Physics Lecture 2
Physics Lecture 2
x = + 2.5 m
x=-3m
x1 (t1) = - 3.0 m
x2 (t2) = + 1.0 m
Δx = +1.0 m + 3.0 m = +4.0 m
Jan. 28-Feb. 1, 2013
Distance and Position-time graph
Displacement in space
From A to B: Δx = xB – xA = 52 m – 30 m = 22 m
From A to C: Δx = xc – xA = 38 m – 30 m = 8 m
Distance is the length of a path followed by a particle
from A to B: d = |xB – xA| = |52 m – 30 m| = 22 m
from A to C: d = |xB – xA|+ |xC – xB| = 22 m + |38 m – 52 m| = 36 m
Displacement is not Distance. Jan. 28-Feb. 1, 2013
Velocity
Velocity is the rate of change of position.
Velocity is a vector quantity.
displacement
Velocity has both magnitude and direction.
Velocity has a unit of [length/time]: meter/second. distance
We will be concerned with three quantities, defined as:
Average velocity x x f - xi
v
t t f - ti
avg
xi
0 t 0 t
ti tf
Jan. 28-Feb. 1, 2013
Average Acceleration
Changing velocity (non-uniform) means an acceleration is present.
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
Acceleration is a vector quantity.
Acceleration has both magnitude and direction.
Acceleration has a dimensions of length/time2: [m/s2].
Definition: v v f - vi
aavg
Average acceleration t t f - ti
Instantaneous acceleration a v dv d dx d 2v
lim 2
t 0 t dt dt dt dt
v f (t ) vi + at
v v0 + 2ax
2 2
Derivation of the Equation (1)
Given initial conditions:
a(t) = constant = a, v(t = 0) = v0, x(t = 0) = x0
1 1 1 2
We have x (v0 + v)t (v0 + v0 + at )t x x - x0 v0t + at
2 2 2
Gives displacement as a function of all three quantities:
time, initial velocity and acceleration
Use when you don’t know and aren’t asked to find the final
velocity
Derivation of the Equation (4)
Given initial conditions:
a(t) = constant = a, v(t = 0) = v0, x(t = 0) = x0
v v0 + at x v0t + at v 2 v0 + 2ax
1 2 2
2
v v0 + at x v0t + 12 at 2 v 2 v0 + 2ax
2
x - x0 v0t + 12 at 2 v
v v0 + 2a( x - x0 )
2 2
t
x - x0 12 (v + v0 )t a
x - x0 vt - 12 at 2 v0