LINEAR

KINEMATICS
PHY111: Mechanics and Thermo Properties of
Matter

GT Taulo
Physics Department
Chancellor College
Box 280 Zomba , Malawi
Linear Motion
▪ Let us consider motion of an object.

▪ To begin with, let us describe its position. In order to say where

an object is, we must first define a coordinate system.

▪ Since we live in three dimensions, we describe the position of

an object by stating how far away the object is from three
separate coordinate axes.

▪ For simplicity, let us consider one dimension only. Then in

order to describe the position, we need only know the point on
a number line where the object is at.
1-Dimensional Motion
▪ The easiest way of seeing this is to look at a graph of the
position as a function of time. If the object is not moving, then the
graph would look like below.

▪ We see that the slope of the graph of an object at rest is zero.

i.e. the object’s speed is also zero.
▪ What if the object were moving at a constant speed?
1-Dimensional Motion
▪ Then a graph of the speed as a function of time would be like
below.

▪ If something moves with constant speed, then it is changing

position at a constant rate, and a graph of the position as a
function of time looks like the one in the next slide.
1-Dimensional Motion

▪ Here the slope of the line is a constant, and in fact is equal to

the speed. Lastly, we can also ask what would happen if we let
the speed change at a constant rate? A rate of change in the
speed of the object is called its acceleration.
▪ NB The slope of a speed-time graph gives us acceleration.
1-Dimensional Motion
▪ The graphs of the speed and acceleration versus time would
look like:

▪ Since acceleration is the slope of the graph of the speed verses

time.What would a graph of the position versus time look like?
We have seen that the speed is the slope of the position, but
now that slope is increasing at a constant rate. Thus, we see
that the graph of the position must look like the one following.
1-Dimensional Motion

▪ We see that for many cases, the easiest way to analyze one
dimensional motion is to look at it graphically. However, if the
object has a complicated motion, or it moves in more than one
dimension, it is not always easy to graph it.
Displacement
▪ A measure of an object’s distance and direction from an origin
point is a vector.
▪ For example, the position of the object at time 𝑡 = 0 is often
chosen as the origin. The position of the object will in general be
a function of time: 𝑥(𝑡).
▪ The displacement ∆𝑥 of an object is defined as its change in
position and is given by
∆𝑥 = 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖
Where 𝑥𝑓 is the final position of the object, and 𝑥𝑖 is the initial
position.
▪ For example, a car moves along the x-axis from position (20m,
0) to position (-30m, 0). Then displacement will be
∆𝒙 = 𝒙𝒇 − 𝒙𝒊 = −𝟑𝟎𝒎 − 𝟐𝟎𝒎 = −𝟓𝟎𝒎
Note: based on the cartesian coordinates, we will use left along x-
axis as negative direction and down along y-axis as negative
direction.
Average Velocity
▪ In everyday usage the terms speed and velocity are
interchangeable. In physics, however, there’s a clear distinction
between them: Speed is a scalar quantity, having only
magnitude, whereas velocity is a vector, having both magnitude
and direction.
▪ The average speed of an object is the length of path taken by
the object divided by total time it takes to move in that path.
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ
𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑝𝑠𝑒𝑑
▪ Unlike average speed, average velocity 𝑣ҧ is a vector quantity,
having both a magnitude and a direction and is defined as the
displacement ∆𝑥 divided by time elapsed ∆𝑡.
∆𝑥 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖
𝑣ҧ = =
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑓 − 𝑡𝑖
Example
▪ A confused footballer runs
from his own goal with a ball
downfield a 100m long
ground without scoring at the
opponent’s goal and then
moves back to his goal as
shown in the diagram. Find:
a) The path length he travels
b) His displacement
c) His average velocity in x-
Solutions
direction a) 𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ = 200𝑚
d) His average speed b) Displacement, ∆𝑥 = 0
0𝑚−0𝑚
c) 𝑣ҧ = 25𝑠 = 0 𝑚/𝑠
d) 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
200𝑚
= 8.0𝑚/𝑠
25𝑠
Graphical Interpretation of
Velocity
▪ Consider 1-D motion from point P with coordinates (𝑥𝑖 , 𝑡𝑖 ) to
point (𝑥𝑓 , 𝑡𝑓 ) Q. We can plot the trajectory on a graph.
▪ The average velocity can be found by taking the start and end
points, drawing a line between them, and then finding the slope
of the resulting line joining P and Q.
Instantaneous Velocity
▪ Instantaneous velocity is the velocity at a particular time
instant. It is the slope of a displacement-time graph at a point,
while average velocity is the slope between two points.
▪ Instantaneous velocity is the same as average velocity except
that the line is the tangent to the curve at the point in question.
The units are m/s
▪ Instantaneous velocity is defined mathematically as:
∆𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑣 = lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

▪ Thus, the area under velocity-time graph gives displacement

and under acceleration-time is gives velocity.
Average and Instantaneous
Acceleration
▪ Average acceleration is the change in velocity over the change
in time
∆𝑣 𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖
𝑎ത = =
∆𝑡 𝑣𝑓 − 𝑡𝑖

▪ Instantaneous acceleration is calculated by taking shorter and

shorter time intervals, i.e. taking ∆𝑡 → 0 so that
∆𝑣 𝑑𝑣
𝑎 = lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Motion with Constant Acceleration
▪ Constant acceleration means velocity changes at the same
rate throughout the motion.

