DYNAMICS

CHAPTER 2.0

Rectilinear Translation

Definition and Characteristics of Translation

Translation is defined as the motion of a rigid body in which a straight line passing through any two points of its particles
always remains parallel to its initial position. Let Fig. 10-1 represent a translating body at any instant. A straight line has
been drawn through two particles A and B. The position of the body at a later instant is shown by the dashed outline.
The line A’B’ passing through the same two particles is parallel to its initial position. Also, since the body is assumed to
be rigid, the distance separating the particles remains constant and the particles have no motion relative to each other.
The term translation cannot be applied to a non-rigid body such as a liquid or gas because the position of the separate
particles cannot be controlled; the particles may and usually do follow independent paths.

Translation may be either rectilinear or curvilinear, depending upon whether the path described by any particle is
straight or curved. The motion of a translating body moving in a straight line is called rectilinear translation. An example
is a block sliding down a plane surface. If the path of the translating body is curved, the motion becomes a curvilinear
translation. To illustrate further, if the path described by A in moving to position A’ in Fig. 10-1 is straight, the body has
rectilinear translation; but if the path were curved, the body would have curvilinear translation. In this chapter we shall
consider only rectilinear translation; curvilinear translation will be discussed in the next chapter.

The outstanding kinematic characteristics of the translation of a rigid body is the fact that all the particles travel the
same or parallel paths. It follows that all the particles have the same values of displacement, velocity, and acceleration,
and the motion may be completely described by the motion of any particle of the body. The particle usually selected is
the one at the center of gravity of the body. In other words, a translating body may be considered as a particle
concentrated at its center of gravity.

Rectilinear Motion with Constant Acceleration

One of the most common cases of straight-line motion is that in which the acceleration is constant. As will be seen later,
this condition arises when a body is acted upon by forces which remain constant in magnitude and direction, such as a
free falling body or a train acted upon by a constant draw-bar pull. Since it is so common, the student is urged to
memorize the kinematic equations of motion for this case.

The equations may be derived from the differential equations of kinematics by starting with the definition of
acceleration written in the form:
 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑎 𝑑𝑡

And proceeding to integrate between definite limits, thus:

𝑣 𝑡
∫ 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑎 ∫ 𝑑𝑡
𝑣𝑜 0

Note that a is placed outside the integral sign because it is assumed constant.

Let us examine the meaning of limits. In relation to Fig. 10-2, the previous equation indicates that at some initial position
A from which time is to be measured, there is an initial velocity v o, whereas at some other position B reached after a
time interval t, the velocity will be v.

Integrating the previous equation, and evaluating the limits gives:

𝑣 𝑡
[𝑣]𝑣 = 𝑎[𝑡]
𝑜 𝑜

𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜 = 𝑎𝑡

𝑜𝑟

𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡

Let us now consider the definition of velocity in previous equation written in the form:

𝑑𝑠 = 𝑣 𝑑𝑡

And again, proceed to integrate between the definite limits:

𝑠 𝑡 𝑡
∫ 𝑑𝑠 = ∫ 𝑣𝑑𝑡 = ∫ (𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡)𝑑𝑡
𝑜 𝑜 𝑜

Note that the variable v must be replaced by its equivalent expressed in terms of t. In relation to Fig. 10-2, the previous
equation indicates that at some initial position a from which time is to be measured, there is a zero initial displacement,
whereas at some other position B reached after a time interval t, the displacement will be s. Integrating the previous
equation and evaluating the limits gives:

𝑠 1 𝑡
[𝑠] = [𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 ]
𝑜 2 𝑜

𝑜𝑟

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2

Finally, let us consider the remaining differential equation of kinematics from previous equation, and again proceed to
integrate between definite limits:
𝑣 𝑠
∫ 𝑣 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑎 ∫ 𝑑𝑠
𝑣𝑜 0

The limits are written as before, since by referring to Fig. 10-2 it is obvious that at zero displacement the corresponding
velocity is vo, while at a displacement s it is v. Integrating and evaluating the limits, we obtain:

