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Week 1: Kinematics

I. Introduction

Objects are in motion everywhere we look. Everything from a tennis game to a space-probe flyby of the
planet Neptune involves motion. When you are resting, your heart moves blood through your veins. And
even in inanimate objects, there is continuous motion in the vibrations of atoms and molecules. Questions
about motion are interesting in and of themselves: How long will it take for a space probe to get to Mars?
Where will a football land if it is thrown at a certain angle? But an understanding of motion is also key to
understanding other concepts in physics. An understanding of acceleration, for example, is crucial to the
study of force.

In this lesson, we will be talking about the definition of kinematics and the three types of motion. We will
also investigate the words commonly used to describe the translational motion of objects. We will study
terms like position, distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration. Lastly, we will be solving
problems with translational motion using the four kinematic equations.

II. Objectives

By the end of this section, you should be able to

1. Discuss kinematics and the type of motion for any given moving object
2. Discuss the different quantities in kinematics.
3. Identify the appropriate kinematic equation for a motion problem
4. Evaluate problems involving objects moving with constant acceleration using kinematics
equations.

III. Introduction to Kinematics

Kinematics is a branch of physics that is associated with motion. The word “kinematics” comes from a
Greek term meaning motion and is related to other English words such as “cinema” (movies) and
“kinesiology” (the study of human motion). It only focuses on how to describe a moving object using
words, diagrams, equations, numbers, and graphs, without considering the forces involved in that
motion. The planets revolving around the sun, an airplane taking off, a bullet train taking you from station
to station, horses running in a Derby Competition and you walking from your house to a sari-sari store are
all examples of moving objects that can be described through the concepts of kinematics.

Figure 1. 1 The motion of an American kestrel through the air can be described by the bird’s displacement, speed,
velocity, and acceleration. When it flies in a straight line without any change in direction, its motion is said to be
one dimensional. (credit: Vince Maidens, Wikimedia Commons)

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Three Types of Motions

1. Translational Motion. This is the type of motion such that an object moves from one position to
another along a straight line. For example, the horse in the figure above is moving in a
translational manner. Another example is when an apple falls from a tree to the ground and when
a bullet is fired from a gun.

Figure 1. 2 Translational Motion (credit: Suzan Black, Fotopedia)

2. Rotational Motion. This is the type of motion such that an object moves from one position to
another along a circular path. For example, the wheels of a car and a Ferris wheel passenger car
are moving in a rotational manner.

Figure 1. 3 Rotational Motion (credit: Luu, Wikimedia Commons)

3. Vibrational Motion. This is the type of motion such that an object moves back and forth or up
and down. Unlike a translational motion which permanently moves an object from its original
position, an object in vibrational motion wiggles about a fixed position - its original equilibrium
position. It moves until its original position is restored. Examples of objects in vibrational motion
is an object attached to a spring. In the figure below, the spring will move up and down until it
returns to its original position.

Figure 1. 4 When displaced from its vertical equilibrium position, this plastic ruler oscillates back and forth because
of the restoring force opposing displacement. When the ruler is on the left, there is a force to the right, and vice
versa. (credit: OpenStax)

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IV. Basic Quantities of Kinematics

Position, x

Position is a vector quantity that identifies where an object is located at a particular time. In order to
identify a position, you need to specify first a frame of reference or what we usually refer to as the origin.
Numerically, the origin is represented as position 0, or x = 0. When you move 1 meter away from the
origin, your position is 1 m, when you move 2 meters away from the origin, your position is 2 m, and so
on.

Please also note that since 'x' is a vector quantity all positions should be described in a specific direction
such as East and West or Left and Right. That means the position 1m right is describing a position different
from 1m left. Mathematically, it can be represented using a positive (+) and negative (-) number. For us
to have uniform representations, all positions going to the right (East) are positive positions and those
that are going to the left (West) are negative positions.

Figure 1. 5 Sign Convention for Position (credit: BR Cuenya, UCF)

Example:

1. The position of the car is 3.0 meters to the right of the traffic light.

Thus, taking the traffic light as the reference point/origin:

 Mathematical Representation: x = +3.0 m

 Graphical Representation:

2. The position of the car is 2.5 meters to the left of the traffic light.

Thus, taking the traffic light as the reference point/origin:

 Mathematical Representation: x = - 2.5 m

 Graphical Representation:

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Distance vs. Displacement

Most people seem to think that distance and displacement are two quantities that mean the same thing
but, they have very different definitions and meanings.

