1

Modules in
Physics 1 for Engineers

SESSION TOPIC 1: Motions in one Dimension

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the session, you will:

1. Analyze the motion of an object along a straight path.
2. Measure the lengths and time as described to quantify the motion.
3. Understand the application of motion in one dimension in real-life situations.

KEY TERMS
Kinematics Displacement Average Velocity Instantaneous Speed
Position Average Speed Instantaneous Velocity Average Acceleration
Gravitational
Free Fall Constant Acceleration Air Resistance
Acceleration

CORE CONTENT

Introduction

This module begins the discussion about kinematics – investigating the objects without regard for
interactions with the environment influencing the motion. Motion is being studied even in the early days
until today by scientists. Every day, it happens everywhere, as it represents the continuous change of the
object’s position. Primarily, this module will give you an idea of analyzing the motion of an object along
the straight path known as Motion in One Dimension. Measurement of length and time is substantial as
they will quantify the movement of the object. One of the most significant applications of Motion in One
Dimension is an object moving vertically and subject to gravity, which will discuss further in this module
as well.

Position, Velocity, and Speed of a Particle

Position x of the particle is the location with respect to a chosen reference point consider as the
origin of the coordinate system (Cartesian plane). If it is known at all times, the motion of the particle is
completely known.
Consider Figure 1, a car moving back and forth along the x – position. Initially, the car is at 30 m
to the right with x = 0 as reference position. From its initial position, the time starts, and every 10 s, the
position will be taken. After 10 seconds, the position of the car is at point B, then it begins to decrease
showing that the car is backing up from position B to F. At position D, 30 seconds after the start of
measuring, the car is at the origin of coordinates. It moves continuously to left to more than 50 m.
Table 1 shows the motion of the car in every 10 seconds from position A. It indicates that at point
A, the time is 0 and position is at 30 m to the right. At position B, it happened after 10 seconds at x = 52
 2

m. At position C, it happened after 20 seconds at x = 38 m. Position D happened after 30 seconds at x = 0.

Position E happened after 40 seconds at x = -37 until reaching position F at time of 50 seconds at x = -53
m (or 53 m, left of x = 0 as the reference point). Table 1 can be presented as in Figure 2 giving the position-
time-graph.

Figure 1. A pictorial representation of the motion of the car. Reprinted

from Physics for Scientists and Engineers 10th Edition (p. 22), by R. A.
Serway and J. W. Jewettt, Cengage, Copyright 2018.

Table 1
Position of the Car at Various Times
Position t(s) x(m)

A 0 30
B 10 52
C 20 38
D 30 0
E 40 -37
F 50 -53
Note: Reprinted from Physics for Scientists and Engineers 10 th Edition
(p. 21), by R. A. Serway and J. W. Jewettt, Cengage, Copyright 2018
 3

Figure 2. A pictorial representation of the motion of the car. Reprinted

from Physics for Scientists and Engineers 10th Edition (p. 22), by R. A.
Serway and J. W. Jewettt, Cengage, Copyright 2018.

It can be observed the change in the position of the car in an interval of time and this is called
displacement represented by ∆𝑥. Mathematically expressed as:

∆𝑥 ≡ 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖

Where 𝑥𝑖 is the initial position and 𝑥𝑓 is final position. Displacement can be positive if 𝑥𝑓 is greater
than 𝑥𝑖 and can be negative if 𝑥𝑖 is greater than 𝑥𝑓 . On the other hand distance is different from
displacement. Distance refers to the length of path followed by a particle. This means that it is absolute
(cannot be negative).
Displacement is an example of vector quantity while distance is classified as scalar quantity.
Vector quantity is defined as a quantity that requires the specifications of both magnitude and direction
while scalar quantity only requires magnitude.
Observing again the motion of the car in Figures 1 and 2. It is clear that the car covers more ground
during the middle of the 50-second interval than at the end. Between positions C and D, the car changes
position for almost 40 m, but during the last 10 seconds between points E and F, it changes position by
less than half that much. A common way of comparing these different motions is to divide the
displacement that occurs between two-time readings by the value of the particular time interval that
represents ∆𝑡. The results produce a ratio called average velocity 𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 of a particle defined as the
particle’s displacement ∆𝑥 divided by the time interval ∆𝑡 during which the displacement occurs. From its
definition it yields a unit of meters per second in SI units and can be positive or negative depending on
the sign of the displacement.
 4

