College of Arts & Sciences

Department of Applied Sciences

ADU EmSAT Prep Course

1. Motion in 1D

Dr. Giovanni Piacentini

 Summary
• 1 - Systems of reference
• 2 - Position vs. time graphs
• 3 - Instantaneous and average velocity
• 4 - Acceleration
• 5 - Motion at Constant Acceleration
• 6 - Free falling objects
 1 - Systems of reference
When we want to describe the motion of an object, we need to introduce a reference frame (or frame of reference).

If the motion happen only in one dimension, the reference frame will take the form of an axis with a reference point
called the origin, which corresponds to the zero of our frame of reference.

The position x of an object at a certain instant of time t is defined as its location with respect to the reference frame.

Important:

The value of the position

depends on the reference
frame chosen to describe the
motion: if we change the
origin or the direction of the
reference frame, the position
will change accordingly.
 Displacement

Consider a person walking from position 𝑥1 = 10 𝑚 to position 𝑥2 = 70 𝑚 and then coming back to
𝑥3 = 40 𝑚 in 1 minute.

−40 −30 −20 −10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 x (m)

∆𝒙

• The displacement is how far the object is from the starting point:, ∆𝒙 = 𝒙𝒇 − 𝒙𝒊
regardless of the path it took to get there:

In this example, the displacement is: ∆𝑥 = 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥3 − 𝑥1 = +𝟑𝟎 𝒎

The displacement can be either positive or negative, because it is a vector quantity (vectors in 1D are
either positive or negative values).
Q1.1:
An ant starts at 𝑡 = 0 𝑠 at position 𝑥 = 20 𝑐𝑚 on a piece of paper. The ant then moves to a
position 𝑥 = −20 𝑐𝑚 at 𝑡 = 10 𝑠.
The ant then turns around and moves to a position 𝑥 = −10 𝑐𝑚 at 𝑡 = 15 𝑠.
What is the displacement 𝚫𝒙 of the ant between 𝑡 = 0 and 𝑡 = 15 𝑠?

a. 10 𝑐𝑚

b. 0 𝑐𝑚

c. −10 𝑐𝑚

d. −30 𝑐𝑚

e. 30 𝑐𝑚
 2 - Position vs time graphs
If we plot the position of an object with respect to a reference frame as a function of time, we obtain a
position vs. time graph or x-t graph.
From the x-t graph, it is possible to determine the position of the object at any time.

Example:
a. Determine the following positions:

• 𝑥 𝑡 =0𝑠 =𝑥 0𝑠 = 𝟎𝒎
• 𝑥 𝑡 =3𝑠 =𝑥 3𝑠 = 𝟔𝒎
• 𝑥 𝑡 =5𝑠 =𝑥 5𝑠 = 𝟔𝒎
• 𝑥 𝑡 =8𝑠 =𝑥 8𝑠 = 𝟑𝒎

b. Find the displacement of the object between 𝑡1 = 0 𝑠 and 𝑡2 = 8 𝑠.

Displacement: ∆𝑥 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 = 𝑥 𝑡2 − 𝑥 𝑡1 = 𝑥 8 𝑠 − 𝑥 0 𝑠 = 3 𝑚 − 0 𝑚 = 𝟑 𝒎
Q2.1:
The position of a person cycling back and forth
on a straight road is shown.
Find the displacement 𝚫𝒙 of the cyclist
between 10 and 55 𝑠.

a. 20 𝑚

b. 45 𝑚

c. 100 𝑚

d. −100 𝑚

e. −60 𝑚
Extra:
The x-t graph of an ant walking on the floor is plotted below.
a. Find the displacement of the ant between 1 𝑠 and 5 𝑠.
b. Determine the interval of time for which the ant is moving in the positive direction.
c. Determine the instant of time at which the ant changes direction.

[𝐚. −𝟖 𝐜𝐦, 𝐛. 𝟎 < 𝐭 < 𝟐 𝐬, 𝐜. 𝐭 = 𝟐𝐬]

 3 - Instantaneous and average velocity

• The average velocity 𝒗

ഥ, on the other hand, is the displacement divided by the time elapsed.

∆𝒙 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
ഥ=
𝒗 = (SI units: 𝒎/𝒔)
∆𝒕 𝒕𝟐 − 𝒕𝟏

The velocity can be either positive or negative, because it is a vector quantity (vectors in 1D are either
positive or negative values).
 Example:
Find the average velocity of the object between 𝑡1 = 1 𝑠 and 𝑡2 = 6 𝑠.