𝑣2 𝑣 𝑠
[ ] = 𝑎[𝑠]
2 𝑣𝑜 𝑜
 𝑣 2 − 𝑣𝑜 2
= 𝑎𝑠
2

𝑜𝑟

𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑜 2 + 2𝑎𝑠

The three kinematic equations of motion with constant acceleration may be summarized as follows:

𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2

𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑜 2 + 2𝑎𝑠

Signs

It is important to observe that these equations involve only the magnitude of vector quantities. The direction of the
vectors of displacement, velocity, and acceleration is indicated by the following sign convention: The initial direction of
motion represents the positive direction for displacement, velocity, and acceleration. Hence a negative value of velocity
is obtained in applying the equations would mean that the velocity is directed oppositely to the initial direction of
motion. A negative value for displacement would indicate that the position of the moving particle is to be measured
back from the origin of displacement. Finally, if a particle moving along a straight line returns to the starting position, the
displacement s in the above equations will be the vector drawn from the origin to the final position; that is, s will be
determined as zero, not the distance actually traveled by the particle.

Freely Falling Bodies, Air Resistance Neglected

It has been seen that the acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the resultant force acting upon it. In the case
of a freely falling body, this resultant force is its own weight. The weight if a force that results from the attraction
between the mass of the body and the mass of the earth; it varies inversely as the square of the distance separating the
two centers of mass and is directly proportional to the product of the masses.

Since the mass of any body on the earth is insignificant compared with the mass of the earth, the gravitational force
varies only with the position of the body relative to the center of the earth’s mass. This variation in distance assumes
significance only when the body undergoes distinct changes in its position on the earth’s surface, such as being shifted
from the equator to one of the poles or being carried high above the earth in an airplane. For most cases over a given
earth surface, however, the gravitational force and the gravitational acceleration may be assumed to be constant. For
our latitude, this acceleration is approximately 32.2 ft per sec2 and is represented by the symbol g. This value of g will be
used throughout this book except as otherwise indicated.

In solving problems on falling bodies, a specified direction (up or down) is assumed to represent positive displacement.
Velocity and acceleration are positive when directed along positive displacement; they are negative when pointing in the
opposite direction. It should be observed that a negative value of acceleration does not per se indicate a slowing down.
We can only say that a body is accelerating if its velocity is increasing with time, and it is decelerating if its velocity is
decreasing with time. This is equivalent to stating that a body is speeding up if the directions of velocity and acceleration
are oppositely directed. As an illustration, consider a stone thrown vertically into the air from position A in Fig. 10-3. Let
the displacement be measured as positive upward from A. After a certain time the stone will reach its topmost position
B and then descend. Throughout the motion, the stone is subjected to a gravitational acceleration which is directed
downward and therefore considered negative, i.e., oppositely directed to +s. During the travel from A to B, the velocity
of the stone is positive, i.e., in the direction of positive displacement; but thereafter the velocity is downward or
negative.

During the travel from A to B, v and a have opposite signs and the stone is slowing down, whereas after the stone leaves
B, v and a have the same sign and direction, and the stone is speeding up. Furthermore, during the time of travel from A
to C, the stone is above the initial position and will have positive displacement; but after passing C it will have negative
displacement measured from A because it will be below the initial position.

In any motion involving freely falling bodies, the general equations of motion for constant acceleration developed in
previous article may be applied by replacing a by g. No restriction on the equations need be made other than that
velocity and acceleration are to be taken as positive in the direction of positive displacement.

EXAMPLES

1. As shown in Fig. 10-4, a stone is thrown vertically into the air from a tower 100 ft high at the same instant that a
second stone is thrown upward from the ground. The initial velocity of the first stone is 50 ft per sec and that of the
second stone is 75 ft per sec. When and where will the stone be at the same height from the ground?

