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 PHYSICS
Kinematics in
One Dimension

April 2012

www.njctl.org
 Setting the PowerPoint View
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Use Slide Show View to Administer Assessment Items

To administer the numbered assessment items in this
presentation, use the Slide Show view. (See Slide 16 for an
example.)
Table of Contents: Kinematics
Click on the topic to go to that section
·Motion in One Dimension
·Average Speed
·Positionand Reference Frames
·Displacement

·Average Velocity
·Instantaneous Velocity
·Acceleration

·Kinematics Equation 1
·Free Fall - Acceleration Due to Gravity
·Kinematics Equation 2
·Kinematics Equation 3
·Mixed Kinematics Problems
Motion in One Dimension

Return to
Table of
Contents
 Distance

We all know what the distance between two objects is...

So what is it?
What is distance?
What is length?

ALSO - you can't use the words "distance" or "length" in your

definition; that would be cheating.
 Distance

As you can see from your efforts, it is impossible to define distance.

Distance is a fundamental part of nature. It is so fundamental that it's

impossible to define. Everyone knows what distance is, but no one
can really say what it is.

However, distances can be compared.

 Distance

We can compare the distance between two objects to the

distance between two other objects.

For convenience, we create standard distances so that we can

easily make comparisons... and tell someone else about them.

We will be using the meter as our unit for measuring distance.

It's just that it's been accepted as a universal standard, so
everyone knows what it is.

This doesn't define distance, but it allows us to work with it.

 Distance

We'll be using meter as our standard for measuring distance.

The symbol for distance is "d".

And the unit for the meter is "m“.

d = 0.2 m
 Time

Similarly, everyone knows what time is...

But try defining it; what is time?

Remember you can't use the word "time"

or an equivalent to the word "time", in your definition.
 Time

Like distance, time is a fundamental aspect of nature.

It is so fundamental that it's impossible to define. Everyone knows

what time is, but no one can really say what it is...

However, like distances, times can be compared.

 Time
We can say that in the time it took to run around the track, the
second hand of my watch went around once...so my run took 60
seconds. When we compare the time between two events to the
time between two other events, we are measuring time.

This doesn't
define time,
but it allows us
to work with it.
 Time
We will be using the second as our standard for measuring time.

The symbol for time is "t"

The unit for a second is "s".

t = 10s

click here for a

"minute physics"
on measuring time
and distance
 Speed

Speed is defined as the distance traveled divided by the

time it took to travel that distance.

speed = distance
time

s = d
t

Speed is not a fundamental aspect of nature,

it is the ratio of two things that are.
 Speed
The units of speed can be seen by substituting the units for
distance and time into the equation
s=d
t

meters
second

m
s We read this unit as
"meters per second"
1 A car travels at a constant speed of 10m/s. This
means the car:
c A increases its speed by 10m every second.
c B decreases its speed by 10m every second.

c C moves with an acceleration of 10 meters

every second.

c D moves 10 meters every second.

2 A rabbit runs a distance of 60 meters in 20 s; what
is the speed of the rabbit?
3 A car travels at a speed of 40 m/s for 4.0 s;
what is the distance traveled by the car?
4 You travel at a speed of 20m/s for 6.0s; what
distance have you moved?
5 An airplane on a runway can cover 500 m in 10 s;
what is the airplane's average speed?
6 You travel at a constant speed of 20 m/s; how
much time does it take you to travel a distance of
120m?
7 You travel at a constant speed of 30m/s; how much
time does it take you to travel a distance of 150m?
Average Speed

Return to
Table of
Contents
 Average Speed

The speed we have been calculating is a constant speed over a

short period of time. Another name for this is instantaneous
speed.

If a trip has multiple parts, each part must be treated separately.

In this case, we can calculate the average speed for a total
trip.

Determine the average speed by finding the total distance you

traveled and dividing that by the total time it took you to travel
that distance.
 Distance and Time Intervals

In physics we use subscripts in order to avoid any confusion

with different distances and time intervals.

