Workshop 4 - Kinematic Equations

Learning goals: Students will be able to

1. Extract useful information from a word problem.

2. Rearrange the kinematic equations to solve for a kinematic quantity in a given scenario

Set-up: Attempt these problems on your own. You may get hints and strategies from your neighbours
if you get stuck.

Useful Equations:

1
vf = vi + a∆t ∆x = vi ∆t + a∆t2
2
1
∆x = (vi + vf )∆t vf2 = vi2 + 2a∆x
2
1
∆x = vf ∆t − a∆t2
2

Two key rules for manipulating equations

1. To move a quantity / variable / term from one side of the equals sign to the other, you must
perform the opposite operation.
2. Whatever you do to one side of the equation, you MUST do to the other side as well.

Questions

1. Rearranging the equations of motion (10 min).

a. Suppose you needed to use ∆x = vi ∆t + 12 a∆t2 to work out vi . How would you rearrange
this equation to make vi the subject?

b. Suppose you wanted to make ∆x the subject of vf2 = vi2 + 2a∆x. Show that you can do it
two ways and get the same answer.

• By dividing by 2a first and then rearranging for ∆x,

• By moving vi2 across first, then solving for ∆x.

2. Emergency braking (15 min).

You are driving by your local park at 54 km/h when suddenly a ball rolls onto the road between
parked cars 15 m in front of you. Fearing that a child is not far behind, you slam on the brakes.
Although you did not anticipate the situation , it only takes you 0.75 s to react and engage the
brakes that decelerate the car at 6.5 m/s2 . Will you be able to stop in front of the ball?

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Workshop 4 - Kinematic Equations

3. Average speed (10 min).

Your drive to campus has a distance of 8.5 km and there are 8 traffic lights. Usually you have
to stop at 6 red lights and wait on average 30 seconds at each. You are late to class and drive
faster than usual: 65 km/h instead of 50 km/h, and encounter 6 red lights. If we neglect the time
it takes to accelerate,

a. How much time do you gain by speeding?

b. What are your average speeds in both cases for the whole journey?