∆𝑥
𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 ≡
∆𝑡

In moving object, the speed and velocity are interchangeable and they have distinction. Consider
a marathon runner who runs a distance d of more than 40 km and yet ends up at starting point. The total
displacement is zero, so the average velocity is zero. However, it is necessary to quantify how fast the
running is. A slightly different ratio accomplishes called average speed 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 – a scalar quantity defined as
the total distance d traveled divided by the total time interval required to travel that distance. It expresses
mathematically as:

𝑑
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 ≡
∆𝑡

The unit of average speed is similar with the average velocity: meters per second. However, unlike
average velocity, average speed is always positive since it has no direction.

Example. Calculating the Average Velocity and Speed

Find the displacement, average velocity, and average speed of the car in Figure 1 between the position A
and B.

Answer

Displacement : ∆𝑥 = 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥𝐹 − 𝑥𝐴 = −53𝑚 − 30 𝑚 = −83 𝑚

∆𝑥 𝑥𝑓 −𝑥𝑖 𝑥𝐹−𝑥𝐴 −53𝑚−30𝑚 −83

Average Velocity : 𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = = = = = = −1.66 𝑚/𝑠
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑓 −𝑡𝑖 𝑡𝐹−𝑡𝐴 50 𝑠−0 𝑠 50𝑠

𝑑
Average Speed :
∆𝑡

The distance traveled is 22 m from A to B plus 105 m from B to F,

for a total of 127 m. Then,

𝑑 127 𝑚
= = 2.54 𝑚/𝑠
∆𝑡 50 𝑠

Instantaneous Velocity and Speed

Consider Figure 2 to know the velocity of a particle at a particular instant in time. Recall that the
car starts out by moving to the right, which defined as a positive direction. Therefore, being positive, the
value of the average velocity during the interval from position A to B is more representative of the initial
velocity than is the value of the average velocity during the interval from A to F, which determined to be
negative. See the short blue line in Figure 3 and imagine sliding point B to the left along the curve, toward
point A. The line between the points becomes steeper and steeper, and as the two points become
 5

extremely close together, the line becomes a tangent line to the curve, indicated by the green line. The
slope of this tangent line represents the velocity of the car at point A also called as instantaneous velocity
𝑣𝑥 – equals the limiting value of the ratio ∆𝑥/∆𝑡 as ∆𝑡 approaches zero:

∆𝑥
𝑣𝑥 ≡ lim
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡

In calculus notation, this limit is called the derivative of x with respect to t, written as 𝑑𝑥/𝑑𝑡.
Thus,

∆𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑣𝑥 ≡ lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Figure 3. A pictorial representation of the motion of the car. Reprinted

from Physics for Scientists and Engineers 10th Edition (p. 25), by R. A.
Serway and J. W. Jewettt, Cengage, Copyright 2018.

Instantaneous velocity can be positive, negative, or zero. For convenience, instantaneous velocity
will designate a word velocity and for average velocity as is. Additionally, instantaneous speed of a particle
is defined as the magnitude of its instantaneous velocity. As with average speed, instantaneous speed has
no direction associated with it.

Example. The Velocity of Different Objects

Consider the following one-dimensional motions: (a) a ball thrown directly upward rises to a highest point
and falls back into the thrower’s hand; (b) a race car starts from rest and speeds up to 100 m/s; and (c) a
spacecraft drifts through a space at constant velocity. Are there any points in the motion of these objects
at which the instantaneous velocity has the same value as the average velocity over the entire motion?
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Answer

For (a): The average velocity for the thrown ball is zero because the ball returns to the starting point;
therefore, its displacement is zero. There is one point at which the instantaneous velocity is zero: at the
top of the motion.

