CHAPTER 7

One-Dimensional Motion

7.7 Introduction
Motion involves the change in position of an object over time. When we
observe an object moving, it is always with respect to a frame of reference.
Since motion occurs in a particular direction, it is dependent on the choice of
a coordinate system for that frame of reference. This fact leads us to the con
clusion that there is a vector nature to motion that must be taken into account

when we want to analyze how something moves.

In this chapter, we shall confine our discussions to motion in one dimen

sion only. In physics, the study of motion is called kinematics. No hypothe

ses are made in kinematics concerning why something moves. Kinematics is

a completely descriptive study of how something moves.

7.2 Average and Instantaneous Motion

Motion can take place either uniformly or nonuniformly. This means that,
if an object is moving, relative to a frame of reference, the displacement
changes, over a period of time, may be equal or unequal.
Distance
Jraveled

Displacement

FIGURE 7.1

Displacement Versus Distance

If, in Figure 7.1, we consider the actual distance traveled by the object along
some arbitrary path, we are dealing with a scalar quantity. The displacement

vector AB, however, is directed along the line connecting points A and B

(whether or not this is the actual route taken). Thus, when a baseball player
hits a home run and runs around the bases, he or she may have traveled a dis
tance of 360 feet (the bases are 90 feet apart), but the player's final displace

ment is zero (having started and ended up at the same place)!

If we are given the displacement vector of an object for a period of time
At, we define the average velocity, v to be equal to
At
67

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ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION

This is a vector quantity since directions are specified. Numerically, we

think of the average speed as being the ratio of the total distance traveled
to the total elapsed time. The units of velocity are meters per second
(m/s).

If we are interested in the velocity at any instant in time, we can define the
instantaneous velocity to be the velocity, v, as determined at any precise time
period. In a car, the speedometer registers instantaneous speed, which can
become velocity if we take into account the direction of motion. If the veloc
ity is constant, the average and instantaneous velocities are equal, and we can
write simply

It is possible that the observer making the measurements of motion

is likewise in motion relative to the Earth. In this case, we consider the
relative velocity between the two systems. If two objects, a and b, are
moving in the same direction, the relative velocity between the objects is
given by
Vrei = Va-Vb

In a similar way, if two objects, a and b, are approaching each other in

opposite directions, the relative velocity between them is given by

7.3 Uniformly Accelerated Motion

If an object is moving with a constant velocity such that its position is
taken to be zero when it is first observed, a graph of the expression x =
\( would represent a direct relationship between position and time (see
Figure 7.2).

Displacement (m)

Slope = velocity (m/s)

Time (s)
FIGURE 7.2

7.3 UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION 69

Since the line is straight, the constant slope (in which v = Ax/Af) indicates
that the velocity is constant throughout the time interval. If we were to plot
velocity versus time for this motion, the graph might look like Figure 7.3.

Area = displacement (m)

Velocity (m/s)

Time (s)

FIGURE 7.3

Notice that, for any time /, the area under the graph equals the displacement.
It is possible that the object is changing direction while maintaining a con
stant speed (uniform circular motion is an example of this situation), or that
it is changing both speed and direction. In any case, if the velocity is chang
ing, we say that the object is accelerating. If the velocity, is changing uni
formly, the object has uniform acceleration. In this case, a graph of velocity

versus time would look like Figure 7.4.

Velocity (m/s)

Slope = acceleration (m/s2)

Time(s)

FIGURE 7.4

The displacement from t = 0 to any other time is equal to the area of the
triangle formed. However, between any two intermediary times, the resulting
figure is a trapezoid. If we make several measurements, the displacement

versus time graph for uniformly accelerated motion is a parabola starting

from the origin (if we make the initial conditions that, when t = 0, jc = 0, and

v = 0; see Figure 7.5).