For example: if an object makes a multiple trip that has three

parts we present them as d1, d2, d3 and the corresponding time
intervals t1, t2, t3.
 Average Speed & Non-Uniform Motion
The following pattern of steps will help us to find the average
speed:

Find the total distance dtotal = d1+ d2+ d3

Find the total time ttotal = t1 + t2 + t3

Use the average speed formula

savg = dtotal
ttotal
Average Speed - Example 1

You ride your bike home from school

by way of your friend’s house. It
takes you 7 minutes (420 s) to travel
the 2500 m to his house. You spend
10 minutes (600 s) there, before
traveling 3500 m to your house in 9
minutes (540 s). What was your
average speed for this trip?

To keep things clear, we

can use a table to keep
track of the information...
 Example 1 - Step 1

Write the given information in the table below:

You ride your bike home

Segment Distance Time Speed from school by way of your
(m) (s) (m/s) friend’s house. It takes you 7
minutes (420 s) to travel the
I
2500 m to his house. You
II spend 10 minutes (600 s)
there, before traveling 3500
III
m to your house in 9
Total /Avg. minutes (540 s). What was
your average speed for this
trip?
 Example 1 - Step 2

Next, use the given information to find the total distance

and total time

Segment Distance Time Speed You ride your bike home

from school by way of your
(m) (s) (m/s)
friend’s house. It takes you 7
I 2500m 420 s minutes (420 s) to travel the
2500 m to his house. You
II 0m 600 s spend 10 minutes (600 s)
III 3500m 540 s there, before traveling 3500
m to your house in 9
Total /Avg. minutes (540 s). What was
your average speed for this
trip?
 Example 1 - Step 2

Next, use the given information to find the total distance

and total time

Segment Distance Time Speed You ride your bike home

(m) (s) (m/s) from school by way of your
friend’s house. It takes you 7
I 2500m 420 s minutes (420 s) to travel the
2500 m to his house. You
II 0m 600 s
spend 10 minutes (600 s)
III 3500m 540 s there, before traveling 3500
m to your house in 9
Total /Avg. 6000m 1560s minutes (540 s). What was
your average speed for this
trip?
 Example 1 - Step 3

Next use total distance and time to find average speed.

Segment Distance Time Speed You ride your bike home

from school by way of your
(m) (s) (m/s) friend’s house. It takes you 7
I 2500m 420 s minutes (420 s) to travel the
2500 m to his house. You
II 0m 600 s spend 10 minutes (600 s)
there, before traveling 3500
III 3500m 540 s m to your house in 9 minutes
(540 s). What was your
Total /Avg. 6000m 1560s average speed for this trip?
 Example 1 - Solution
Next use total distance and time to find average speed.

Segment Distance Time Speed You ride your bike home

from school by way of your
(m) (s) (m/s)
friend’s house. It takes you 7
I 2500m 420 s minutes (420 s) to travel the
2500 m to his house. You
II 0m 600 s spend 10 minutes (600 s)
III 3500m 540 s there, before traveling 3500
m to your house in 9 minutes
Total /Avg. 6000m 1560s 3.85 (540 s). What was your
m/s average speed for this trip?
 Example 2

Segment Distance Time Speed

You run a distance of 210
(m) (s) (m/s)
m at a speed of 7 m/s. You
I then jog a distance of
800 m in a time of 235 s.
II
Finally, you run for 25s at a
III speed of 6 m/s. What was
Total /Avg. the average speed of your
total run?
 Example 2 - Reflection

Segment Distance Time Speed

(m) (s) (m/s) What happens when you take

the 'average' (arithmetic
I 210 30 7
mean) of the speed for each
II 800 235 3 leg of the trip? Is it the same
III 150 25 6 as the average speed?

Total /Avg. 1160 290 4

Why do you think this happens?