• The average velocity is:

P2
𝑥2
∆𝑥 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 3 𝑚
𝑣ҧ = = = = 𝟎. 𝟔 𝒎/𝒔
P1 ∆𝑡 𝑡2 − 𝑡1 5𝑠
𝑥1

𝑡1 𝑡2

Note that the average velocity correspond to the slope of the secant line connecting the points P1 and P2
on the x-t graph.
Q3.1:
The x-t graph of an ant walking in a straight
line is shown.
ഥ of the cyclist
Find the average velocity 𝒗
between 1 and 5 𝑠.

a. −2.5 𝑐𝑚/𝑠

b. 8 𝑐𝑚/𝑠

c. 2.5 𝑐𝑚/𝑠

d. −2 𝑐𝑚/𝑠

e. 2 𝑐𝑚/𝑠
Extra:
The x-t graph below (orange line) shows the motion of a car along the x axis.
a. Find the average speed of the car between points A and F
b. Find the average velocity of the car between the same points.

𝐦 𝐦
[𝐚. 𝟐. 𝟒 𝐬 , 𝐛. −𝟏. 𝟔 𝐬 ]
 Instantaneous Velocity
As the interval of time ∆𝒕 becomes smaller (i.e., 𝒕𝟐 approaches 𝒕𝟏 ), the secant line approaches the tangent line at 𝑃1 :
the slope of the tangent line at 𝑷𝟏 is the instantaneous velocity or just velocity the object at the instant 𝒕𝟏 .

Instantaneous velocity

∆𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒗 = lim =
∆𝒕→𝟎 ∆𝒕 𝒅𝒕

In other words, the instantaneous velocity at a time 𝒕𝟏 is the derivative of the position 𝒙 with respect to the time 𝒕,
calculated at time 𝒕𝟏 .

The instantaneous velocity at time 𝒕𝟏 corresponds to the slope of the tangent to the x-t graph at 𝒕𝟏 .

The instantaneous speed is simply defined as the magnitude of the instantaneous velocity: 𝒔= 𝒗
Example:
The position of a particle varies with time according to the graph below.
a. Determine the sign of the instantaneous velocity 𝒗 of the particle at 𝑡 = 3 𝑠, 𝑡 = 4 𝑠 and 𝑡 = 8 𝑠.
b. Find the average velocity 𝒗 ഥ between 𝑡1 = 3 𝑠 and 𝑡2 = 8 𝑠.
𝑑𝑥
a. The instantaneous velocity is 𝑣 = , or the slope of the tangent line at 𝑡.
𝑑𝑡

• The instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 3 𝑠 is negative: 𝑣(3𝑠) < 0.

A negative velocity means that the particle is moving towards the

negative direction of the x axis (“backwards”).

• The instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 4 𝑠 is zero: 𝑣 4 𝑠 = 0.

A zero velocity means that the particle is instantaneously motionless.

• The instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 8 𝑠 is positive: 𝑣 8 𝑠 > 0.

A positive velocity means that the particle is moving towards the

positive direction of the x axis (“forwards”).

∆𝑥 𝑥 8 𝑠 −𝑥(3 𝑠) 0− −15 𝑚
b. The average velocity of the particle between 3 and 8 s is: 𝑣ҧ = = = = 3 𝑚/𝑠.
∆𝑡 8 𝑠−3 𝑠 5𝑠
Q3.2:
The x-t graph of an object is shown.
Find the interval of time where the object has a
negative (instantaneous) velocity.

a. 8 < 𝑡 < 12 𝑠

b. 5 < 𝑡 < 10 𝑠

c. 0 < 𝑡 < 3 𝑠

d. 5 < 𝑡 < 12 𝑠

e. 0 < 𝑡 < 10 𝑠
Q3.3:
The x-t graph of an object is shown.
Find instants of time where the object has a
zero (instantaneous) velocity.

a. 𝑡 = 3 𝑠, 𝑡 = 8 𝑠, 𝑡 = 12 𝑠

b. 𝑡 = 0 𝑠

c. 𝑡 = 5 𝑠, 𝑡 = 10 𝑠

d. 𝑡 = 0 𝑠, 𝑡 = 5 𝑠

e. 𝑡 = 0 𝑠, 𝑡 = 3 𝑠
Extra:
The x-t graph of an object moving along the axis is shown below.
a. Determine the (approximate) intervals of time in which the particle has positive velocity.
b. Determine the (approximate) intervals of time where the particle has negative velocity.
c. What are the instants where the particle changes direction?

