE: An automobile moves along a straight track beside which are markers
indicating the car’s position at different times. If the car is at position 𝑥1= 51.2 m at time
𝑡1= 5.3 s and is at position 𝑥2= 49.8 m at time 𝑡1= 5.4 s, what is the car’s velocity during
that time interval?
Solution: (This is a linear (one dimension) motion problem)

The negative sign means the car has moved to the left (which by convention is the
negative x direction).

INSTANTANEOUS SPEED AND INSTANTANEOUS VELOCITY

INSTANTANEOUS SPEED
– from here forward be called speed
– indicates only how fast an object is moving at each instant of time ( the
speedometer of a car / vehicle indicates its instantaneous speed)
– it is just the magnitude of v (instantaneous velocity) and is always a positive
number
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera
INSTANTANEOUS VELOCITY
– from here forward be called velocity
– indicates how fast an object is moving at each instant of time and the direction
of that motion – (along x axis) is its change in position ∆𝑥 divided by very short
time ∆𝑡 require for this change
-𝑣 = ∆𝑥/ ∆𝑡 , (along x axis) is define as object’s (very small) change in position ∆𝑥
divided by very short time ∆𝑡 require for this change
-𝑣 = ∆𝐷/ ∆𝑡 , (for two or more dimension) is object’s (very small) change in
displacement by very short period of time
– the formal definition of one-dimensional instantaneous velocity relies on the use
of calculus and is define as the limiting value of the change in x divided by the
change in t as the time interval approaching zero. As ∆𝑡 approaches zero, so does
∆𝑥. However, the ratio of these two can be quite large (velocity) depending on how
fast the object moves.

-This limiting value of s called the derivative of x with respect to t

Example: The position of a particle is given by 𝑥 (𝑡) = 3𝑡 + 0.5𝑡3 m. (a) Find the
instantaneous velocity at t=2.0s. (b) Calculate the average velocity between 1.0s
and 3.0s
Solution:
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

This is a (one dimension) motion in x axis thus (+) positive sign indicates
movement to the right.

ACCELERATION
a vector quantity that describes the rate of change of velocity of an object with
respect to time
AVERAGE ACCELERATION

- the change in velocity divided by the time required

for that change
- units used for acceleration are 𝑚/ 𝑠 2 , 𝑓𝑡 /𝑠 2 , etc.
- three factors affect acceleration: (1) the change in the magnitude of the object’s
velocity or its change in speed (2) the change in the direction of the object’s
velocity and (3) the time required for these changes
EXAMPLE1: An automobile travels east in the positive x direction at +20 m/s and needs
to pass a truck. The automobile’s velocity is increased to +25 m/s in 2 s; it still moves
toward the east. Calculate its acceleration.
SOLUTION: Since the motion is in the positive x direction, both the initial and final
velocities are positive. The change in velocity is 𝑣2 - 𝑣1 = (+25 m/s) – (+20 m/s) = +5 m/s.
This change occurs in time 𝑡2 - 𝑡1 = 2 s. The average acceleration is
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera
Example2. A car traveling east in the positive x direction at + 20 m/s comes up behind a
large truck is unable to pass. The car slows to +15 m/s in a time of 2 s. Calculate the car’s
acceleration.
SOLUTION: The change in cars velocity is 𝑣2 - 𝑣1 = (+15m/s ) – ( +20m/s ) = -5 m/s. Note
that the change in velocity is negative because the car’s velocity in the time positive x
direction decreased by 5 m/s. This decrease occurred in time 𝑡2 - 𝑡1 = 2s. The average
acceleration is

The acceleration is negative because the car’s velocity in the positive x direction
decreased. It lost 2.5 m/s of speed in this direction per second.

INSTANTANEOUS ACCELERATION
- a = ∆𝑣/ ∆𝑡 , the object’s change in velocity ∆v divided by the very short time ∆t
needed for that change
- The time interval ∆t is so short that the acceleration varies little one time interval
to the next

- also define as the derivate of 𝑣 with respect to time

SUMMARY: