QUARTER 1: GENERAL PHYSICS 1

MODULE 2:
One-Dimensional
Kinematics

Prepared by:
Ms. Queen April Libay- Daquipil
Lesson 1
One-
Dimensional
Kinematics
Displacement
and Distance
• Distance is simply a length
which is a scalar quantity.
• Displacement considers
direction as well as change
in position which is vector
quantity.
 • A man walks 175 m to the east, then turns back and walks 40 m due
west. The total distance he walked is d = 175 m + 40 m = 215 m.
Displacement However. For his total or net displacement, we have the gray arrow in the

and Distance
vector diagram below. The black arrow gives the first displacement of
175 m, East, while the red arrow gives the second displacement of 40 m,
West. Therefore, using the tail-to-tip method, we get the net
displacement of the man as 135 m, due East.
 • A man walks 175 m to the east, then turns back and walks 40 m due
west. The total distance he walked is d = 175 m + 40 m = 215 m.
Displacement However. For his total or net displacement, we have the gray arrow in the

and Distance
vector diagram below. The black arrow gives the first displacement of
175 m, East, while the red arrow gives the second displacement of 40 m,
West. Therefore, using the tail-to-tip method, we get the net
displacement of the man as 135 m, due East.
Displacements on a Plane
• Displacement on a plane refers to the change in position of an
object in two-dimensional space (a plane), considering both the
magnitude and direction of the motion.
• It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both a magnitude (distance)
and a direction.
• In two dimensions, displacement can be represented as a vector
in a coordinate system, typically using Cartesian coordinates (x
and y).
Displacements on a Plane
Magnitude of Displacement
• The magnitude of the displacement vector can be calculated
using the Pythagorean theorem.
• If the displacement vector has components 𝑑 and 𝑑𝑦, the
magnitude ∣𝑑∣is:
∣𝑑∣= 𝑑𝑥2 + 𝑑𝑦2
• This gives the straight-line distance between the initial and final positions.
Displacements on a Plane
Direction of Displacement
• The direction of the displacement vector can be expressed as an angle,
typically with respect to the positive x-axis. Using trigonometry:
−1 dy
θ=tan ( )
dx
where:
• 𝑑𝑦 is the displacement along the y-axis.
• 𝑑𝑥 is the displacement along the x-axis.
• This angle 𝜃 tells you the direction in which the object moved, relative to
the horizontal axis.
Constant Velocity
and Speed

Speed (scalar)
• Velocity is another example of
a vector. Velocity has both
magnitude and direction.
• On the other hand, speed is
scalar. It is just the magnitude
of the velocity vector.
Vector (vector)
Acceleration

• Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity

with time.
• A vector quantity that has a direction as well
as a magnitude.
• An increase in velocity is commonly called
acceleration while a decrease in velocity is
sometimes termed deceleration.
• Technically, since velocity includes a direction
as well as constant speed, a change in
direction at a constant speed is still
considered acceleration.
• Acceleration has units of distance/time
squared.
Remember…

Displacement is defined as the change in position of the object, is a vector with the
magnitude as a distance, such as miles, and a direction, such as east.

Displacement is measured in units of length per time, such as meter/second.

Velocity is a vector expression with a magnitude equal to the speed traveled and with an
indicated direction of motion.

For motion defined on a number line, a positive or negative sign specifies the direction.

Note that displacement is not the same as distance traveled.

Graphical Representations
1) Displacement – time graphs

• Represents the position (displacement) of an object as a

function of time.
• It is a powerful tool used in kinematics to analyze an object's
motion over time.
• The graph provides information about how the object's
displacement changes at each instant, and it helps us
understand its motion (whether it is moving forward,
backward, at rest, or accelerating).
Graphical
Representations
1) Displacement – time graphs
• Figure 1 shows the displacement-time graph
for a tennis ball which is thrown vertically up in
the air from a player’s hand and then falls to the
ground. The graph illustrates the motion of the
ball. Taking the origin to be the starting point,
the ball moves upwards (in the positive
direction) to a maximum height of 2.5 m above
the origin. It stops momentarily and then drops
to the ground, which is 1.5 m below the initial
release. Consequently, the velocity of the ball
changes from positive (on the way up) to 0 at
the top and then to negative (on the way down).
The gradient of a displacement-time graph is
velocity.
Graphical Representations
2) Velocity – time graphs

• A graphical representation of an object's velocity (the rate of

change of displacement) over time.
• These graphs are essential tools for analyzing motion because
they provide detailed information about an object's velocity at
every point in time, as well as the object's acceleration,
distance traveled, and changes in motion.
Graphical
Representations
2) Velocity – time graphs

