PHYS 001C Calculus-Based Physics

Topic: KINEMATIC EQUATIONS

Intended Learning Outcomes:

1. Relate position, velocity, acceleration and time when the acceleration is constant
2. Solve worded problems involving one-/ two-dimensional motions

When the acceleration a is constant, the following kinematic equations can be used.

1D (along x-axis) 1D (along y-axis) 2D

KE1

where:

KE2

where:

KE3

where: One - Dimensional Motion

(along x-axis)

Sample Problem 1.
Lawrence is approaching a stoplight moving with a velocity
of +30.0 m/s. The light turns yellow, and Lawrence applies
the brakes and skids to a stop. If Lawrence’s acceleration is -
8.00 m/s2, then determine the displacement of the car
during the skidding process and the time the car will stop.
These useful equations are not valid unless a is a constant.
In many cases we can set initial position to zero (0) and this
simplifies the above equations a bit. Note that t is the
elapsed time.
Sample Problem 2.
A car traveling at a constant speed of 45.0 m/s passes a
trooper on a motorcycle hidden behind a billboard. One
second after the speeding car passes the billboard, the
trooper sets out from the billboard to catch the car,
accelerating at a constant rate of 3.00 m/s^2. How long
does it take her to overtake the car?
One - Dimensional Motion
(along y-axis)
Sample Problem 3.
Rex throws his mother's crystal vase vertically upwards with
an initial velocity of 26.2 m/s. Determine the height to
which the vase will rise above its initial height.

FREE FALLING OBJECTS

A free falling object is any object moving freely under the

influence of gravity alone, regardless of its initial motion.
Objects thrown upward or downward and those released
from rest are all falling freely once they are released. Any
free falling object experiences acceleration directed
downward, regardless of its initial motion.
constant
Sample Problem 4.
Since acceleration is constant, kinematics equations can be
The boy drops the ball from a roof of the house which takes
used with
3 seconds to hit the ground. Calculate the velocity before
the ball crashes to the ground. How high is the roof?

Sample Problem 5.
A stone thrown from the top of a building is given an initial
velocity of 20.0 m/s straight upward. The building is 50.0 m
high, and the stone just misses the edge of the roof on its
way down, as shown in the figure.
a.) Using as the time the stone leaves the thrower’s
hand at position , determine the time at which the stone
reaches its maximum height.
b. ) Find the maximum height of the stone.
c.) Determine the velocity of the stone when it returns to
the height from which it was thrown.
d.) Find the velocity and position of the stone at t = 5.00 s.
Two - Dimensional Motion
PROJECTILE MOTION
- is an object thrown into the air upon which the only force
acting is gravity.
- is any object which once projected continues in motion by
its own inertia and is influenced only by the downward
force of gravity
Horizontal and Vertical Components of a Projectile’s
Motion
 projectile travel with a parabolic trajectory due to
the influence of gravity
 there are no horizontal forces acting upon a
projectile and thus no horizontal acceleration
 the horizontal velocity of a projectile is constant
(considering air resistance is negligible)
 there is a vertical acceleration caused by gravity;
its value is 9.8 m/s2, downward
 the vertical velocity of a projectile changes by 9.8
m/s each second
 the horizontal and vertical components of a
projectile motion are independent of each other
Parabolic Trajectory
SUPERPOSITION OF TWO DIMENSION MOTION:
1.) Constant velocity in the horizontal direction
since
2.) Constant acceleration in the vertical direction
m/s2
 3.) Initial Velocity

a.)Time of Flight

4.) Final Velocity

b.) Horizontal Distance (Range)

c.) Peak Height (maximum height)

5.) Time to reach maximum height

– the time from the instant when it is projected to

the time when it strikes the point in a horizontal
plane passing through the point. d.) Time to reach maximum height

6.) Maximum Height

e.) the x and y component at t=0.80s
- maximum value of the vertical distance attained
by the projectile .

f.) vector and magnitude at t=0.80s

7.) Range

- the distance from the point of projection to the

point where the projection strikes the point in a
horizontal plane.

Sample Problem 7.
A stone is thrown from the top of a building upward at an
Sample Problem 6. angle of 30.0° to the horizontal with an initial speed of 20.0
A long jumper leaves the ground with an initial velocity of m/s as shown in figure. The height of the building is 45.0 m.
12 m/s at an angle of 28-degrees above the horizontal. a.)
Determine the time of flight, b.) the horizontal distance, c.)
the peak height of the long-jumper, d.) the time it will reach
the peak height, e.) the x and y component at t=0.80s and
f.) express the velocity at t=0.80s in unit vector and
Given:
determine its magnitude.
a.) How long does it take the stone to reach the ground?

b.) What is the speed of the stone just before it strikes the
ground?

Sample Problem 8.
To start an avalanche on a mountain slope, an artillery shell
is fired with an initial velocity of 300 m/s at 55.0°above the
horizontal. It explodes on the mountainside 42.0s after
firing. What are the x and y coordinates of the shell where it
explodes, relative to its firing point?