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2

𝑔 = 32.2 𝑓𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 1:

1
𝑠1 = 50𝑡 + (−32.2)𝑡 2
2

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 2:

1
𝑠2 = 75𝑡 + (−32.2)𝑡 2
2

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐹𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒:

𝑠2 − 𝑠1 = 100

1 1
75𝑡 + (−32.2)𝑡 2 − 50𝑡 + (−32.2)𝑡 2 = 100
2 2
 25𝑡 = 100

𝑡 = 4 𝑠𝑒𝑐

1
𝑠1 = 50(4) + (−32.2)(4)2 = −𝟓𝟕. 𝟔 𝒇𝒕
2
1
𝑠2 = 75(4) + (−32.2)(4)2 = 𝟒𝟐. 𝟒 𝒇𝒕
2

2. On a certain sketch of track, trains run at 60 mph. How far back of a stopped train should a warning torpedo be placed
to signal an oncoming train? Assume that the brakes are applied at once and retard the train at the uniform rate of 2 ft
per sec2.

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:

𝑣𝑜 = 60 𝑚𝑝ℎ

𝑓𝑡
𝑎 = −2
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2

𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑜 2 + 2𝑎𝑠

60 𝑥 5280
𝑣𝑜 = = 88 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐
3600

𝑣 2 − 𝑣𝑜 2 = 2𝑎𝑠

0 − 882 = 2(−2)𝑠

𝒔 = 𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟔 𝒇𝒕

3. A stone is thrown vertically upward and returns to earth in 10 seconds. What was its initial velocity and how high did
it go?

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:

𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡

𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜 = 𝑎𝑡

0 − 𝑣𝑜 = −9.81(5)
𝒎
𝒗𝒐 = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟎𝟓
𝒔

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2

𝐼𝑓 𝑣𝑜 = 0

1
𝑠 = 𝑎𝑡 2
2

𝑜𝑟

1
𝑑 = 𝑔𝑡 2
2
1
𝑑 = (9.81)(5)2 = 𝟏𝟐𝟐. 𝟔𝟐𝟓 𝒎
2
4. A stone is dropped down a well and 5 sec later, the sound of the splash is heard. If the velocity of sound is 1120 ft per
sec, what is the depth of the well?

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑡𝑠 = 5 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑣𝑠 = 1120 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑡1 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝

𝑡𝑠 − 𝑡1 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑑

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
𝐼𝑓 𝑣𝑜 = 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛:

1
𝑑 = 𝑎𝑡 2 (𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)
2

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒:

1
𝑑 = 𝑔𝑡 2
2
1
𝑑 = (32.2)𝑡1 2
2

𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 1

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑:

𝑑 = 𝑣𝑠 𝑡

𝑑 = 1120 (5 − 𝑡1 )

𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 2

𝑑=𝑑

1
(32.2)𝑡1 2 = 1120(5 − 𝑡1 )
2

5600 − 1120𝑡1 = 16.1𝑡1 2

16.1𝑡1 2 + 1120𝑡1 − 5600 = 0

𝑡1 = 4.6845 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑡2 = −74.25 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕 = 𝟒. 𝟔𝟖𝟒𝟓 𝒔𝒆𝒄

1
𝒅 = (32.2)(4.6845)2 = 𝟑𝟓𝟑. 𝟑𝟏 𝒇𝒕
2
5. A stone dropped from a captive balloon at an elevation of 1000 ft. Two seconds later, another stone is projected
vertically upward from the ground with velocity of 248 ft per sec. If g = 32.2 ft per sec 2, when and where will the stones
pass each other?