[𝐚. 𝟏 𝐬 < 𝐭 < 𝟑. 𝟓 𝐬, 𝐛. 𝟎 < 𝐭 < 𝟏 𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭 > 𝟑. 𝟓 𝐬, 𝐜. 𝟏 𝐬, 𝟑. 𝟓 𝐬]

 4 - Acceleration
• The average acceleration 𝒂ഥ is defined as the change in velocity ∆𝒗 ∆𝒗 𝒗𝟐 − 𝒗𝟏
divided by the time interval ∆𝒕 during which that change occurred: ഥ=
𝒂 = (SI units: 𝒎/𝒔𝟐 )
∆𝒕 𝒕𝟐 − 𝒕𝟏

• The instantaneous acceleration 𝒂 (or just acceleration), on the other ∆𝑣 𝒅𝒗

hand, is the derivative of the velocity with respect to the time: 𝒂 = lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝒅𝒕

Therefore, the (instantaneous)

acceleration is the slope of the
v-t graph at time t.

Just like the velocity, the acceleration is a vector quantity: in

1D it can be either positive or negative depending on the
direction it points to.
Q3.4:
The v-t graph of an object is shown.
Find the interval of time where the object has a
positive (instantaneous) acceleration.

a. 0 < 𝑡 < 2 𝑠

b. 𝑡 > 2 𝑠

c. 0 < 𝑡 < 4 𝑠

d. 𝑡 > 4 𝑠

e. 2 < 𝑡 < 4 𝑠
Q3.5:
The v-t graph of an object is shown.
Find the interval of time where the object has a
zero (instantaneous) acceleration.

a. 𝑡 = 2 𝑠, 𝑡 = 4 𝑠

b. 𝑡 = 0 𝑠, 𝑡 = 4 𝑠

c. 𝑡 = 0 𝑠

d. 𝑡 = 4 𝑠

e. 𝑡 = 2 𝑠
 5 - Motion at Constant Acceleration
If the acceleration of an object doesn’t change over time, then it is easy to derive the equations of motion for the object.

The equations of motion are the equations that describe the position and velocity of the object at any instant of time.
𝒕 𝒕
𝒅𝒗
Since 𝒂 = , then: 𝒗 − 𝒗𝟎 = න 𝒂𝒅𝒕 = න 𝒂𝒅𝒕 If we consider the initial instant to be 𝒕𝟎 = 𝟎.
𝒅𝒕
𝒕𝟎 𝟎

Since the acceleration a is constant, we obtain: 𝒗 − 𝒗𝟎 = 𝒂𝒕

This is the equation of motion for the velocity

Rearranging the equation, we obtain: 𝒗 = 𝒗𝟎 + 𝒂𝒕 for a one-dimensional motion with constant
acceleration.

In this equation:

• 𝒗𝟎 = 𝒗(𝒕 = 𝟎) is the initial velocity of the object.

• 𝒗 = 𝒗(𝒕) is velocity at a time 𝒕.
• 𝒂 is the constant acceleration.
In the same way, we can find the position of the object as a function of time by integrating the velocity:

𝒕 𝒕
𝒅𝒙 𝟏
Since 𝒗 = , then: 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 = න 𝒗𝒅𝒕 = න (𝒗𝟎 +𝒂𝒕)𝒅𝒕 We therefore obtain: 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 = 𝒗𝟎 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕𝟐
𝒅𝒕
𝟎 𝟎 𝟐

Rearranging the 𝟏 𝟐 1 2
equation, we obtain: 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕 Or alternatively: ∆𝑥 = 𝑣0 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡
𝟐 2

This is the equation of motion for the position for a one-dimensional motion
with constant acceleration.

In this equation:

• 𝒙𝟎 = 𝒙(𝒕 = 𝟎) is the initial position of the object.