Distance, d

 It is a SCALAR quantity, contains magnitude only

 It refers to the total length of the path traveled during the entirety of its motion.
 It answers the question: "How far have the object traveled regardless of the direction?"
 Unit: m

Displacement, Δx

 It is a VECTOR quantity, contains both the magnitude and the direction of motion
o A displacement of 1 m to the right is not equal to the displacement of 1 m to the left
 It refers to the overall change in the position of the object with reference to its origin.
 It answers the question: "Where is the object in relation to where it started?"
 Unit: m

Figure 1. 6 A professor paces left and right while lecturing. Her position relative to Earth is given by x . The +2.0m
displacement of the professor relative to Earth is represented by an arrow pointing to the right. (credit: OpenStax)

Example:

3. As part of your exercise routine, you walk 10 meters Eastward, 15 meters westward, then 30
meters eastward, 8 meters westward, and finally, 3 meters westward. For this motion,
a. What is the distance traveled?
b. What is the displacement?

Solution:

(a) The distance is the total length of the path covered regardless of the direction, thus, what you do is to
simply add all the lengths of the path you walked without looking at the direction.

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d = 10 m + 15 m + 30 m + 8 m + 3 m = 66 m

The distance traveled is 66 m.

(b) The displacement is the overall change in the position; thus, you need to write first all the positions
mentioned. Based on our discussion about the position, all eastward motions are positive, and all
westwards emotions are negative. The

10 m eastward x1 = +10 m

15 meters westward x2 = - 15 m

30 meters eastward x3 = + 30 m

8 meters westward x4 = - 8 m

3 meters westward x5 = - 3 m

Then, get the sum of all the position mentioned:

Δx = 10 m - 15 m + 30 m - 8 m - 3 m = 14 m

Because displacement is a vector quantity, a direction should always be included in the final answer. Since
the displacement is positive, then we can say that the displacement is 14 m eastward.

Learning Activity 1.1

Check Your Understanding

Is it possible to have a zero displacement but a non-zero distance? If yes, can you give an example?
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Speed vs. Velocity

Just like distance and displacement, these two quantities are sometimes used interchangeably but they
have very different meanings.

Speed, s

 It is a SCALAR quantity, contains magnitude only

 It is the rate at which distance changes
 It answers the question: "How fast are you going regardless of the direction?"

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 Formula:

 Unit: m/s

Velocity, v

 It is a VECTOR quantity, contains both the magnitude and the direction of motion
o When describing a velocity, it must always have a direction such as 5 m/s East
 It is the rate at which displacement changes
 It answers the question: "How fast is the object moving and which way is it moving"
 Formula:

 Unit: m/s

Example:

4. As part of your exercise routine, you walk 10 meters Eastward, 15 meters westward, then 30
meters eastward, 8 meters westward, and finally, 3 meters westward. You are able to finish your
exercise in 45 minutes. For this motion,
a. What is your speed?
b. What is your velocity?

Solution:

(a) Speed is the rate of change of distance. We will be using the formula provided above.

Please also note that the time should always be in seconds, so we convert first the given time which is
45mins.

Converting, 1 min = 60 seconds.

45 mins = 2700 seconds

We have already calculated the distance in (3a), which is 66 m. So, calculating for the speed;

(b) Velocity is the rate of change of displacement. We will be using the formula provided above.

We have already calculated the displacement in 3b which is Δx = 14 m or 14 m East. So, calculating for
the velocity,

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Because velocity is a vector quantity, a direction should always be included in the final answer. It is a
positive velocity thus, your velocity is

0.00519 m/s East.

Acceleration, a

The last kinematic quantity that we are going to talk about is acceleration. Acceleration is
a VECTOR quantity that describes the rate at which the velocity changes. It describes how fast an object
is speeding up (accelerating), slowing down (decelerating), or changing its direction. The unit for
acceleration in m/s2. The greater the acceleration, the greater the change in velocity over a given time.
The formula is given by:
Δ𝑣 𝑣 − 𝑣
𝑎= =
Δ𝑡 𝑡 −𝑡

Figure 1. 7 A plane decelerates, or slows down, as it comes in for landing in St. Maarten. Its acceleration is opposite
in direction to its velocity. (credit: Steve Conry, Flickr)

 Accelerating - positive acceleration

o The final velocity is greater than the initial velocity, thus the change in velocity is positive
o Example:
 You are riding your car with a velocity of 50 m/s going East. Then after stepping
on the gas pedal, your velocity changed to 80 m/s within 5 seconds.
 Decelerating - negative acceleration
o The final velocity is less than the initial velocity, thus the change in velocity is negative
o Example:
 You are riding your car with a velocity of 50 m/s going East. When you saw that
the traffic light is at red, you step on the brakes until you stop within 3 seconds.