Position and Reference Frames

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Table of
Contents
 Position and Reference Frames

Speed, distance and time didn't require us to define where we

started and where we ended up. They just measure how far we
traveled and how long it took to travel that far.

However, much of physics is about knowing where something is

and how its position changes with time.

To define position we have to use a reference frame.

 Position and Reference Frames
A reference frame lets us define where an object is located, relative
to other objects.

For instance, we can use a map to compare the

location of different cities, or a globe to
compare the location of different continents.

However, not every reference frame is appropriate for every

problem.
 Reference Frame Activity

Send a volunteer out of the classroom to wait for further

instructions.

Place an object somewhere in your classroom. Write specific

directions for someone to be able to locate the object

Write them in a way that allows you to hand them to someone

who can then follow them to the object.
Remember: you can't tell them the name of something your object is
near, just how they have to move to get to it. For instance 'walk to
the SmartBoard' is not a specific direction.

Test your directions out on your classmate, (who is hopefully

still in the hallway!)
 Reference Frame Activity - Reflection
In your groups, make a list of the things you needed to
include in your directions in order to successfully locate the
object in the room.

As a class, discuss your findings.

 Results - Reference Frames

You probably found that you needed:

A starting point (an origin)

A set of directions (for instance left-right, forward-backward, up-down)

A unit of measure (to dictate how far to go in each direction)

 Results - Reference Frames

In this course, we'll usually:

Define the origin as a location labeled "zero"

Create three perpendicular axes : x, y and z for direction

Use the meter as our unit of measure

 The Axis
In this course, we will be solving problems in one-dimension.

Typically, we use the x-axis for that direction.

+x will usually be to the right

-x would then be to the left

-x +x

We could define it the opposite way, but unless specified

otherwise, this is what we'll assume. We also can think about
compass directions in terms of positive and negative. For
example, North would be positive and South negative.

The symbol for position is "x".

8 All of the following are examples of positive direction
except:

A to the right

B north

C west

D up
Displacement

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Table of
Contents
 Displacement

Now that we understand how to define position, we can talk

about a change in position; a displacement.

The symbol for "change" is the Greek letter "delta" "Δ".

So "Δx" means the change in x or the change in position

 Displacement
+y
Displacement describes how far
you are from where you started,
regardless of how you got there.

-x +x

-y
 Displacement +y

For instance, if you drive 60 miles

from Pennsylvania to New
Jersey...
-x x 0
+x
(In physics,
we label the
starting
-y position x0)
 Displacement +y

and then 20 miles back toward

Pennsylvania.

-x x +x
0
x
f

(We also
label the final
-y position xf )
 Displacement

You have traveled: +y

a distance of 80 miles, and

a displacement of 40 miles,
-x x 0 x f
+x
since that is how far you are from
where you started

-y

we can calculate displacement with the following formula:

Δx = Xf - Xo
 Displacement
Measurements of distance can only be positive values
(magnitudes) since it is impossible to travel a negative
distance.

Imagine trying to measure a negative length with a meter stick...

 Displacement
However, displacement can be positive or negative since you
can end up to the right or left of where you started.
+y +y

-x x o x f
+x -x x f x o +x

-y -y

Displacement is positive. Displacement is negative.

 Vectors and Scalars
Scalar - a quantity that has only a magnitude (number or value)

Vector - a quantity that has both a magnitude and a direction

Which of the following are vectors? Scalars?

Quantity Vector Scalar

Time
Distance
Displacement
Speed
9 How far your ending point is from your starting point is
known as:

A distance

B displacement

C a positive integer

D a negative integer
10 A car travels 60m to the right and then 30m to the
left. What distance has the car traveled?

-x +x
11 You travel 60m to the right and then 30m to the
left. What is the magnitude (and direction) of your
displacement?

