Chapter 12 :

Kinematics of a Particle
（II）

by

Dr. Toh Hoong Thiam

 Rectilinear Kinematics:
Erratic Motion

• When a particle’s motion is erratic, it is best described

graphically using a series of curves

• A graph is used to described the relationship with any 2 of the

variables: s, v, a, t using the kinematics equations

ds dv dv
v= , a= or a= v
dt dt ds
(I) Given the s-t graph, construct the v-t graph

• The s − t graph is given

• Velocity at any instant is given by

ds
v
dt

velocity = slope of
s-t graph
(II) Given the v-t graph, construct the a-t graph

• The v − t graph is given

• Acceleration at any instant is given by

dv
a
dt

acceleration = slope of
v-t graph
Note:

 Differentiation reduces a polynomial of degree n to that of

degree n-1.

 If the s-t graph is parabolic (2nd degree curve), then

 the v-t graph will be a sloping line (a first-degree curve),

 the a-t graph will be a constant or a horizontal line (a

zero-degree curve)
Example 12.6

Given:
A bicycle moves along a
straight road such that its
position is described by
the graph as shown.

Find:

Construct the v-t and a-t graphs for 0 ≤ t ≤ 30s.

Solution:
v-t Graph
The v-t graph can be determined
by differentiating the equations
defining the s-t graph.

0 ≤ t < 10 s : s = (0.3 t2 ) m
ds
v
dt
v = (0.6 t) m/s

10 s < t ≤ 30 s : s = (6t − 30) m

ds
v
dt
v = 6 m/s
Note:

•We can obtain specific values

of v by measuring the slope
of the s-t graph at a given
time instant.

• For example, at t =20 s,

20

s 150  30
v   6 m/s
t 30  10
a-t Graph
The a-t graph can be determined
by differentiating the equations
defining the lines of the v-t graph.

0 ≤ t < 10 s : v = 0.6 t m/s

dv
a
dt

a = 0.6 m/s2

10 s < t ≤ 30 s : v = 6 m/s
dv
a
dt
a=0
(III) Given the a-t graph, construct the v-t graph
 When the a-t graph is known, the v-t graph may be constructed
dv
using a = .
dt

 dv   a dt

v   a dt

change in area under a-t

velocity
= graph
1) Using the a−t graph, determine

v   a dt
t1

2) Add the small increments of area (Δv)

to v0 to obtain v1 for the v-t graph
v1 = v0 + v

3) Repeat steps 1~ 2 for successive points.

Note:
If it is possible to describe each of the segments of the a-t graph by a series of
equations, then each of these equations may be integrated to yield equations for the
corresponding segments of the v-t graph.
(IV) Given the v-t graph, construct the s-t graph

 When the v-t graph is known, the s-t graph may be constructed
ds
using v = .
dt

 ds   v dt

s   v dt

displacement = area under

v-t graph
1) Using the v−t graph, determine

s   v dt
t1

2) Add the small increments of area (Δs)

to s0 to obtain s1 for the s-t graph

s1 = s0 + s

3) Repeat steps 1~ 2 for successive points.

Note:
If it is possible to describe each of the segments of the v-t graph by a series of
equations, then each of these equations may be integrated to yield equations for the
corresponding segments of the s-t graph.
Example 12.7
Given:

A car starts from rest and

travels along a straight track
such that it accelerates at 10
m/s2 for 10 s and then
decelerates at 2 m/s2.

Find:
• Draw the v-t and s-t graphs and the time t’ needed to stop the car.
• Determine the distance that the car has traveled.
Solution:
v-t Graph
• The v-t graph can be determined by
integrating the straight-line segments
of the a-t graph.

• For 0 ≤ t ≤ 10s, a = 10 m/s2

dv
 10 & v = 0 when t = 0 (initial condition)
dt

 dv   10 dt
v t
100
0 0

v = 10 t

When t =10s, v = 10(10) =100 m/s.