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ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION

Displacement (m)

Time (s)
FIGURE 7.5

The slope of the velocity versus time graph is defined to be the average

acceleration in units of meters per second squared (m/s2). We can now write,
for the average acceleration (Figure 7.6)
_

Av

a=AF

FIGURE 7.6

If the acceleration is taken to be constant in time, our expression for average

acceleration can be written in a form that allows us to calculate the instanta
neous final velocity after a period of acceleration has taken place. In other
words, Av = zt (if we start our time interval from zero). If we define Av to
be equal to the difference between an initial and a final velocity, we can arrive
at the fact that
v, =v,+ af

Therefore, if we plot velocity versus time for uniformly accelerated motion

starting with a nonzero initial velocity, we get a graph that looks like
Figure 7.7.

7.3 UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION

71

Velocity (m/s)

Time(s)

FIGURE 7.7

The displacement during any period of time will be equal to the total area
under the graph. In this case, the total area will be the sum of two areas, one
a triangle and the other a rectangle. The area of the rectangle, for some time
t, is just Vit. The area of the triangle is one-half the base times the height. The
"base" in this case is the time period, t, the "height" is the change in veloc
ity, Av. Therefore, the area of the triangle is (l/2)Avr. If we recall the defini
tion of Av and the fact that v,= v, + at, we obtain the following formula for
the distance traveled during uniformly accelerated motion starting with an
initial velocity (assuming we start from the origin):

This analysis suggests an alternative method of determining the average

velocity of an object during uniformly accelerated motion. If we start, for
example, with a velocity of 10 m/s and accelerate uniformly for 5 s at a rate

of 2 m/s2, the average velocity during that interval is the average of 10 m/s,
12 m/s, 14 m/s, 16 m/s, 18 m/s, and 20 m/s, which is just 15 m/s. Therefore,

we can simply write

Occasionally, a problem in kinematics does not explicitly mention the time

involved. For this reason it would be nice to have a formula for velocity that
does not involve the time factor. We can derive one from all the other
formulas. Since the above equation relates the average velocity to the initial
.and final velocities (for uniformly accelerated motion), we can write our dis
placement formula as

Now, since v,= v, + at, we can express the time as t = (yf- v,)/a. Therefore

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ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION

7.4 Accelerated Motion Due to Gravity

Since velocity and acceleration are vector quantities, we need to consider
the algebraic conventions accepted for dealing with various directions. For
example, we usually agree to consider motion up or to the right as posi
tive, and motion down or to the left as negative. In this way, negative
velocity implies backward motion (since negative speed doesn't make sense).
Negative acceleration, on the other hand, implies that the object is slowing
down.

In Section 7.3, we considered the case of uniformly accelerated motion. A

naturally occurring situation in which acceleration is constant involves motion
due to gravity. Since gravity acts in the downward direction, its acceleration,
common to all masses, is likewise taken to be in the downward direction.
Notice that this convention may or may not imply deceleration. An object
dropped from rest is accelerating as time passes, but in the downward or
negative direction.

In physics, the acceleration due to gravity is generally taken to be -9.8

meter per second squared and is represented by the symbol g. As a vector

quantity, g is negative and the direction of motion is reflected in either the

position or the velocity equation. For example, if an object was dropped, the
displacement in the -y direction would be given by

If, however, the object was thrown down, with an initial velocity, we could
write

Finally, if the object was thrown upward, with some initial velocity, we would
have

7.5 Graphical Analysis of Motion

We have seen that much information can be obtained if we consider the
graphical analysis of motion. If complex changes in motion are taking place,

visualization may provide a better understanding of the physics involved

than algebra. The techniques of graphical analysis are as simple as slopes and

areas. For example, we already know that, for uniibrmly accelerated motion,

the graph of distance versus time is a parabola. Since the slope is changing,
the instantaneous velocity can be approximated at a point P by finding the
slope of a tangent line drawn to a given point on the curve (see Figure 7.8).

7.5 GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF MOTION

73

Displacement (m)

Slope = velocity

Time (s)

FIGURE 7.8

What would happen if an object accelerated from rest maintained a con

stant velocity for a while, and then slowed down to a stop? Using what we

know about graphs of velocity and acceleration in displacement versus time,

we might represent the motion as shown in Figure 7.9.