-x +x
12 Starting from the origin, a car travels 4km east and
then 7 km west. What is the total distance
traveled?
A 3 km

B -3 km

C 7 km

D 11 km
13 Starting from the origin, a car travels 4km east and
then 7 km west. What is the net displacement
from the original point?
A 3 km west

B 3 km east

C 7 km west

D 11 km east
14 You run around a 400m track. At the end of your run,
what is the distance that you traveled?
15 You run around a 400m track. At the end of your run,
what is your displacement?
Average Velocity

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Table of
Contents
 Average Velocity

Speed is defined as the ratio of distance and time

distance traveled d
Average speed = s=
time elapsed t

Similarly, velocity is defined as the ratio of displacement and time

displacement Δx
Average velocity = v=
time elapsed Δt
 Average Velocity
Speeds are always positive, since speed is the ratio of distance and
time; both of which are always positive.

distance traveled d
Average speed = s=
t
time elapsed

But velocity can be positive or negative, since velocity is the ratio of

displacement and time; and displacement can be negative or
positive.
displacement Δx
Average velocity = v=
time elapsed Δt

Usually, right is positive and left is negative.

16 Which of the following is a vector quantity?

c A time

B velocity

c C distance

D speed
17 Average velocity is defined as change in ______
over a period of ______.
c
A distance, time
c
c B distance, space
c C displacement, time
c D displacement, space
19 You travel 60 meters to the right in 20 s; what is
your average velocity?
20 You travel 60 meters to the left in 20 s; what is
your average velocity?
21 You travel 60 meters to the left in 20 s and then you
travel 60 meters to the right in 30 s; what is your
average velocity?
22 You travel 60 meters to the left in 20 s and then
you travel 60 meters to the right in 30 s; what is
your average speed?
23 You run completely around a 400 m track in 80s.
What was your average speed?
24 You run completely around a 400 m track in 80s. What
was your average velocity?
25 You travel 160 meters in 60 s; what is your average
speed?
26 You travel 160 meters in 60 s; what is your average
speed?
Instantaneous Velocity

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Table of
Contents
 Instantaneous Velocity
Sometimes the average velocity is all we need to know
about an object's motion.
For example:
A race along a straight line is
really a competition to see whose
average velocity is the greatest.

The prize goes to the competitor

who can cover the displacement
in the shortest time interval.

But the average velocity of a moving object can't

tell us how fast the object moves at any given point
during the interval Δt.
 Instantaneous Velocity
Average velocity is defined as change in position over time.
This tells us the 'average' velocity for a given length or span
of time.

If we want to know the

speed or velocity of an
object at a specific point in
time (with this radar gun for
example), we want to know
the instantaneous velocity...

Watch what happens when we look for the instantaneous

velocity by reducing the amount of time we take to
measure displacement.
 Instantaneous Velocity

Displacement Time Velocity

100m 10 s

In an experiment, an object travels at a constant velocity.

Find the magnitude of the velocity using the data above.
 Instantaneous Velocity

Displacement Time Velocity

100m 10 s 10 m/s

10 m 1s

What happens if we measure the distance traveled in the same

experiment for only one second?

What is the velocity?

 Instantaneous Velocity

Displacement Time Velocity

100m 10 s 10 m/s

10 m 1s 10 m/s

0.001m 0.0001 s

What happens if we measure the distance traveled in the same

experiment for a really small time interval?

What is the velocity?

 Instantaneous Velocity
Displacement Time Velocity
100 m 10 s 10 m/s
10 m 1s 10 m/s
1.0 m 0.10 s 10 m/s
0.10 m 0.010 s 10 m/s
0.010 m 0.0010 s 10 m/s
0.0010 m 0.00010 s 10 m/s
0.00010 m 0.000010 s 10 m/s

Since we need time to measure velocity, we can't know the exact

velocity "at" a particular time... but if we imagine a really small value
of time and the distance traveled, we can estimate the instantaneous
velocity.
 Instantaneous Velocity
To describe the motion in greater detail, we need to define the
velocity at any specific instant of time or specific point along the
path. Such a velocity is called instantaneous velocity.

