Kinematics

The study of motion in

One Dimension
Motion along a straight line
 Motion
 Position and displacement
 Average velocity and average speed
 Instantaneous velocity and speed
 Acceleration
 Constant acceleration: A special case
 Free fall acceleration
 Motion
 Everything moves!
Motion is one of the
main topics in Physics I
 In the spirit of taking
things apart for study,
then putting them back
LAX
together, we will first
consider only motion
along a straight line. Newark
 Simplification:
Consider a moving
object as a particle, i.e.
it moves like a particle
—a “point object”
HOW DO WE KNOW IF THE OBJECT IS
IN MOTION?

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
4 Basic Quantities in Kinematics
Quantities in Motion
 Any motion involves three concepts
 Displacement
 Velocity
 Acceleration
 These concepts can be used to study
objects in motion.
 Types of Motion Graphs
 d-t displacement vs.
time

 v-t velocity vs. time

 a-t acceleration vs. time

 d-t Graph with Constant
Speed
 The slope of a distance-time
graph represents velocity.
 A constant slope means a
constant velocity.
 The slope can be positive,
negative , or zero.
 Distance-Time Graph

Positive Slope=
Positive Velocity
Zero Slope =
Distance

Zero Velocity
Negative Slope=
Negative Velocity

Time
Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
In the first 10 s, the car travels 100m from its
starting point. The average velocity of the
car is given by the slope of line AB.
Slope= 100m-0m
10s -0s
= 10 m/s
Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Between B and C, the position of the car
does not change, so the velocity is 0 m/s
which means the car is at rest.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
From C to D, the slope is 50m-100m
30s-20s
=-50m
10s
=- 5m/s
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 velocityv  x  x f  xi
avg
t t
to ta l d is ta n c e
 Average speed s a v g 
t
x dx
 Instantaneous v  lim 
t 0  t dt
velocity
displacement
 Uniform Velocity

 Uniform velocity is the special case of constant

velocity x x  x
v  
x
f i

t t
 In this case, instantaneous velocities are always
the same, all the instantaneous velocities will
x  xi  v x t
also equal the average velocity f
Note: we are
 Begin with
x thenv
plotting velocity vs.
x(t) time v(t)
xf vx

xi
0 t 0 t
ti tf
The equation to describe the
velocity of an object (which is
accelerating from rest) as a
function of time is v=at.
Substituting (a)(t) for v in the
equation above,
d= ½ (vt)
d= ½ (at) (t)
d= ½ (at2)

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
 v-t Graph Displacements

Area = 1/2 Base x Height

Velocity

Disp.

Time
 v-t Graph Displacements

Area = Length x Width

Velocity

Displacement

Time
An object may also accelerate without
starting from rest (figure before this
slide) shows a body has an initial velocity
when it started to accelerate.
We can divide the graph into rectangle
and triangle, so that d=vit t ½ at2 where
vit is the area of triangle and ½ at2 is the
area of triangle.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
a-t Graph with Constant Acceleration
 The slope of an acceleration-time
graph will be zero in this course.
 A zero slope implies a constant
acceleration.
 The area under the curve
represents the change in velocity
of the object.
 a-t Graph Change in
Velocities

Area = Length x Width

Acceleration

v

Time
 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].
v v f  vi
 Definition: a avg  
t t  t f i
 Average acceleration
v dv d dx d 2 v
a lim    2
t  0 t dt dt dt dt
 Instantaneous acceleration

Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
Average Acceleration
Note: we are
 Average acceleration plotting velocity vs.
time
v v f  vi
aavg  
t t f  ti
 Velocity as a function of time
v f (t ) vi  aavg t

 It is tempting to call a negative acceleration a

“deceleration,” but note:
 When the sign of the velocity and the acceleration are the same
(either positive or negative), then the speed is increasing
 When the sign of the velocity and the acceleration are in the
opposite directions, the speed is decreasing
 Average acceleration is the slope of the line connecting
the initial and final velocities on a velocity-time graph

Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
Instantaneous and Uniform Acceleration
 The limit of the average acceleration as the time
interval goes to zero v dv d dx d 2 v
a lim   
t  0 t dt dt dt dt 2

 When the instantaneous accelerations are

always the same, the acceleration will be
uniform. The instantaneous acceleration will be
equal to the average acceleration
 Instantaneous acceleration is the
slope of the tangent to the curve
of the velocity-time graph

Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
Special Case: Motion with Uniform
Acceleration (our typical case)
 Acceleration is a constant
 Kinematic Equations
v v0  at (which we will derive in a
moment)

1
x v t  (v0  v)t
2
x v0t  12 at 2

2 2
v v0  2ax
Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Derivation of the Equation (1)
 Given initial conditions:
 a(t) = constant = a, v(t = 0) = v , x(t = 0) = x
0 0

 Start with definition of average acceleration:

v v  at
0

v v  v0 v  v0 v  v0
aavg     a
t t  t0 t 0 t

 We immediately get the first equation

 Shows velocity as a function of acceleration and

time
 Use when you don’t know and aren’t asked to find
the displacement
Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
Derivation of the Equation (2)
 Given initial conditions:
 a(t) = constant = a, v(t = 0) = v , x(t = 0) = x
0 0
 Start with definition of average velocity:
x  x0 x
vavg  
t t
 Since velocity changes at a constant rate, we have

1
x vavg t  (v0  v)t
2

 Gives displacement as a function of velocity and time

 Use when you don’t know and aren’t asked for the
acceleration

Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
 v-t Graph Displacements

Area = 1/2 Base x Height

Velocity

Disp.

Time
Derivation of the Equation (3)
 Given initial conditions:
 a(t) = constant = a, v(t = 0) = v , x(t = 0) = x
0 0

 Start with the two just-derived equations:

1
v v0  at x vavg t  (v0  v)t
2
 We have

1 1 1 2
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

Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
 Derivation of the Equation (4)
 Given initial conditions: v v  v0
aavg   
 a(t) = constant = a, v(t = 0) = v , x(t = 0) = x
0 0
t t
 Rearrange the definition of average acceleration
, to find the time
v  v0
t
 Use it to eliminate t in the second equation: a
, rearrange to get
2
1 1 v 2  v0
x  (v0  v)t  (v  v0 )(v  v0 ) 
2 2a 2a
 Gives velocity as a function of acceleration and
displacement
 Use when you don’t know and aren’t asked for the
time 2 2
v 2 v0  2ax v0  2a ( x  x0 )
Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
A sports car must achieve a
velocity of 100m/s after passing
the entry tollgate of an
expressway. If the driver can do it
after travelling 200m, what must
be his car’s acceleration?

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Given: vi= 0 m/s
vf=100m/s
d= 200m
find: a=?
Solution:vf2=vi2 + 2 ad
a= vf2- vi2
2d
a= (100m/s)2 -(0m/s)2
2(200m)
a= 25m/s 2

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
If the car sports car in problem 1 is
approaching the exit tollgate with
a velocity of 100m/s and
decelerates at 5m/s 2 to a full stop,
find the displacement of the car.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Given: vi= 100 m/s
vf=0m/s
a= -5 m/s 2

find: d=?
Solution: vf2=vi2 + 2 ad
d= vf2- vi2
2a
d= (0m/s)2 -(100m/s)2
2(-5 m/s 2)
d= 1000 m Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Problem 1
a bus started from rest and moved
with uniform acceleration. It
required a speed of 60m/s after
100s. Find the ff:
a. acceleration and (b) the
distance traveled by the bus after
100s.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
 Problem 2
An airplane accelerates down a
runway at 3.20 m/s2 for 32.8 s
until is finally lifts off the ground.
Determine the distance traveled
before takeoff.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Problem 3
A car starts from rest and
accelerates uniformly over a time
of 5.21 seconds for a distance of
110 m. Determine the acceleration
of the car.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Free Fall Acceleration
y  Earth gravity provides a constant
acceleration. Most important case of
constant acceleration.
 Free-fall acceleration is independent
of mass.
 Magnitude: |a| = g = 9.8 m/s2
 Direction: always downward, so ag is
negative if we define “up” as
positive,
a = g = 9.8 m/s2
 Try to pick origin so that xi = 0

Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
For example: we want to calculate
the velocity of a falling body after
1 s. we can use the formula

vf=vi t gt
vf=0+(9.8m/s2)(1s)
Vf=9.8 m/s

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
If air resistance is neglected.
During the first second, what will
be the displacement of the object?

d=1/2 gt2

d= ½ (9.8m/s2)(1s)
d=4.9m

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Sample problem for rookies:

In an amusement park, a Demon

Drop ride falls freely for 2s after
starting from rest. Find (a) its
velocity at the end of 2s and (b)
the height covered at the end of
the drop.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
An object is thrown straight down from
the top of a building at a speed of 20
m/s. It hits the ground with a speed of
40 m/s.
a) How high is the building?
b) How long was the object in the air?

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Harley drops a pile of bricks from a
roof top located 8.54 m above the
ground. Determine the time
required for the bricks to reach the
ground.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
Bruno is holding a ball 1m from
the ground then suddenly throws
it vertically upwards with an initial
velocity of 26.2 m/s. Determine
the distance of the ball from the
ground.

Jan. 28-
Feb. 1,
2013
 Free Fall for Rookie
 A stone is thrown from the top of a building
with an initial velocity of 20.0 m/s straight
upward, at an initial height of 50.0 m above
the ground. The stone just misses the edge of
the roof on the its way down. Determine
 (a) the time needed for the stone to reach its
maximum height.
 (b) the maximum height.
 (c) the time needed for the stone to return to
the height from which it was thrown and the
velocity of the stone at that instant.
 (d) the time needed for the stone to reach the
ground
 (e) the velocity and position of the stone at t =
5.00s

Jan. 28-Feb.
1, 2013
Horizontal
One feather is allowed to free fall from
the top of a building. Calculate the
distance travelled by a feather, if the
time taken by a feather to reach the
ground is 20 s. Also calculate the
velocity of a feather. (Take the value of
gravitational acceleration, g = 9.81
m/s2)
Solution:

Given data:
Time taken by a feather to reach the ground, t = 20 s
Gravitational acceleration, g = 9.81 m/s2
Distance travelled by a feather, h = ?
Velocity of a feather, v = ?

Using the equation of free fall, (free fall distance in terms of time)
h = ½ × g t2
h = ½ × 9.81 × (20)2
h = ½ × 9.81 × 400
h = 1962 m

Therefore, the distance travelled by a feather is 1962 m.

Using the equation of free fall, (free fall velocity in terms of time)
v=gt
v = 9.81 × 20
v = 196.2 m/s

Therefore, the velocity of a feather is 196.2 m/s.

One ball is allowed to free fall from
the top of a tower. In order to
reach the ground, a ball has to
travel the distance of 600 m. After
what time, a ball reaches the
ground and what is the velocity of
a ball? (Take the value of
gravitational acceleration, g = 9.81
m/s2)
Solution:

Given data:
Distance travelled by a ball, h = 600 m
Gravitational acceleration, g = 9.81 m/s2
Time taken by a ball to reach the ground, t = ?
Velocity of a ball, v = ?

Using the equation of free fall, (free fall time in terms of distance)
t = √2 h/g
t = √(2 × 600)/9.81
t = √1200/9.81
t = √122.3241
t = 11.06 s

Therefore, the time taken by a ball to reach the ground is 11.06 s.

Using the equation of free fall, (free fall velocity in terms of distance)
v = √2 g h
v = √2 × 9.81 × 600
v = √11772
v = 108.49 m/s

Therefore, the velocity of a ball is 108.49 m/s.

A stone is dropped vertically
from a high cliff. After 3.55
seconds, it hits the ground.
How high is the cliff?
A ball is thrown into the air
vertically from the ground
level with an initial speed of
20 m/s.
(a) How long is the ball in the
air?
(b) At what height does the
ball reach?