• 𝒙 = 𝒙(𝒕) is position at a time 𝒕.
• ∆𝒙 = 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 is the displacement between 0 and 𝑡.
To summarize, the equations of motion of an object moving with constant acceleration in 1D are the
following:

Position as a 𝟏 𝟐 Displacement as a 𝟏 𝟐
function of time
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕 function of time
𝚫𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕
𝟐 𝟐

Velocity as a
function of time 𝒗 = 𝒗𝟎 + 𝒂𝒕

Velocity as a function Obtained by substituting the

of position 𝒗𝟐 𝟐
− 𝒗𝟎 = 𝟐𝒂 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 equation for 𝑣 into eq. for 𝑥.
Q5.1:
A car starts from a position of 60 𝑚 with an initial velocity of 3 𝑚/𝑠 along the positive x
axis and accelerates uniformly with a constant acceleration of 2 𝑚/𝑠 2 .
Find the position and velocity of the car after 4 𝑠.

a. 104 𝑚, 11 𝑚/𝑠

b. 88 𝑚, 8 𝑚/𝑠

c. 28 𝑚, 8 𝑚/𝑠

d. 28 𝑚, 11 𝑚/𝑠

e. 88 𝑚, 11 𝑚/𝑠
Q5.2:
A car, initially driving at a speed of 18 𝑚/𝑠, starts decelerating (negative acceleration) at
3.2 𝑚/𝑠 2 until it stops.
Determine how far did the car travel before stopping (i.e.: find 𝚫𝒙).

a. 2070 𝑚

b. 51 𝑚

c. 101 𝑚

d. −100 𝑚

e. −50.6 𝑚
Q5.3:
An object starts from the origin with an initial velocity of 22 𝑚/𝑠. The object is subject to a
constant deceleration of 4 𝑚/𝑠 2 .
Determine the time and position at which the object changes direction (𝒗 = 𝟎).

a. 4.3 𝑠, 181 𝑚

b. 5.5 𝑠, 181 𝑚

c. 5.5 𝑠, 61 𝑚

d. 4.3 𝑠, 0 𝑚

e. 0 𝑠, 61 𝑚
Q5.4:
An object in the positive direction of the x axis with a constant negative acceleration of
− 5.0 𝑚/𝑠 2 . At 𝑡 = 6.0 𝑠, the object changes direction, and at 𝑡 = 10.0 𝑠, the object is in
the position 𝑥 = 650 𝑚.
What was the position of the object at 𝑡 = 0 𝑠?

a. 600 𝑚

b. 50 𝑚

c. −250 𝑚

d. 250 𝑚

e. 350 𝑚
Extra:
A car starts from a position of 60 𝑚 with an initial velocity of 3 𝑚/𝑠 along the positive x axis and accelerates uniformly with
a constant acceleration of 2 𝑚/𝑠 2 .
a. Find the position and velocity of the car after 4 𝑠.
b. Find the displacement after 4 𝑠 (i.e., the displacement between 0 𝑠 and 4 𝑠).
c. Find the displacement between 4 𝑠 and 5 𝑠.
𝐦
[𝐚. 𝟖𝟖 𝐦, 𝟏𝟏 𝐬 ; 𝐛. 𝟐𝟖 𝐦; 𝐜. 𝟏𝟐 𝐦;]

Extra:
The driver of a car moving with initial velocity of 20.0 m/s spots a cat in the middle of the road 80.0 𝑚 ahead.
a. Determine the minimum deceleration the driver must have in order not to hit the cat.
b. Determine the time it takes for the car to stop.

𝐦
[𝐚. −𝟐. 𝟓 𝐬𝟐 ; 𝐛. 𝟖𝐬]
Extra:
An object moves with constant acceleration of 4.0 𝑚/𝑠 2 from an initial velocity of 12 𝑚/𝑠.
a. How long does it take for the object to travel 100.0 𝑚 in the positive direction of the x axis?
b. What is the velocity of the object after it travels 120 𝑚 in the positive direction of the x axis?

[𝐚. 𝟒. 𝟕 𝒔, 𝐛. 𝟑𝟑 𝒎/𝒔]

Extra:
The driver of a car slams on the brakes when he sees a tree blocking the road. The car slows uniformly with an acceleration
of 5.00𝑚/𝑠 2 for 5.00 𝑠, making straight skid marks 87.5 𝑚 long ending at the tree. With what speed does the car then
strike the tree?
[a. 𝟓. 𝟎𝟎 𝒎/𝒔]
 6 - Freely falling objects
In the absence of air resistance, all objects dropped near a planet’s surface fall toward the ground with the
same constant acceleration under the influence of gravity.
On Earth, the acceleration of gravity (near the surface) is: 𝒈 = 𝟗. 𝟖 𝒎/𝒔𝟐 .
The gravitational acceleration 𝒈 of the object is always directed downwards.