▪ In constant acceleration problems, the average acceleration is

equal to Instantaneous acceleration.

▪ This is the assumption made for coming up with equations

of linear motion.
Derivations of Constant
Acceleration Equations
▪ The slope of a velocity-time graph gives 𝑎 = (𝑣 − 𝑣0 )Τ𝑡 where 𝑣
is the velocity at any instant and 𝑣0 is the initial velocity at 𝑡 = 0.
Therefore rearranging it, becomes
𝒗 = 𝒗𝟎 + 𝒂𝒕 … (𝟏)
▪ The area under a velocity graph is equal to displacement ∆𝑥,
assuming constant acceleration
▪ The area will be a triangle over a rectangle, thus we have
the rectangle (base x height) + the area of the triangle (1/2
base x height)
1
▪ The rectangle is 𝑣0 𝑡 and the triangle is 𝑣 − 𝑣0 𝑡 but as
2
seen, 𝑣 − 𝑣0 = 𝑎𝑡 . So we get
𝟏 𝟐
∆𝒙 = 𝒙𝒇 − 𝒙𝒊 = 𝒗𝟎 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕 … (𝟐)
𝟐
Derivation Continues
▪ Since distance ∆𝑥 , travelled = average velocity x time (for
motion under constant acceleration), then
𝟏
∆𝒙 = 𝒗𝟎 + 𝒗 𝒕 … (𝟑)
𝟐

▪ The third and the first equation can then be combined by

eliminating time to make:
𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝟎 𝟐 + 𝟐𝒂∆𝒙 … (𝟒)
Example
▪ A Car decelerates at 2.0m/s2 and comes to a stop after travelling
25m. Find:
a) the speed of the car at the start of the deceleration.
b) the time required to come to a stop.
Solutions
a) since the car is going to stop, then 𝑣𝑓 𝑜𝑟 𝑣 = 0𝑚/𝑠 , 𝑎 =
− 2.0𝑚/𝑠 2 , ∆𝑥 = 25𝑚, we are being asked to find 𝑣0 , then we
will use the 4th equation. 𝑣 2 = 𝑣0 2 + 2𝑎∆𝑥 → 𝑣0 = 𝑣 2 − 2𝑎∆𝑥
𝑣0 = 0 − 2(−2.0𝑚/𝑠 2 )(25𝑚) = 10𝑚/𝑠 , therefore speed at the
start of deceleration is 𝟏𝟎𝒎/𝒔.
b) Finding time, we will use the 1st equation, 𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑡 → t =
𝑣−𝑣0
𝑎
0 − (10𝑚/𝑠)
𝑡= = 𝟓. 𝟎𝒔
−2.0𝑚/𝑠 2
Therefore, it takes 5.0s for the car to come to a stop.
Freely Falling Bodies
▪ A freely falling object is an object that moves under the
influence of gravity only.

▪ Neglecting air resistance, all objects in free fall in the earth's

gravitational field have a constant acceleration that is directed
towards the earth’s center, or perpendicular to the earth's
surface, and of magnitude 𝑔 = 9.80 𝑚/𝑠 2 .

▪ If motion is straight up or down and we choose a coordinate

system with the positive y-axis pointing up and perpendicular to
the earth's surface, then the equations of Motion for the 1-d
vertical motion of an object in free fall are the same as the once
derived before, only that 𝑎 is replaced with −𝑔.
Equations of Motion in Free Fall
▪ After including – 𝑔 for acceleration 𝑎 in equations of straight line
motion, we get the following equations.

1. 𝑣 = 𝑣0 − 𝑔𝑡

1
2. ∆𝑦 = 𝑣0 𝑡 − 2 𝑔𝑡 2

3. 𝑣 2 = 𝑣0 2 − 2𝑔∆𝑦
Example
A ball is thrown from the top of a building
with an initial velocity of 20.0 m/s straight
upward, at an initial height of 50.0 m
above the ground. The ball just misses
the edge of the roof on its way down, as
shown in diagram. Determine (a) the time
needed for the ball to reach its maximum
height, (b) the maximum height, (c) the
time needed for the ball to return to the
height from which it was thrown and the
velocity of the ball at that instant, (d) the
time needed for the ball to reach the
ground, and (e) the velocity and position
of the ball at t=5.00 s. Neglect air drag.
Solutions
(a) At maximum height, 𝑣 = 0, using 𝑣 = 𝑣0 − 𝑔𝑡
𝑣0 20.0𝑚/𝑠
𝑡= = 2
= 𝟐. 𝟎𝟒𝒔
𝑔 9.80𝑚/𝑠

1
(b) To find maximum height, ∆𝑦 = 𝑣0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2
2
1 2
∆𝑦 = 20.0𝑚/𝑠 2.04𝑠 − 9.80𝑚/𝑠 2.04𝑠 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟒𝒎
2