Displacement (m)

Time (s)
FIGURE 7.9

We can apply'many instances of motion to graphs. In the case of changing

velocity, consider the graph of velocity versus time for an object thrown
upward into the air, reaching its highest point, changing direction, and then
accelerating downward. This motion has a constant downward acceleration
that, at first, acts to slow the object down, but later acts to speed it up. A graph
of this motion is seen in Figure 7.10.
Velocity

Highest point

Upward

Highest point

Time
2

a.

.2

Downward

Time (s)

FIGURE 7.10a

FIGURE 7.10b

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ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION

Problem-Solving
Strateqies for
One-Dimensional
tion

Since all motion is relative, it is very important to always ask yourself the following question: "From what frame of reference am I viewing the situation?"
Also, whenever you solve a physics problem, be sure to consider the assump

tions being made, explicitly or implicitly, about the moving object or objects.
In this way, your ability to keep track of what is relevant for your solution
path will be maintained. In addition, it is suggested that you:

1. Identify all the goals and givens in the problem. Recall from Chapter 4 that
the goals may be explicit or implicit. If a question is based on a decision
or prediction, be sure to understand the algebraic requirements necessary
to reach an answer.

2. Consider the "meaningfulness" of your solution or process. Does your

answer or methodology make sense?

3. Choose a proper coordinate system and remember the sign conventions for
algebraically treating vector quantities. In addition, make sure you under
stand the nature of the concepts being discussed (for example, whether they
are vectors or scalars).

4. Use proper SI units throughout your calculations, and make sure that
correct units are included in your final answer. Try "dimensional analysis"
to see whether the answer makes sense. Perhaps it looks too large or too
small because it is expressed in the wrong units.
5. Make a sketch of the situation if one is not provided.
6. If you are interpreting a graph, be sure you understand the interrelation
ships among all the kinematic variables discussed (slopes, areas, etc.).
7. If you are constructing a graph, label both axes completely, choose a proper
scale for each axis, and draw neatly and clearly.

8. Try different problem-solving heuristics if you get stuck on a difficult

problem.

Sample Problem:

A ball is thrown straight up into the air and, after being in the air for 9 s, is
caught by a person 5 m above the ground. To what maximum height did the
ball go?

Solution:
The equation

represents the vertical position of the ball above the ground for any time t.
Since the ball is thrown upward, the initial velocity is positive, while the accel
eration of gravity is always directed downward (and hence is algebraically
negative). Thus, we can use the above equation to find the initial velocity
when y = 5 m and t = 9 s. Substituting these values, as well as the magnitude
of g (9.8 m/s2) in the equation, we get v, = 44.65 m/s.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS FOR CHAPTER 7

75

Now, to find the maximum height, we note that, when the ball rises to its
maximum, its speed becomes zero since its velocity is changing direction.
Since we do not know how long the"ball takes to rise to its maximum height
(we could determine this value if desired), we can use the formula
V/2-v,2=-2gy

When the final velocity equals zero, the value of y is equal to the maximum
height. Using our answer for the initial velocity and the known value of g we
find that ymax= 101.7 m.

Practice Problems
for Chapter 7

Multiple Choice
1. A ball is thrown upward with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. How long will
the ball take to reach its maximum height?

(A) 19.6 s
(B) 9.8 s
(C) 6.3 s
(D) 3.4 s

(E) 2.04 s

2. An airplane lands on a runway with a velocity of 150 m/s. How far will
it travel until it stops if its rate of deceleration is constant at -3 m/s2?
(A) 525 m
(B) 3750 m
(C) 6235 m
(D) 9813 m

(E) 10,435 m

3. A ball is thrown downward from the top of a roof with a speed of 25 m/s.
After 2 s, its velocity will be

(A) 19.6 m/s

(B) -5.4 m/s

(C) -44.6 m/s

(D) 44.6 m/s
(E) -25 m/s

4. A rocket is propelled upward with an acceleration of 25 m/s2 for 5 s. After

that time, the engine is shut off, and the rocket continues to move upward.
The maximum height, in meters that the rocket will reach is
(A) 900
(B)

1000

(C) 1100

(D) 1200
(E)

1400

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ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION

Questions 5-7 refer to the velocity versus time graph shown below.