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Some are often confused about the meaning and the use of the quantity acceleration. Some might say
that once an object is moving very fast it is already accelerating. But you must remember that acceleration
is not about moving very fast or moving very slow. An object can move very fast but still not be
accelerating or decelerating. Acceleration will only happen if there is change velocity over a period of time.

Example:

5. A racehorse coming out of the gate accelerates from rest to a velocity of 15.0 m/s due west in
1.80 s. What is its average acceleration?

Solution:

Identifying the given,

 v0 = 0,
 vf = 15.0 m/s
 Δt = 1.80 s.

Substituting to the formula,

Δ𝑣 −15 − 0
= = = −8.33𝑚/𝑠
Δ𝑡 1.80

Learning Activity 1.2

Now You Try!

Solve the following problems.

1. A football coach walks 18 meters westward, then 12 meters eastward, then 28 meters
westward, and finally 14 meters eastward. For this motion,
a. What is the distance traveled?
b. What is the displacement?
c. What is the coach's speed?
d. What is the coach's velocity?

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2. A jogger runs 224 meters eastward, then 156 meters westward, then 84 meters eastward,
and finally 248 meters westward. For this motion,
a. What is the distance traveled?
b. What is the displacement?
c. What is the jogger's speed?
d. What is the velocity?

V. Motion in Constant Acceleration

In the previous discussion, we have talked about the basic quantities we use in describing motion. As we
have discussed, you can describe any motion using words, numbers, graphs, equations etc. In this section,
we will be focusing on describing motions with constant acceleration using the Kinematic Equations.
Kinematic equations link the different motion quantities (position, displacement, velocity, time, and
acceleration) to another. There are four (4) kinematic equations being utilized by scientists and engineers
to predict an unknown kinematic quantity when other quantities are known.

Figure 1. 8 Kinematic equations can help us describe and predict the motion of moving objects such as these kayaks
racing in Newbury, England. (credit: Barry Skeates, Flickr)

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Motion with Constant Acceleration

Watch: What is Motion with Constant Acceleration?

Describing Motion using Kinematic Equations

Watch: Kinematics Equations

Summary of Kinematics Equations

1. 𝑣 = 𝑣 + 𝑎𝑡

This equation gives the following insights into the relationship between displacement,
average velocity, and time:
 final velocity depends on how large the acceleration is and how long it lasts
 if the acceleration is zero, then the final velocity equals the initial velocity, or the
velocity is constant
 if a is negative, then the final velocity is less than the initial velocity

2. 𝑥 − 𝑥 = 𝑣 +𝑣 𝑡

This equation gives the following insights into the relationship between displacement,
average velocity, and time:
 displacement is a linear function of average velocity – displacement depends on v
 When graphed, linear functions look like straight lines with a constant slope.

3. 𝑥 − 𝑥 = 𝑣 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡

This equation gives the following insights into the relationship between displacement,
average velocity, and time:
 displacement depends on the square of the elapsed time when acceleration is not
zero.
 if acceleration is zero, then the initial velocity equals average velocity

4. 𝑣 = 𝑣 + 2𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑥 )

This equation gives the following insights into the relationship between displacement,
average velocity, and time:
 The final velocity depends on how large the acceleration is and the distance over
which it acts
 For a fixed deceleration, a car that is going twice as fast doesn’t simply stop in twice
the distance—it takes much further to stop.

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Problem Solving: Motion with Constant Acceleration

Problem-solving skills are obviously essential to success in a quantitative course in physics. More
importantly, the ability to apply broad physical principles, usually represented by equations, to specific
situations is a very powerful form of knowledge. It is much more powerful than memorizing a list of facts.
Analytical skills and problem-solving abilities can be applied to new situations, whereas a list of facts
cannot be made long enough to contain every possible circumstance. Such analytical skills are useful both
for solving problems in this text and for applying physics in everyday and professional life.