(c) To find time needed for the ball to return to the height it was
1 2𝑣
launched, ∆𝑦 = 0, and from ∆𝑦 = 𝑣0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 , 𝑡 = 0
2 𝑔
2𝑣0 20.0𝑚/𝑠
𝑡= =2 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟖𝒔
𝑔 9.80𝑚/𝑠 2
Solutions
(d) At time the ball hits the ground, ∆𝑦 = −50.0𝑚, using ∆𝑦 = 𝑣0 𝑡 −
1
𝑔𝑡 2
2
−50.0𝑚 = (20.0𝑚/𝑠)𝑡 − (4.9𝑚/𝑠 2 )𝑡 2
Applying quadratic formula to solve the quadratic equation, we get
𝒕 = 𝟓. 𝟖𝟑𝒔

(e) To find velocity at 𝑡 = 5.00𝑠, 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡

𝑣𝑦 = 20.0𝑚/𝑠 − 9.80𝑚/𝑠 2 5.00𝑠 = −𝟐𝟗. 𝟎𝒎/𝒔
Motion in Two Dimensions
▪ In two dimensions, it is necessary to use vector notation to
describe physical quantities with both magnitude and direction.
▪ We will only discuss the solution of projectile motion problems
in two dimensions. A projectile may be as shown below.
Projectile Motion
▪ We will consider the motion of a projectile in 2 dimensions.
▪ The coordinate system that will be used to describe the
motion of the projectile consist of an x-axis (horizontal
direction) and a y-axis (vertical direction).
▪ Assuming that we are dealing with constant acceleration,
we can obtain the velocity and position of the projectile
using the procedure outlined earlier: for example
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 and 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡
where 𝑥0 and 𝑦0 are the x and y position of the object at
𝑡 = 0𝑠, and 𝑣0𝑥 and 𝑣0𝑦 are the x and y components of
the velocity of the object at time 𝑡 = 0𝑠. Note that 𝑎𝑥 only
affects 𝑣𝑥 and not 𝑣𝑦 , and 𝑎𝑦 only affects 𝑣𝑦 .
Projectile Motion
▪ In describing the motion of the projectile, we will assume that
there is no acceleration in the x-direction, while the
acceleration in the y-direction is equal to the free-fall.
𝑎𝑥 = 0
𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔 = −9.80𝑚/𝑠 2
▪ Special consideration is given on the angle at which the projectile
was fired with respect to the horizontal.

▪ For example in the diagram, the initial velocities is x and y of the

ball will be; 𝑣0𝑥 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃 and 𝑣0𝑦 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃.
Projectile Motion
▪ Displacement at time t in both x and y will be;
1 2
∆𝑥 = (𝑣0 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∆𝑦 = (𝑣0 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡
2
▪ At impact ∆𝑦 = 0, therefore time and range of flight can be found
as;
2𝑣0 sin 𝜃
𝑡=
𝑔
2𝑣0 sin 𝜃 𝑣0 2
𝑅 = ∆𝑥 = (𝑣0 cos 𝜃) = sin 2𝜃
𝑔 𝑔
▪ At maximum height, 𝑣𝑦 = 0, therefore maximum height of the ball
can be found as;
(𝑣0 sin 𝜃)2
∆𝑦 =
2𝑔
▪ Time to reach maximum height can be found from the same
condition that 𝑣𝑦 = 0.
𝑣0 sin 𝜃
𝑡=
𝑔
Projectile Motion
▪ It must be noted that equations shown on the previous slide, are
for a situation such as shown in the projectile of the ball on the
past 2 slides. Care must be taken to figure out the kind of
scenario in a given question. Like for the diagrams below, we
can’t just use the said equations.
Example
▪ A Russian MiG-35 fighter jet traveling with a horizontal velocity of
100m/s is 500m above the ground. At some point the pilot decides
to drop a missile to designated target below. (a) How long is the
drop in the air? (b) How far away from point where it was launched
will it land?
Solution
(a) Time of flight will take the missile to the ground, therefore it will
have dropped 500m, hence ∆𝑦 = −500𝑚.
1 1
We will use, ∆𝑦 = (𝑣0 sin 𝜃)𝑡 − 2 𝑔𝑡 2 → ∆𝑦 = − 2 𝑔𝑡 2 . Therefore,
Since the plane was travelling horizontally, there will be no initial
1
velocity in y hence, (𝑣0 sin 𝜃)𝑡 = 0 and → ∆𝑦 = − 2 𝑔𝑡 2
−2∆𝑦 −2(−500𝑚)
𝑡= = 2
= 𝟏𝟎. 𝟏𝒔
𝑔 9.80𝑚/𝑠
Example
(b) This will be found by horizontal range. ∆𝑥 =
1
(𝑣0 cos 𝜃)𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2 = 𝑣0 𝑡
2
Since the angle of launch is 𝜃 = 0 and 𝑎𝑥 = 0 hence, ∆𝑥 = 𝑣0 𝑡
∆𝑥 = (100𝑚/𝑠) 10.1𝑠 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝒎/𝒔