Velocity (m/s)

-10--

5. The total distance traveled by the object during the indicated 14 s is

(A) 7.5 m
(B) 25 m

(C) 62.5 m

(D) 77.5 m
(E) 82.1m

6. The total displacement of the object during the 14 s indicated is

(A) 7.5 m
(B) 25 m
(C) 62.5 m
(D) 77.5 m
(E) 82.1m

7. The average velocity, in meters per second, of the object is

(A) 0

(B) 0.5
(C) 2.5
(D) 4.5

(E) 5.6

8. What is the total change in velocity for the object whose acceleration
versus time graph is given below?
Q - ^

t
o

4"-

Time (s)

(A) 40 m/s
(B) -40 m/s

(C) 80 m/s
(D) -80 m/s
(E) Om/s

10

PRACTICE PROBLEMS FOR CHAPTER 7

77

9. A particle moves along the x-axis subject to the following position

function:

What was its average velocity during the interval t = 0 to t = 3?

(A) 2.0 m/s

(B) 3.3 m/s

(C) 5 m/s
(D) 8.3 m/s

(E) 9.0 m/s

10. An object has an initial velocity of 15 m/s. How long must it accelerate
at a constant rate of 3 m/s2 before its average velocity is equal to twice
its initial velocity?
(A) 5s
(B) 10 s

(C) 15 s
(D) 20 s
(E) 25 s

Free Response

1. A particle has the acceleration versus time graph shown below:

5-4-

sr

3--

-I
I-1-- 1

i-2--

4 5

9 10 11 12 13

-3- -

Time (s)

-5--

If the particle begins its motion at t = 0, with v = 0 and x = 0, make a

graph of velocity versus time.

2. A stone is dropped from a 75-m-high building. When this stone has

dropped 15 m, a second stone is thrown downward with an initial veloc
ity such that the two stones hit the ground at the same time. What was
the initial velocity of the second stone?

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ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION

3. A particle is moving in one dimension along the x-axis. The position of

the particle is given, for any time, by the following position function:

(a) Evaluate the average velocity of the particle starting at t = 2 s for

At = 1, 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001 second.
(b) Interpret the physical meaning of your results for part (a).

4. A stone is dropped from a height h and falls the last half of its distance
in 4 seconds, (a) What was the total time of fall? (b) From what height
was the stone dropped?

5. If the average velocity of an object is nonzero, does this mean that the
instantaneous velocity of the object can never be zero? Explain.
6. A girl standing on top of a roof throws a stone into the air with a veloc
ity -t-v. She then throws a similar stone directly downward with a veloc
ity -v. Compare the velocities of both stones when they reach the ground.

7. Explain how it is possible for an object to have zero average velocity and
still have nonzero average speed.

Solutions

Multiple-Choice Problems
1. E Given the initial velocity of 20 m/s, we know that the ball is deceler
ated by gravity at a rate of 9.8 m/s2. Therefore, we need to know how
long gravity will take to decelerate the ball to zero velocity. Clearly,

from the definition of acceleration, dividing 20 m/s by 9.8 m/s2 gives

the answer: 2.04 s.

2. B We do not know the time needed to stop, but we do know that the final
velocity is zero. If we use the formula
v,z-v,2=2ax

and substitute-150 m/s for the initial velocity and -3 m/s2 for the
deceleration, we get the answer: 3750 m.

3. C The initial velocity is -25 m/s downward, so v = -(25) - (9.8)(2) =

-44.6 m/s.

4. C The rocket accelerates from rest, so the first distance traveled in 5 s

is given by

Substituting the values for time (5 s) and acceleration (25 m/s2) gives

y, = 312.5 m. After 5 s of accelerating, the rocket has a velocity of

125 m/s. After this time, the engine stops and the rocket is decelerated
by gravity as it continues to move upward. The time to decelerate to
zero is found by dividing 125 m/s by the acceleration of gravity. Thus
125/9.8 = 12.76 s.