For (b): The car’s average velocity cannot be evaluated unambiguously with the information given, but it
must have some value between 0 and 100 m/s. Because the car will have every instantaneous velocity
between 0 and 100 m/s at some time during the interval, there must be some instant at which the
instantaneous velocity is equal to the average velocity over the entire motion.

For (c): Because the spacecraft’s instantaneous velocity is constant at any time and its average velocity
over any time interval are the same.

Example. Average and Instantaneous Velocity

A particle moves along the x axis. Its position varies with

time according to the expression 𝑥 = −4𝑡 + 2𝑡 2 , where 𝑥
is in meters and 𝑡 is in seconds. The position-time graph for
this motion is on the right. Because the position of the
particle is given by a mathematical function, the motion of
the particle is known at all times, unlike that of the car in
Figure 1, where data is only provided at six instants of time.
Notice that the particle moves in the negative 𝑥 direction
for the first second motion, is momentarily at rest at the
moment 𝑡 = 1 𝑠, and moves in the positive 𝑥 direction at
time 𝑡 > 1 𝑠.

a. Determine the displacement of the particle in the time intervals 𝑡 = 0 to 𝑡 = 1 𝑠 and 𝑡 = 1 𝑠 to 𝑡 = 3 𝑠.

b. Calculate the average velocity during these two time intervals.

c. Find the instantaneous velocity of the particle at 𝑡 = 2.5 𝑠.

Answer

For (a): ∆𝑥𝐴→𝐵 = 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥𝐵 − 𝑥𝐴

= [−(4(1) + 2(1)2 ]— 4(0) + 2(0)2
= −2 𝑚

∆𝑥𝐵→𝐷 = 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥𝐷 − 𝑥𝐵
= [−4(3) + 2(3)2 ] − [−4(1) + 2(1)2 ]
= +8 𝑚
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∆𝑥𝐴→𝐵 −2 𝑚
For (b): 𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔𝐴→𝐵 = = = −2 𝑚/𝑠
∆𝑡 1𝑠

∆𝑥𝐵→𝐷 8𝑚
𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔𝐵→𝐷 = = = +4 𝑚/𝑠
∆𝑡 2𝑠

10 𝑚−(−4𝑚)
For (c): 𝑣𝑥 = = + 6 𝑚/𝑠
3.8 𝑠−1.5 𝑠

Alternative Solution for c

∆𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Since 𝑣𝑥 ≡ lim = then,
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑥 = −4𝑡 + 2𝑡 2

𝑑𝑥
= −4 + 4𝑡
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑥
𝑣𝑥 = = −4 + 4𝑡
𝑑𝑡

Let 𝑡 = 2.5 𝑠

𝑣𝑥 = −4 + 4(2.5)

𝑣𝑥 = +6 𝑚/𝑠

Particle under Constant Velocity

Imagine a moving object that can be modeled as a particle. If it moves at a constant speed
through a displacement ∆𝑥 in a straight line in a time interval ∆𝑡, its constant velocity is

𝑣𝑥 = ∆𝑥/∆𝑡

The position of the particle as a function of time is

given by

𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥 𝑡

Examples

1. A meteoroid traveling through gravity-free space.

2. A car traveling at a constant speed on a straight highway.
3. A runner traveling at a constant speed on a perfectly straight path.
4. An object moving at terminal speed through a viscous medium.
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Particle under Constant Speed

Imagine a moving object that can be modeled as a

particle. If it moves at a constant speed through a distance d
along a straight line or a curved path in a time interval ∆𝑡, its
constant speed is

𝑑
𝑣=
∆𝑡
Examples

1. A planet traveling around a perfectly circular orbit.

2. A car traveling at a constant speed on a curved racetrack.
3. A runner traveling at a constant speed on a curved path.
4. A charged particle moving through a uniform magnetic field.

Example. Modeling a Runner as a Particle

A kinesiologist is studying the biomechanics of the human body. (Kinesiology is the study of the movement
of the human body. Notice the connection to the word kinematics) She determines the velocity of an
experimental subject while he runs along a straight line at a constant rate. The kinesiologist starts the
stopwatch at the moment the runner passes a given point and stops it after the runner has passed another
point 20 m away. The time interval on the stopwatch is 4.0 s.

a. What is the runner’s velocity?

b. If the runner continues his motion after the stopwatch is stopped, what is his position after 10 s have
passed?