• For 10 s ≤ t ≤ t’,

a = −2 m/s2

dv
 2 & when t = 10 s, v =100 m/s (initial condition).
dt

   2 dt
v t
dv 
100 10

v − 100 = −2 (t −10)

v = −2 t + 120

• When t = t’, v = 0,

0 = − 2 t’ + 120
t’ = 60 s
s-t Graph

ds
Since = v , integrating the
dt
equations of the v-t graph yields
the corresponding equations of
the s-t graph.
• For 0 ≤ t ≤ 10s, v = 10 t

ds
 10 t & when t = 0, s = 0.
dt

 ds   10 t dt
s t

0 0

s = 5 t2 500

When t =10s, s = 5(10) 2 =500 m.

• For 10 s ≤ t ≤ 60s,

v = − 2t + 120

ds
 2t  120 & when t = 10 s, s =500 m.
dt

   2t  120 dt
s t
ds 
500 10

s500
s
 [t 2  120t ]10
t

s − 500 = {−t2 +120t} − {− 102 + 120(10)}

s = − t 2 + 120t − 600
• When t = t’ = 60s,

s = − (60)2 + 120(60) − 600

s = 3000 m

• Hence, the s- t graph is as follows:

(V) Given the a-s graph, construct the v-s graph

 v-s graph can be determined by using v dv = a ds.

 Integrating this equation between the limits v = v0 at s = s0

and v = v1 at s = s1, we have
v1 s1

v0
v dv   a ds
s0

1
2 v 2
1
2
0 
 v   a ds
s0
s1

area under
a-s graph
1) Determine the initial segment of
area under the a−s graph, i.e.,
s1
A   a ds
s0

2) If v0 at s0 is known, then using

v 
s1
1
2
2
1  v02   a ds
s0
we have 1

v1   2  a ds  v02 
s1 2

 s0 
or

 
1
v1  2 ΔA  v 2 2
0

3) Repeat steps 1~ 2 for successive points.

(VI) Given the v-s graph, construct the a-s graph

 If v-s graph is known, the acceleration a at any position s can be

determined using a ds = v dsv

 dv 
a v 
 ds 

acceleration = velocity times

slope of v-s graph
 At any point (s,v), the slope dv/ds of
the v-s graph is measured.

 Since v is know, a can be calculated

using

 dv 
a v 
 ds 

 The graph of a−s can then be plotted.

Example 12.8

Given:

The v-s graph describing the

motion of a motorcycle is shown
in the figure.

Find:
• Construct the a-s graph of the motion.
• Determine the time needed for the motorcycle to reach the
position s = 120 m.
Solution:
a –s Graph
Since the equations for the segments
of the v-s graph are given, the a-s
graph can be determined using
dv
a=v
ds

• For 0 ≤ s < 60 m, v = 0.2 s +3

dv
av
ds

a  0.2s  3 d
0.2s  3
ds
a  0.2 s  30.2 

a = 0.04 s + 0.6
• For 60 m < s ≤ 120 m, v = 15
dv
av
ds

a  15 15
d
ds

a =(15)(0) = 0

• The graph of a−s is as follows.

Time
• For 0 ≤ s < 60 m, v = (0.2 s +3) m/s;

ds
v & s = 0 when t = 0.
dt
ds
0.2s  3 
dt
t s ds

0
dt  
0 0.2s  3

t t0  1
ln 0.2s  30s
0.2

t = 5 [ ln (0.2s + 3) – ln 3]

At s = 60 m, t = 5 { ln [0.2 (60) + 3] – ln 3} = 8.05 s

• For 60 m < s ≤ 120 m, v = 15 m/s;

ds
 15 & s = 60 m when t = 8.05 s
dt
ds

t
dt  
s

8.05 60 15

t  t
8.05  s 60
1 s
15

t  8.05  s  60 
1
15

t
s  60
 8.05
15

At s = 120 m, t
120  60  8.05  12.05 s
15