SOLUTIONS FOR PRACTICE PROBLEMS

79

The distance traveled during that time is added to the first acceler

ated distance. The second distance is given by

y2 = 125(12.76) - 4.9(12.76)2 = 796.6 m

The total distance traveled is therefore equal to 1108 m or, rounded

off, 1100 m.

5. C The total distance traveled by the object in 14 s is equal to the total

area under the graph. Breaking the figure up into triangles and rec
tangles, we find that their areas add up to 62.5 m (recall that distance
is a scalar).

6. A The total displacement for the object is the sum of the positive
(forward) and negative (backward) areas representing the fact that
the object moves away from the origin and then back (as indicated by
the velocity vs. time graph) going below the x-axis. Adding and sub
tracting the proper areas: 35 - 2.5 - 20 - 5 = 7.5 m for the final
displacement.

7. B Average velocity is the change in displacement for the object over

the change in time (not distance). Since from question 6 we know the
displacement change to be 7.5 m in 14 s, the average velocity is
therefore 0.53 m/s.

8. A The change in velocity for the object is equal to the area under the
graph, which is equal to 1/2 (+8)(10) = 440 m/s.

9. E According to the formula, at t = 0, x = -1. When t = 3, x = 26. Thus

Ax = 27 m, and since average velocity is Ax/A/, the average velocity
for 3 s is 9 m/s.

10. B For uniformly accelerated motion, the average velocity is

The question requires that the average velocity be equal to twice the
initial velocity; thus, if the average velocity is 30 m/s, the final veloc
ity attained must be 45 m/s. Now the question is, how long must the
object accelerate from 15 m/s to achieve a speed of 45 m/s? A change
in velocity of 30 m/s at a rate of 3 m/s2 for 10 s is implied.
Free-Response Problems

1. The acceleration graph given in the problem indicates constant accelera

tion from / = 1 to / = 3. Therefore, the area represents a constant change
in velocity from 0 to 9 m/s. The second region corresponds to negative
acceleration, which slows the object down and turns it around. We
know this since the area is -12 m/s. This brings the graph from 9 m/s to
-3 m/s (a change in direction). The last area is a change of 3 m/s which
brings the velocity to 0 m/s. A graph of this motion is shown below,
as desired:

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ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9X&W1213
Time (s)

2. In this problem, we know that the first stone will be dropped from a height
of 75 m, and it will be in free fall because of gravity. Therefore the time
to fall is given by

Since the first stone is to fall 15 m before the second stone is dropped,
we can likewise determine that t = 1.75 s to fall that distance. Thus, since
the two stones must reach the ground at the same time, we know that the
second stone must reach the ground after the first one has traveled for
3.9 s. Since the second stone is thrown when the distance fallen by the
first stone is 15 m, we subtract 1.75 s from the total time of 3.9 s to get
the second stone's duration of fall. That time is equal to 2.15 s. Since the
second stone is thrown downward, it has a negative displacement, and so
we can write

-75 = -V,(2.15)-^(9.8)(2.15)2
This gives us a downward initial velocity of 24.34 m/s for the second
stone.

3. (a) Using the position function, we know that when / = 2 s, x = 14 m.

The average velocity is given by Ax/At. For At=\ s, we find that at
t = 3 s, x = 29 m. Thus Ax = 15 m and the average velocity is equal
to 15 m/s. If At = 0.5 s, then at t = 2.5 s, x = 20.75 m and the new
average velocity is equal to 13.5 m/s (6.75 m/0.5 s). We continue
this procedure. For At = 0.2 s, the average velocity is 12.6 m/s. For
At = 0.1 s, the average velocity is 12.3 m/s. For At = 0.01 s, the
average velocity is 12.03 m/s. Finally, for At = 0.001 s, the average
velocity is 12.003 m/s.

(b) It appears that as the time interval gets smaller and smaller, the
average velocity approaches 12 m/s as a limit. We can say that at
t= 2 s, the "instantaneous" velocity is approximately equal to 12 m/s.

4. Let T= the total time to fall the distance h. In free fall, this is given by