Answer

∆𝑥 𝑥𝑓−𝑥𝑖 20 𝑚−0
For (a): 𝑣𝑥 = = = = 5.00 𝑚/𝑠
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡 4.0 𝑠

𝑚
For (b): 𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥 𝑡 = 0 + (5 ) (10 𝑠) = 50 𝑚
𝑠

Example. Particle Moving at a Constant Speed

If the speed is 5.00 m/s and the radius of the path is 10.0 m, what time interval required to complete one
trip around the circle?

𝑑 𝑑 2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋(10.0 𝑚)
𝑣= → ∆𝑡 = = = = 12.60 𝑠
∆𝑡 𝑣 𝑣 5.00 𝑚/𝑠
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Acceleration

The particle is accelerating when the velocity of a particle changes with time. Suppose the car in
Figure 4 that moves with different velocities from points A and B at an interval of time. The car moving at
x axis has an initial velocity 𝑣𝑥𝑖 at time 𝑡𝑖 at position A and a final velocity 𝑣𝑥𝑓 at time 𝑡𝑓 at position B.
Using the car’s motions to model the graph in Figure 5, the red-brown curve shows how the velocity varies
with time. The average acceleration 𝑎𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 of the car is defined as the change in velocity ∆𝑣𝑥 divided by
the time interval ∆𝑡 during which that change occurs.

∆𝑣𝑥 𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖

𝑎𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑓 − 𝑡𝑖
Average acceleration can be positive or negative depending on the change in velocity. Because
the unit of velocity in SI unit is m/s, then for average acceleration, the unit is m/s 2.

Figure 4. A pictorial representation of the motion of the car. Reprinted

from Physics for Scientists and Engineers 10th Edition (p. 33), by R. A.
Serway and J. W. Jewettt, Cengage, Copyright 2018.
 10

Figure 5. A pictorial representation of the motion of the car. Reprinted

from Physics for Scientists and Engineers 10th Edition (p. 33), by R. A.
Serway and J. W. Jewettt, Cengage, Copyright 2018.

In some situations, the value of the average acceleration may be different over different time
intervals. Such case instantaneous acceleration defined as the limit of the average acceleration as ∆𝑡
approaches zero. This definition is analogous to the instantaneous velocity. Mathematically,
instantaneous acceleration is expressed as:

∆𝑣𝑥 𝑑𝑣𝑥
𝑎𝑥 ≡ lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

This notation of instantaneous acceleration is equal to the derivative of the velocity with respect
to time, which by definition is the slope of the velocity – time graph. The slope of the green line in Figure
5 is equal to the instantaneous acceleration at point B. Recall that velocity of a moving particle is the slope
at a point on the x – t graph, the acceleration is the slope at a point on the particle’s 𝑣𝑥 − 𝑡 grapg. One
can interpret the derivative of the velocity with respect to time as the time rate of change of velocity. If
𝑎𝑥 is positive, the acceleration is in in positive x direction; if 𝑎𝑥 is negative, the acceleration is in the
negative x direction.
The direction of the velocity and acceleration of an object are related for the case of motion in a
straight line. When object’s velocity and acceleration are the same direction, the object speeds up while
when they are opposite directions, they objects slows down.
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Example. Average and Instantaneous Acceleration

The velocity of a particle moving along the x axis varies

according to the expression 𝑣𝑥 = 40 − 5𝑡 2 (the function is on
the right), where 𝑣𝑥 is in meters per second and its t in
seconds.

a. Find the average acceleration in the time interval t = 0 to t

= 2.0 s.

b. Determine the acceleration at t = 2.00 s.