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑣𝑂 2 = 248 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐

ℎ = 1000 𝑓𝑡

𝑔 = 32 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐 2

𝑡 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 1𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒

𝑡2 = 𝑡 − 2 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 2𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚:

1
𝑑 = 𝑔𝑡 2
2
1
1000 − ℎ = (32)𝑡 2
2

ℎ = 1000 − 16𝑡 2

𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 1

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
1
ℎ = 248(𝑡 − 2) − (32)(𝑡 − 2)2
2

ℎ = 248𝑡 − 496 − 16𝑡 2 + 64𝑡 − 64

ℎ = −16𝑡 2 + 312𝑡 − 560

𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 2

ℎ=ℎ

1000 − 16𝑡 2 = −16𝑡 2 + 312𝑡 − 560

𝒕 = 𝟓 𝒔𝒆𝒄

ℎ = 1000 − 16(5)5 = 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝒇𝒕

𝑰𝒏 𝑻𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕:

𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑵𝒐. 𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 − 𝟔𝟎𝟎 = −𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝒇𝒕 (𝑵𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑶 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝟏)

𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑵𝒐. 𝟐 = +𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝒇𝒕 (𝑷𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑶 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝟐)

6. A ball is shot vertically into the air at a velocity of 193.2 ft per sec. After 4 sec, another ball is shot vertically into the air.
What initial velocity must be the second ball have in order to meet the first ball 386.4 ft from the ground?

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑣𝑜 1 = 193.2 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐

ℎ = 386.4 𝑓𝑡

𝑡 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 1𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙

𝑡 − 4 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 2𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 1𝑠𝑡 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑙:

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
1
386.4 = 193.2𝑡 + (−32.2)𝑡 2
2

𝑡1 = 9.464 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑡2 = 2.536 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘

9.464 − 4 = 5.464 𝑠𝑒𝑐

2.536 − 4 = −1.464 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑇𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑡 = 9.464 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑙:

1
386.4 = 𝑣𝑜 (5.464) + (−32.2)(5.464)2
2

𝒗𝒐 = 𝟏𝟓𝟖. 𝟔𝟗 𝒇𝒕/𝒔𝒆𝒄

7. An automobile starting from rest speed up to 40 ft per sec with a constant acceleration of 4 ft per sec 2, runs at this
speed for a time, and finally comes to rest with a deceleration of 5 ft per sec2. If the total distance traveled is 1000 ft,
find the total time required.

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑣𝑜 = 0

𝑣𝑓 = 40 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑎 = 4 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐 2

𝑎 = −5 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐 2

𝑑 = 1000 𝑓𝑡
 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡

𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑜 = 𝑎𝑡1

40 − 0 = 4𝑡1

𝑡1 = 10 𝑠𝑒𝑐

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
1
𝑠1 = 0(10) + (4)(10)2
2
𝑠1 = 200 𝑓𝑡

𝑠 = 𝑣𝑡

𝑠2 = 40𝑡2

𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑜 = 𝑎𝑡3

0 − 40 = −5𝑡3

𝑡3 = 8 𝑠𝑒𝑐

1
𝑠3 = 40(8) + (−5)(8)2
2

𝑠3 = 160 𝑓𝑡

𝑠1 + 𝑠2 + 𝑠3 = 1000

𝑠2 = 1000 − 200 − 160 = 640 𝑓𝑡

640 = 40𝑡2

𝑡2 = 16 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑡𝑇 = 𝑡1 + 𝑡2 + 𝑡3 = 10 + 16 + 8 = 𝟑𝟒 𝒔𝒆𝒄

8. An automobile moving at a constant velocity of 45 ft per sec passes a gasoline station. Two seconds later, another
automobile leaves the gasoline station and accelerates at the constant rate of 6 ft per sec 2. How soon will the second
automobile overtake the first?

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑣𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒

𝑣1 = 45 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑎 = 6 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐 2

𝑠 = 𝑣𝑡

𝑠 = 45𝑡

𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 1
 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑣𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒

1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
1
𝑠 = 0 + (6)(𝑡 − 2)2
2
1
45𝑡 = (6)(𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 4)
2

𝑡 2 − 19𝑡 + 4 = 0

𝑡1 = 18.787 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑡2 = 0.2129

𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘:

18.787 − 2 = 16.787 𝑠𝑒𝑐

0.2129 − 2 = −1.7871 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝒕 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟕𝟖𝟕 𝒔𝒆𝒄