Note that the word instant has somewhat different meaning in

physics than in everyday language. Instant is not necessarily
something that is finished quickly. We may use the phrase "It
lasted just an instant" to refer to something that lasted for a very
short time interval.
 Instantaneous Velocity

In physics an instant has no duration at all;

it refers to a single value of time.

One of the most common examples we can use to understand

instantaneous velocity is driving a car and taking a quick look
on the speedometer.

At this point, we see the

instantaneous value of
the velocity.
 Instantaneous Velocity
The instantaneous velocity is the same as the magnitude of the
average velocity as the time interval becomes very very short.

Δx
v=
Δt as Δt 0
 Velocity Graphing Activity
The graph below shows velocity versus time.
v
(m/s)

t (s)

How do you know the velocity is constant?

 Velocity Graphing Activity

The graph below shows velocity versus time.

v
(m/s)

t (s)

When is the velocity increasing? Decreasing? Constant?

 Velocity Graphing Activity
4
a.) 3
Use the graph to determine the v
2
(m/s)
Average Velocity of (a) 1

t (s)

b.) 4
3
v 2
(m/s)
1

t (s)
 Velocity Graphing Activity
a.)
v 4
(m/s) 3

2 4 6
t (s)

Use the graph to determine the b.)

Average Velocity of (b)
v 4
(m/s) 3

2 4 6
t (s)
 Velocity Graphing Activity
a.)
v
Use the graph to determine the (m/s)
4

Instantaneous Velocity of (a) at 2

3

2
seconds 1

2 4 6
t (s)

b.)
v 4
(m/s) 3

2 4 6
t (s)
 Velocity Graphing Activity
a.)
v 4
(m/s) 3

2 4 6
t (s)

Use the graph to determine the

b.)
Instantaneous Velocity of (b) at 2
seconds v 4
(m/s) 3

2 4 6
t (s)
 Instantaneous Velocity
These graphs show (a) constant velocity and (b) varying velocity.

v
(m/s)
(a) When the velocity of a
moving object is a constant
the instantaneous velocity is
the same as the average. t (s)

v
(b) When the velocity of a (m/s)
moving object changes its
instantaneous velocity is
different from the average
t (s)
velocity.
Acceleration

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Table of
Contents
 Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

Δv v - vo
a= a=
Δt t

change of velocity
acceleration =
elapsed time
 Acceleration

v - vo
a=
t

Acceleration is a vector, although in one-dimensional motion

we only need the sign.

Since only constant acceleration will be considered in this

course, there is no need to differentiate between average
and instantaneous acceleration.
 Units for Acceleration

Units for acceleration

You can derive the units by substituting the correct units into
the right hand side of these equations.

Δv m/s 2
a= = m/s
Δt s
27 Acceleration is the rate of change of _________ .

c A displacement
c B distance

c C speed

c D velocity
28 The unit for velocity is:

c A m

c B m/s
2
c C m/s
2
c D ft/s
29 The metric unit for acceleration is:

c A m

c B m/s

c C m/s
2

2
c D ft/s
30 A horse gallops with a constant acceleration of
2
3m/s . Which statement below is true?
c A The horse's velocity doesn't change.

c B The horse moves 3m every second.

c C The horse's velocity increases 3m every second.

c D The horse's velocity increases 3m/s every second.

 Solving Problems
After you read the problem carefully:

1. Draw a diagram (include coordinate axes).

2. List the given information.

3. Identify the unknown (what is the question asking?)

4. Choose a formula (or formulas to combine)

5. Rearrange the equations to isolate the unknown variable.

6. Substitute the values and solve!

7. Check your work.

(You can do the same operations to the units to check your work ...
try it!)
31 Your velocity changes from 60 m/s to the right to 100 m/s
to the right in 20 s; what is your average acceleration?
32 Your velocity changes from 60 m/s to the right to
20 m/s to the right in 20 s; what is your average
acceleration?
33 Your velocity changes from 50 m/s to the left to 10 m/s to
the right in 15 s; what is your average acceleration?
34 Your velocity changes from 90 m/s to the right to 20
m/s to the right in 5.0 s; what is your average
acceleration?
Kinematics Equation 1