Answer

For (a): 𝑣𝑥𝐴 = 40 − 5𝑡𝐴2 = 40 − 5(0)2 = +40 𝑚/𝑠

𝑣𝑥𝐵 = 40 − 5𝑡𝐵2 = 40 − 5(2)2 = +20 𝑚/𝑠

𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑥𝑓 −𝑣𝑥𝑖 𝑣𝑥𝐵−𝑣𝑥𝐴 20 𝑠 − 40 𝑠
𝑎𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = = =
𝑡𝑓 −𝑡𝑖 𝑡𝐵 −𝑡𝐴 2.0 𝑠−0 𝑠

= −10 𝑚/𝑠2

For (b): 𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 40 − 5(𝑡 + ∆𝑡)2 = 40 − 5𝑡 2 − 10𝑡∆𝑡 − 5(∆𝑡)2

∆𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖 = −10𝑡∆𝑡 − 5(∆𝑡)2

∆𝑣𝑥
𝑎𝑥 = lim = lim (−10 − 5∆𝑡) = −10𝑡
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 ∆𝑡→0
Substituting t = 2.0 s

𝑎𝑥 = −10𝑡 = −10(2.0) = −20 𝑚/𝑠2

Constant Acceleration

The motion of a particle can be complex and difficult to analyze if its acceleration varies time.
Constant acceleration happens in a common and simple type one-dimensional motion. In this case, the
average acceleration 𝑎𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 over any time interval is numerically equal to the instantaneous acceleration
𝑎𝑥 at any instant within the interval, and the velocity changes at the same rate throughout the motion.
Introducing the formula of the average acceleration:

∆𝑣𝑥 𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖

𝑎𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑓 − 𝑡𝑖

Replacing 𝑎𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 to 𝑎𝑥 and take 𝑡𝑖 = 0 and 𝑡𝑓 to be any later time 𝑡, then:

 12

𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖 𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖

𝑎𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 𝑎𝑥 = =
𝑡𝑓 − 𝑡𝑖 𝑡−0

𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖
𝑎𝑥 = → 𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡
𝑡−0

This expression can be used to determine the object’s velocity at any time t if the initial velocity
𝑣𝑥𝑖 and constant acceleration are known.
Based on the equation 𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡, the velocity at constant acceleration varies linearly in
time, the average velocity in any time interval can be expressed as the arithmetic mean of the initial
velocity 𝑣𝑥𝑖 and the final velocity 𝑣𝑥𝑓 .

𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓
𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =
2

Note: This expression can only applies in constant acceleration.

∆𝑥
For the position of an object at constant acceleration, equations ∆𝑥 = 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 , 𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = , and
∆𝑡
𝑣𝑥𝑖 +𝑣𝑥𝑓 ∆𝑥
𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = will be used. Combining ∆𝑥 = 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 and 𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = .
2 ∆𝑡

∆𝑥
𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 = → ∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 ∆𝑡
∆𝑡

∆𝑥 = 𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖

𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑣𝑥,𝑎𝑣𝑔 ∆𝑡

𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓
𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 = ( ) (𝑡 − 0)
2
1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + (𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓 )𝑡
2

This expression determines the final position of an object at time t if the initial and final velocities
are known at constant acceleration.
Another expression will be useful in finding the final position by using the formulas 𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 +
1
𝑎𝑥 𝑡 and 𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + (𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓 )𝑡:
2

1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + [𝑣𝑥𝑖 + (𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡)]𝑡
2

1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + [𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡]𝑡
2
 13

1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + [2𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡]𝑡
2

1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2

This expression is useful in finding the final position of a particle at time t if the initial velocity and
constant acceleration are known.
1
Equations 𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 and 𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + (𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓 )𝑡 can only be used to derive a formula of
2
finding the final velocity that do not contain time as a variable.

1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + (𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓 )𝑡
2

Since

𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖
𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 → 𝑡 =
𝑎𝑥

Then

1 𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + (𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓 ) ( )
2 𝑎𝑥

2 2
𝑣𝑥𝑓 − 𝑣𝑥𝑖
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + ( )
2𝑎𝑥

2 2
𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 2𝑎𝑥 (𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 )

This equation is determining the final velocity where initial velocity, position, and constant
acceleration are given.