• Figure 2 shows the velocity-time

graph for the motion of the tennis
ball described in example 1. It
was thrown into the air with a
velocity of 7 m/s. It has a zero
velocity at 0.71 seconds and
returns to the ground after 1.62
seconds with a velocity of -8.8
m/s.The gradient of a velocity-
time graph is acceleration.
Graphical
Representations
3) Acceleration vs. time graphs
• a graphical representation of an
object's acceleration over a period
of time.
• Acceleration is a vector quantity
that describes the rate at which an
object's velocity changes.
• These graphs provide insights into
the changes in an object's motion,
particularly in terms of how its
velocity increases or decreases
over time.
 • Consider a car moving with a constant rightward (+)
Constant Velocity velocity – say of +10 m/s.
vs. Changing
• A car moving with a constant velocity is a car with zero
Velocity acceleration.
Constant Velocity • Consider a car moving with a rightward (+), changing
velocity – that is, a car that is accelerating.
vs. Changing
• Since the car is moving in the positive direction and
Velocity speeding up, the car is said to have a positive acceleration.
Free Fall Motion
• An object which falls freely due to gravity
is an example of a uniformly accelerated
linear motion.
• Refers to the motion of an object under
the influence of gravity only, with no other
forces acting on it (such as air resistance
or friction).
• This type of motion is an important
concept in physics, as it simplifies the
study of gravitational acceleration and
provides a basis for understanding more
complex motions.
Free Fall Motion
• For this, it is important to remember the
following:
1) Near the surface of the earth, the
acceleration due to gravity can be taken
as a constant: g = 9.8 m/s2.
2) At this stage, we shall also neglect air
resistance. Thus, we can take gravity as
the only influence on an object in “free
fall”.
3) “Free fall” problems include objects
thrown upward which reach a certain
height before falling down. For cases
like these, we must be very careful with
positive and negative signs for the
vertical motion.
Free Fall Motion
• The best way to see the basic features of
motion involving gravity is to start by
considering straight up and down motion
with no air resistance or friction.
• This means that if the object is dropped, we
know the initial velocity is zero.
• Once the object is in motion, the object is in
free fall.
• Under these circumstances, the motion is
one-dimensional and has constant
acceleration, g.
The kinematic equations for
objects experiencing free fall:
v = v0 – gt

Where:
• v: Final velocity of the object at time 𝑡.
• 𝑣0: Initial velocity of the object at time 𝑡=0.
• 𝑔: Acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately
9.8 m/s2 near Earth's surface (directed downward).
• 𝑡: Time elapsed since the object started moving.
The kinematic equations for
objects experiencing free fall:
𝟏
y = y0 + v0t – gt2
𝟐

Where:
• y: Final position (displacement) of the object at time 𝑡.
• 𝑦0: Initial position (starting height) of the object at time 𝑡=0.
• 𝑣0: Initial velocity of the object at time 𝑡=0.
• 𝑡: Time elapsed since the object was released or thrown.
• 𝑔: Acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2 near the surface of
the Earth).
1 2
• The term 𝑔𝑡 represents the displacement caused by gravity,
2
and it is subtracted because gravity acts downward, opposing
upward motion.
The kinematic equations for
objects experiencing free fall:
v2 = v02 – 2g (y – y0)

Where:
• v: Final velocity of the object at position 𝑦.
• 𝑣0: Initial velocity of the object at the initial position 𝑦0.
• 𝑔: Acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2 near the Earth’s
surface).
• 𝑦: Final vertical position (displacement from a reference
point).
• 𝑦0: Initial vertical position (starting height).
• (𝑦−𝑦0): Displacement, the change in vertical position.
Linear
Acceleration
• Refers to the rate of change of an
object’s velocity with respect to time
as it moves along a straight line.
• It occurs when the velocity of an
object increases or decreases in
magnitude (speed) or changes
direction.
• In simpler terms, linear acceleration
describes how quickly an object is
speeding up or slowing down as it
moves in a straight line.
Linear Acceleration
• The basic formula for linear acceleration (𝑎) is:
𝛥𝑣 𝑣𝑓 ⎼ 𝑣𝑖
a = or a=𝑡 ⎼𝑡
𝛥𝑡 𝑓 𝑖
Where:
• 𝑎 is the linear acceleration.
• Δ𝑣 is the change in velocity (𝑣−𝑣0).
• Δ𝑡 is the change in time (𝑡−𝑡0).
• The unit of acceleration is m/s2.
• Acceleration is a vector, with direction and a magnitude.
The Four Kinematic Equations for
Uniformly Accelerated Rectilinear
Motion
Variable Contained
Equation
Equation
Number d vi vf t a

𝑣𝑖+𝑣𝑓
1 d= ( )t ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
2
2 vf = vi + at ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

1
3 d=vi​t+ at2 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
2
4 Vf2 = vi2 + 2ad ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Linear Kinematics
• In solving kinematics problems, just like any other physics problem, it is helpful to
consider the following steps:
1) Draw a diagram for the problem.
2) List the physical quantities already given by the problem.
3) Determine and write the physical quantities or variables you should find.
4) Choose from the four Kinematic Equations the equation or equations
containing the variables listed in Steps 1 and 2 (the items given and the
quantities you should find)
5) Solve the equation step by step carefully and neatly, applying the rules of
algebra both for numbers and units. Be careful with positive and negative
signs.
Linear Kinematics
• In solving kinematics problems, just like any other physics problem, it is helpful to
consider the following steps:
1) Draw a diagram for the problem.
2) List the physical quantities already given by the problem.
3) Determine and write the physical quantities or variables you should find.
4) Choose from the four Kinematic Equations the equation or equations
containing the variables listed in Steps 1 and 2 (the items given and the
quantities you should find)
5) Solve the equation step by step carefully and neatly, applying the rules of
algebra both for numbers and units. Be careful with positive and negative
signs.
Sample Problem
no. 1

Mr. Lee drops a pile of roof

shingles from the top of a roof
located 852 meters above the
ground. Determine the time
requires for the shingles to
reach the ground.

𝟏 2
y = y0 + v0t – gt
𝟐
Sample Problem
no. 2

Jin throws her mother’s crystal

vase vertically upwards with an
initial velocity of 26.2 m/s.
Determine the height to which
the vase will rise above its initial
height.
vf 2 =vi2 +2ad
"Life is a journey—find your
direction and keep moving
forward at your own speed"