Return to
Table of
Contents
Motion at Constant Acceleration
Δv
a= but since "Δ" means change
Δt
Δv = v - vo and

Δt = t - to
v - vo
a=
t if we always let to = 0, Δt = t
at = v - vo
Solving for "v"
v - vo = at

v = vo + at
This equation tells us how an object's
velocity changes as a function of time.
35 2
Starting from rest, you accelerate at 4.0 m/s for 6.0s.
What is your final velocity?
36 2
Starting from rest, you accelerate at 8.0 m/s for
9.0s. What is your final velocity?
37 You have an initial velocity of 5.0 m/s. You then
2
experience an acceleration of -1.5 m/s for 4.0s;
what is your final velocity?
38 You have an initial velocity of -3.0 m/s. You then
2
experience an acceleration of 2.5 m/s for 9.0s;
what is your final velocity?
39 How much time does it take to accelerate from an
initial velocity of 20m/s to a final velocity of
2
100m/s if your acceleration is 1.5 m/s ?
40 How much time does it take to come to rest if your
initial velocity is 5.0 m/s and your acceleration is
2
-2.0 m/s ?
41 2
An object accelerates at a rate of 3 m/s for 6 s until it
reaches a velocity of 20 m/s. What was its initial
velocity?
 2
42 An object accelerates at a rate of 1.5 m/s for 4 s
until it reaches a velocity of 10 m/s. What was its
initial velocity?
 Graphing Motion at Constant Acceleration

In physics there is another approach in addition to algebraic which

is called graphical analysis. The formula v = v0 + at can be
interpreted by the graph. We just need to recall our memory from
math classes where we already saw a similar formula y = mx + b.

From these two formulas we can some analogies:

v ⇒ y (depended variable of x),

v0 ⇒ b (intersection with vertical axis),
t ⇒ x (independent variable),
a ⇒ m ( slope of the graph- the ratio between rise and run Δy/Δx).
 Motion at Constant Acceleration

Below we can find the geometric explanation to the acceleration

a =Δv/Δt which is the same a the slope of a given graph.
43 The velocity as a function of time is presented by
the graph. What is the acceleration?
44 The velocity as a function of time is presented by the
graph. Find the acceleration.
 Motion at Constant Acceleration
The acceleration graph as a function of time can be used to
find the velocity of a moving object. When the acceleration is
constant the velocity is changing by the same amount each
second. This can be shown on the graph as a straight
horizontal line.

In order to find the change is

velocity for a certain limit of
time we need to calculate the
area under the acceleration
line that is limited by the time
interval.
 Motion at Constant Acceleration

The change in velocity during

first 12 seconds is equivalent
to the shadowed area

(4m x 12s = 48m).

s2 s

The change in velocity during first 12 seconds is 48 m/s.

45 The following graph shows acceleration as a function of
time of a moving object. What is the change in velocity
during first 10 seconds?
 Free Fall:
Acceleration Due to Gravity

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Table of
Contents
 Free Fall
All unsupported objects fall towards Earth with the
same acceleration. We call this acceleration the
"acceleration due to gravity" and it is denoted by g.
2
g = 9.8 m/s

Keep in mind, ALL objects accelerate towards the

earth at the same rate.

g is a constant!
 It stops
What momentarily.
happens at the
v=0
top? 2
g = -9.8 m/s

It speeds up
What happens
(negative when
acceleration)
it goes down?
2
g = -9.8 m/s
It slows down.
What happens when
(negative acceleration)
it goes up? 2
g = -9.8 m/s

An object is thrown upward ItWhat

returns with itswhen
happens
with initial velocity, vo original
it lands?velocity.
 It stops momentarily.
v=0
2
g = -9.8 m/s