Problem – Solving Steps

1. Read the problem
2. Draw a diagram
Choose a coordinate system, label initial and final points, indicate
a positive direction for velocities and accelerations
3. Label all quantities, be sure all the units are consistent
Convert if necessary
4. Choose the appropriate kinematic equation.
5. Solve for the unknowns
You may have to solve two equations for two unknowns
6. Check your results.

Examples:

1. A motorcyclist heading east through a small town accelerates at a constant 4.0 m/s 2 after he leaves
the city limits. At time t = 0 he is 5.0 m east of the city-limits signpost while he moves east at 15 m/s.
a. Find his position and velocity at t = 2.0 s.
b. Where is he when his speed is 25 m/s?

Solution:

Watch: Kinematics: Sample Problem 1

2. Suppose a car merges into freeway traffic on a 200-m-long ramp. If its initial velocity is 10.0 m/s and
it accelerates at 2.00 m/s2, how long does it take to travel the 200 m up the ramp? (Such information
might be useful to a traffic engineer.)

Solution:

1. Read the problem

2. Draw a diagram

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We are asked to solve for the time t. As before, we identify the known quantities in order to
choose a convenient physical relationship.

3. Label all quantities, be sure all the units are consistent

v0 = 10 m/s

a = 2.00 m/s2

x = 200 m

4. Choose the appropriate kinematic equation.

1
𝑥 − 𝑥 = 𝑣 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡
2
5. Solve for the unknowns
1
200 − 0 = (10𝑚/𝑠)𝑡 + (2.00𝑚/𝑠 )𝑡
2
This yields two solutions for t, which are

t = 10.0 s and t = −20.0 s

A negative value for time is unreasonable, since it would mean that the event happened 20 s
before the motion began. We can discard that solution. Thus,

t = 10.0s

3. An antelope moving with constant acceleration covers the distance between two points 70.0 m
apart in 6.00 s. Its velocity as it passes the second point is 15.0 m/s. What are
a. its speed at the first point and
b. its acceleration?

Solution:

1. Read the problem

An antelope moving with constant acceleration covers the distance between two points 70.0 m
apart in 6.00 s. Its velocity as it passes the second point is 15.0 m/s. What are

(a) its velocity at the first point and

(b) its acceleration?

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2. Draw a diagram

Let all quantities going to the right/east be positive.

3. Label all quantities, be sure all the units are consistent

4. Choose the appropriate kinematic equation.

What is required? For a, initial position

What are the given?

5. Solve for the unknowns

1
𝑥 −𝑥 = 𝑣 +𝑣 𝑡
2
Substitute the given to the formula we have chosen,
1
70 − 0 = (𝑣 + 15)(6)
2
Solving it algebraically

𝑣 = 8.33 𝑚/𝑠
When writing answers, don’t forget to put the units.

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For b:

5. Choose the appropriate kinematic equation.

What is required? For b, acceleration

6. Solve for the unknowns

𝑣 = 𝑣 + 𝑎𝑡

Substitute the given to the formula we have chosen,

15 = 8.33 + 𝑎(6)
Solving it algebraically

𝑎 = 1.11 𝑚/𝑠
When writing answers, don’t forget to put the units.

Learning Activity 1.3

Now You Try!

Solve the following problems.

1. A jet plane starts from rest and then proceeds to travel 180 m down the runway for 10 s before
finally taking off after off. If it moves in constant acceleration, what is its velocity in when it takes
off?

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2. A bullet train starts from rest at a station and accelerates at a rate of 1.30 m/s2 for a duration of
16.0 s. Afterward, it continues to run at a constant velocity for 85.0 s. Then, it decelerates at a rate
of 2.8 m/s2 until it stops at the next station. What is the train's final position?

3. A car that is smoothly slowing down to a final velocity of 1.80 m/s was able to cover 55 m in 8.5 s.
a. Find its original speed.
b. Find its acceleration

VI. Freely – Falling Objects

Falling objects form an interesting class of motion problems. For example, we can estimate the depth of
a vertical mine shaft by dropping a rock into it and listening for the rock to hit the bottom. By applying the
kinematics developed so far to falling objects, we can examine some interesting situations and learn much
about gravity in the process.