If the object is released from rest or it has no lateral component of its velocity, we can treat the motion of a
free-falling object as a one-dimensional motion with constant acceleration along the vertical direction
(usually described as the y direction).

𝑦
Usually, the zero of the system of reference 𝟏
𝑦0 𝒚 = 𝒚𝟎 + 𝒗𝟎 𝒕 − 𝒈𝒕𝟐
is placed on the ground, and the y axis is 𝟐
𝒈
directed upwards. 𝒗 = 𝒗𝟎 − 𝒈𝒕
𝒗𝟐 − 𝒗𝟎 𝟐 = −𝟐𝒈 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎
With these conventions, the acceleration
will be negative: 𝒂 = −𝒈. 𝟏
0 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 = 𝒗 + 𝒗𝟎 𝒕
𝟐
Q6.1:
An object is dropped from rest from a 120 m high cliff.
How long does it take for the object to reach the ground?

a. 4.95 𝑠

b. 24.5 𝑠

c. 3.12 𝑠

d. 7.24 𝑠

e. 29.1 𝑠
Q6.2:
A coin is dropped from rest from the top of Burj Khalifa (830 m tall).
What is the speed of the coin when it reaches the ground below (ignore air resistance)?

a. 65 𝑚/𝑠

b. 21.2 𝑚/𝑠

c. 1.63 ⋅ 104 𝑚/𝑠

d. 98 𝑚/𝑠

e. 128 𝑚/𝑠
Q6.3:
A 1.80 𝑚 tall person throws a rock upwards above his head at 20.0 𝑚/𝑠.
Determine the time it takes for the rock to reach the maximum height (at max height the
object changes direction, so 𝑣 = 0).

a. 196 𝑠

b. 6.3 𝑠

c. 0 𝑠

d. 2.04 𝑠

e. 9.8 𝑠
Q6.4:
A cannon on a 50 𝑚 tall tower is shot directly upwards. The shell leaves the barrel with a
muzzle speed of 100 𝑚/𝑠.
Determine the maximum height reached by the shell above the ground.

a. 480 𝑚

b. 560 𝑚

c. 50 𝑚

d. 510 𝑚

e. 610 𝑚
Q6.5:
A person jumps from a 70 𝑚 tall cliff diving downwards at a speed of 4 𝑚/𝑠.
Determine how long it takes for the person to reach the water below.

a. 4.2 𝑠

b. 0.82 𝑠

c. 2.6 𝑠

d. 1.9 𝑠

e. 3.4 𝑠
Q6.6:
A small rock is shot with a sling upwards from the roof of a 30 𝑚 tall building.
The rock reaches a maximum height of 50 𝑚 above the ground below (base of the
building).
How long does the rock stay in the air?

a. 3.7 𝑠

b. 5.8 𝑠

c. 5.2 𝑠

d. 3.2 𝑠

e. 4.04 𝑠
Extra:
A person jumps off a 35 m cliff, hitting the water below after 2.5 s.
a. Find the initial velocity of the jumper.
b. Find the velocity with which he hit the water.
𝒎
[𝐚. −𝟏. 𝟕𝟓 𝒔 , 𝐛. −𝟐𝟔. 𝟑 𝒎/𝒔]

Extra:
a. With what speed must a ball be thrown vertically from ground level to rise to a maximum height of 50 m?
b. How long will it be in the air?

𝒎
[𝐚. 𝟑𝟏. 𝟑 , 𝐛. 𝟔. 𝟑𝟗 𝒔]
𝒔
Extra:
An object is thrown vertically upwards from the roof of a 150.0 m tall building with an initial
velocity 𝑣0 . The object falls back down reaching the same height it was thrown from after 5.00 s.
The object then continues to fall down until it hits the ground.
a. Find the time it takes for the object to hit the ground.
b. Find the total distance covered by the object.

[𝐚. 𝟖. 𝟓𝟕 𝒔, 𝐛. 𝟐𝟏𝟏 𝒎]

Extra:
A ball is thrown upward with a speed of 15 𝑚/𝑠 from a 300 𝑚 tall cliff.
a. What is the velocity of the ball when it reaches a height ℎ = 40 𝑚 above the ground?
b. What would the velocity of the ball at ℎ be if it was thrown downwards instead of upwards with the same speed?

𝒎 𝒎
[𝐚. −𝟕𝟑 𝒔
, 𝐛. −𝟕𝟑 𝒔
]