It speeds up.
It slows down. (negative acceleration)
2
(negative acceleration) g = -9.8 m/s
2
g = -9.8 m/s

An object is thrown upward It returns with its

with initial velocity, vo original velocity.
 On the way up: On the way down:
v0
v a t=3s v1 a t=0s

v2 a t=2s
v1 t=1s
v2
a a
v1
v2 t=1s
v2 t=2s
a v
v0 a
v1
t=0s v t=3s
 An object is thrown upward
with initial velocity, vo
For any object v
thrown straight up (m/s) It stops momentarily.
into the air, this is v=0
2
what the velocity g = -9.8 m/s
vs time graph
looks like. t (s)

It returns with its

original velocity but in
the opposite direction.
46 A ball is dropped from rest and falls (do not consider air
resistance). Which is true about its motion?

c A acceleration is constant
c B velocity is constant

c C velocity is decreasing

c D acceleration is decreasing
47 An acorn falls from an oak tree. You note that it takes 2.5
seconds to hit the ground. How fast was it going when it h
the ground?
48 A rock falls off a cliff and hits the ground 5
seconds later. What velocity did it hit the
ground with?
49 A ball is thrown down off a bridge with a velocity of 5
m/s. What is its velocity 2 seconds later?
50 An arrow is fired into the air and it reaches its
highest point 3 seconds later. What was its
velocity when it was fired?
51 A rocket is fired straight up from the ground. It
returns to the ground 10 seconds later. What was
it's launch speed?
Acceleration of a Bungee Jump

Now take what you have just

learned and contemplate a
question about acceleration in
the Veritasium video below:

Click here for the video

 Motion at Constant Acceleration

If velocity is changing at a constant rate, v + vo

the average velocity is just the average of v=
2
the initial and final velocities.
Δx
And we learned earlier that v=
t

Δx v + vo
=
t 2
Some problems can be solved
most easily by using these two
(v + vo)
equations together. Δx = t
2
52 Starting from rest you accelerate to 20 m/s in 4.0s.
What is your average velocity?
53 Starting with a velocity of 12 m/s you accelerate
to 48 m/s in 6.0s. What is your average velocity?
54 Starting with a velocity of 12 m/s you accelerate to
48 m/s in 6.0s. Using your previous answer, how
far did you travel in that 6.0s?

Previous Answer
average velocity = 30 m/s
Kinematics Equation 2

Return to
Table of
Contents
 Motion at Constant Acceleration

Δx v + vo
v= t v= v = vo + at
2
Δx = v t
x - xo = ½ (v + vo)t

x - xo = ½vt + ½vot

x = xo + ½vot + ½vt

x = xo + ½vot + ½(vo + at)t

2
x = xo + ½vot + ½vot + ½at We can combine these three
equations to derive an equation
2 which will directly tell us the position
x = xo + vot + ½at of an object as a function of time.
 Motion at Constant Acceleration
Graphical Approach

If the area under the graph is length x width

v (A = lw), then:
(m/s)
Δx
A = v0 t Since we know that v = ,
t
A = lw then area is really Δx.

t (s) A = Δx = v0t
 Motion at Constant Acceleration
Graphical Approach

v If the area under this graph is ½ base x

(m/s) height, then:
Δv
A = ½ t Δv Since we know that a = t ,
A = ½bh
Δv = at.
t (s) 2
A = Δx = ½t(at) = ½at
 Motion at Constant Acceleration
Graphical Approach

v Therefore, the area under a velocity vs.