Gravity

The most remarkable and unexpected fact about falling objects is that, if air resistance and friction are
negligible, then in any given location all objects fall toward the center of Earth with the same constant
acceleration, independent of their mass. This experimentally determined fact is unexpected, because we
are so accustomed to the effects of air resistance and friction that we expect light objects to fall slower
than heavy ones.

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Figure 1. 9 A hammer and a feather will fall with the same constant acceleration if air resistance is considered
negligible. This is a general characteristic of gravity not unique to Earth, as astronaut David R. Scott demonstrated
on the Moon in 1971, where the acceleration due to gravity is only 1.67 m/s 2.

In the real world, air resistance can cause a lighter object to fall slower than a heavier object of the same
size. A tennis ball will reach the ground after a hard baseball dropped at the same time. Air resistance
opposes the motion of an object through the air, while friction between objects—such as between clothes
and a laundry chute or between a stone and a pool into which it is dropped—also opposes motion
between them.

The force of gravity causes objects to fall toward the center of Earth. The acceleration of free-falling
objects is therefore called the acceleration due to gravity. It is constant, which means we can apply the
kinematics equations to any falling object where air resistance and friction are negligible. This opens a
broad class of interesting situations to us. The acceleration due to gravity is so important that its
magnitude is given its own symbol, g. It is constant at any given location on Earth and has the average
value g = 9.80 m/s2. The direction of g is downward towards the center of Earth.

Free Fall

Free - fall is a special case of motion with constant acceleration. A freely falling object is an object falling
with no other force except the force of gravity. All freely - falling objects are characterized by the following:

 When considering free - fall, we do not consider air resistance. We can ignore air resistance
because in many situations it doesn't make a large difference in our calculations.
 In Free - Fall, the acceleration is not dependent on the mass because we don't consider the air
resistance. An object with a mass of 1000 kg will have the same acceleration with a mass of 10 kg
on a Free - Fall.

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Figure 1. 10 (a) A person throws a rock straight up. The arrows are velocity vectors at 0, 1.00, 2.00, and 3.00 s. (b)
A person throws a rock straight down from a cliff with the same initial speed as before, as in Example 2.15. Note
that at the same distance below the point of release, the rock has the same velocity in both cases.

Solving Problems Involving Free – Fall

Watch: Free – Fall

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Kinematics Equations

𝑣 = 𝑣 + 𝑎𝑡 𝑣 = 𝑣 + 𝑔𝑡
1 1
𝑥 −𝑥 = 𝑣 +𝑣 𝑡 𝑦 −𝑦 = 𝑣 +𝑣 𝑡
2 2
1 1
𝑥 − 𝑥 = 𝑣 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑣 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2 2
𝑣 = 𝑣 + 2𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑥 ) 𝑣 = 𝑣 + 2𝑔(𝑦 − 𝑦 )

Example:

1. A brick is dropped (zero initial speed) from the roof of a building. The brick strikes the ground in 1.90
s. You may ignore air resistance, so the brick is in free fall.
a. How tall, in meters, is the building?
b. What is the magnitude of the brick’s velocity just before it reaches the ground?

Solution:

Watch: Sample Problem: Object "Dropped" From a Height

2. An egg is thrown nearly vertically upward from a point near the cornice of a tall building. The egg just
misses the cornice on the way down and passes a point 30.0 m below its starting point 5.00 s after it
leaves the thrower’s hand. Ignore air resistance.
a. What is the initial velocity of the egg?
b. How high does it rise above its starting point?
c. What is the acceleration at the highest point?

Solution:

Watch: Sample Problem: Object "Thrown" Vertically Upward

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Learning Activity 1.4

Now You Try!

Solve the following problems.

1. You throw a tennis ball vertically downward from a building roof. The ball left your hand at a
velocity of 3.5 m/s. Ignoring air resistance so that the ball is in free fall, find:
a. the velocity and position of the ball after 5 seconds;
b. the velocity of the ball after falling 5 m.

2. You throw a ball vertically upward from a 50 - m building roof. The ball left your hand at a
velocity of 20.0 m/s. On its way down, it just misses the roof. Ignoring air resistance so that the
ball is in free fall, determine:
a. the maximum height reached by the ball;
b. the time needed to reach the maximum height;
c. the time needed for the ball to reach the ground;
d. the final velocity of the ball.

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