(m/s) time graph is displacement. It can be
2 calculated by combining the previous two
½at results.
v0t
2
A = Δx = v0t + ½at
t (s)
2
x - x0 = v0t + ½at

2
x = x0 + v0t + ½at
55 An airplane starts from rest and accelerates at a
2
constant rate of 3.0 m/s for 30.0 s before leaving the
ground. How far did it move along the runway?
56 A Volkswagen Beetle moves at an initial velocity of 12
m/s. It coasts up a hill with a constant acceleration of –
2
1.6 m/s . How far has it traveled after 6.0 seconds?
57 A motorcycle starts out from a stop sign and
2
accelerates at a constant rate of 20 m/s . How
long will it take the motorcycle to go 300 meters?
58 A train pulling out of Grand Central Station
accelerates from rest at a constant rate. It covers
800 meters in 20 seconds. What is its rate of
acceleration?
59 A car has a initial velocity of 45 m/s. It accelerates
for 4.8 seconds. In this time, the car covers 264
meters. What is its rate of acceleration?
60 A Greyhound bus traveling at a constant velocity starts to
2
accelerate at a constant 2.0 m/s . If the bus travels 500
meters in 20 seconds, what was its initial velocity?
Kinematics Equation 3

Return to
Table of
Contents
 Motion at Constant Acceleration
We can also combine these equations so as to eliminate t:

2 2
v = vo + 2a(x - xo)
61 A car accelerates from rest to 30m/s while
traveling a distance of 20m; what was its
acceleration?
 2
62 You accelerate, from rest, at 10m/s for a distance of
100m; what is your final velocity?
63 Beginning with a velocity of 25m/s, you accelerate at a
2
rate of 2.0m/s . During that acceleration you travel
200m; what is your final velocity?
64 You accelerate from 20m/s to 60m/s while traveling a
distance of 200m; what was your acceleration?
65 A dropped ball falls 8.0m; what is its final velocity?
66 A ball with an initial velocity of 25m/s is subject to an
2
acceleration of -9.8 m/s ; how high does it go before
coming to a momentary stop?
Mixed Kinematics Problems

Return to
Table of
Contents
Motion at Constant Acceleration
We now have all the equations we need to
solve constant-acceleration problems.

v = vo + at
2
x = xo + vot + ½at
2 2
v = vo + 2a(x - xo)
67 Starting at the position, x0 = 4 m, you travel at a
constant velocity of +2 m/s for 6s.

a. Determine your position at the times of 0s; 2s;

5s; and 6s.

b. Draw the Position versus Time for your travel

during this time.

c. Draw the Velocity versus Time graph for your

trip.
Starting at the position, x0 = 4 m, you travel at a constant
velocity of +2 m/s for 6s.

a. Determine your position at the times of 0s; 2s; 5s; and

6s.
Starting at the position,
X
x0 = 4 m, you travel at a (m)
constant velocity of +2
m/s for 6s.

b. Draw the Position

versus Time for your
travel during this time.

t (s)
Starting at the position,
x0 = 4 m, you travel at a v
(m/s)
constant velocity of +2
m/s for 6s.

c. Draw the Velocity

versus Time graph for t (s)
your trip.
 68 The position versus time graph, below, describes the
motion of three different cars moving along the x-axis.

a. Describe, in
words, the velocity
of each of the cars.
Position (m)
Make sure you
discuss each car’s
speed and
direction.
 69 The position versus time graph, below, describes the motion
of three different cars moving along the x-axis.

b. Calculate the
velocity of each of
the cars.
 c. Draw, on one set of axes, the Velocity versus Time graph for
each of the three cars.

v
(m/s)
Position (m)

t (s)
 Summary

· Kinematics is the description of how objects move with respect

to a defined reference frame.

· Displacement is the change in position of an object.

· Average speed is the distance traveled divided by the time it

took; average velocity is the displacement divided by the time.
 Summary (continued)
· Instantaneous velocity is the limit as the time becomes
infinitesimally short.

· Average acceleration is the change in velocity divided by the

time.

· Instantaneous acceleration is the limit as the time interval

becomes infinitesimally small.
 Summary (continued)

· There are four equations of motion for constant acceleration,

each requires a different set of quantities.

v = vo + at
2
x = xo + vot + ½at
2 2
v = vo + 2a(x - xo)

v + vo
v=
2