1
For motion at zero acceleration, equations 𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 and 𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2 will be:
2

𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 = 𝑣𝑥
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥 𝑡 } 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑥 = 0

This means that if the acceleration of a particle is zero, its velocity is constant and its position
changes linearly with time.
2 2
The equations 𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 and 𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 2𝑎𝑥 (𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 ) are called kinematic equation that
may be used to solve any problem involving a particle under constant acceleration in one dimension.
 14

Example. Carrier Landing

A jet lands on an aircraft carriers at a speed of 140 mi/h (63 m/s).

a. What is its constant acceleration if it stops in 2.0 s due to an arresting cable that snags the jet and brings
it to a stop?

b. If the jet touches down at position 𝑥𝑖 = 0, what is its final position?

Answer

𝑣𝑥𝑓 −𝑣𝑥𝑖 0−63 𝑚/𝑠

For (a): 𝑎𝑥 = =
𝑡 2.0 𝑠

𝑎𝑥 = −32 𝑚/𝑠2

1 1 𝑚
For (b): 𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + (𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓 )𝑡 = 0 + (63 + 0) (2.0 𝑠) = 63 𝑚
2 2 𝑠

Example. Speed Limit

You are driving at a constant speed of 45.0

m/s when you pass a trooper on a
motorcycle hidden behind a billboard. One
second after your car passes the billboard,
the trooper sets out from the billboard to
catch you, accelerating at a constant rate
of 3.00 m/s2. How long does it take the
trooper to overtake your car?

Answer

Write the expression for the position of each vehicle as a function of time. Choose the position of the
billboard as the origin and set 𝑡𝐵 = 0 as the time trooper begins moving. At that instant, your car has
already traveled distance of 45.00 m from the billboard because it has traveled at a constant speed of
𝑣𝑥 = 45 𝑚/𝑠 for 1 s. Therefore, the initial position of your car is at 𝑥𝐵 = 45.00 𝑚.
𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 = 𝑥𝐵 + 𝑣𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 𝑡

A quick check shows that at 𝑡 = 0, this expression gives your car’s correct initial position when the trooper
begins to move: 𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 = 𝑥𝐵 = 45 𝑚.

The trooper starts from rest at 𝑡𝐵 = 0 and accelerates at 𝑎𝑥 = 3.00 𝑚/𝑠2 away from the origin.

1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2
 15

1 1
𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟 = 0 + (0)𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2 2

The position of your car and the trooper equal to represent the trooper overtaking your car at position C
as seen in the Figure showing the illustration of the example problem.

𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟 = 𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟

1
𝑎 𝑡 2 = 𝑥𝐵 + 𝑣𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 𝑡
2 𝑥

1
𝑎 𝑡 2 − 𝑣𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 𝑡 − 𝑥𝐵 = 0
2 𝑥

2
𝑣𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 ± √𝑣𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 + 2𝑎𝑥 𝑥𝐵
𝑡=
𝑎𝑥

𝑣𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 2
𝑣𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑟 2𝑥𝐵
𝑡= ±√ 2 +
𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑥

𝑚 2
45.00 𝑚/𝑠 (45.00 )
𝑡= + √ 𝑠 + 2(45.00 𝑚) = 31.00 𝑠
3.00 𝑚/𝑠2 𝑚 2 3.00 𝑚/𝑠2
(3.00 2 )
𝑠

Free Falling Objects

In the absence of air resistance, all objects dropped near the Earth’s surface fall toward it with the
same constant acceleration under the influence of the Earth’s gravity, regardless of their mass. Galileo
formulated the laws that govern the motion of objects in free fall.
It is not necessarily to refer an object dropped from rest when expressing free falling object. It is
pertaining to an 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 freely falling object experiences an acceleration directed downward, regardless of its initial
motion.
The magnitude of free-fall acceleration known also as acceleration due to gravity will be denoted
by symbol g. Its value decreases with increasing altitude above the Earth’s surface. Moreover, slight
variation in g occur with changes in latitude. However, at Earth’s surface, the value of g is approximately
equals to 9.80 m/s2. And so, this value will be used in Physics 1 for Engineers.
Neglecting air resistance and assuming the free-fall acceleration does not vary with altitude over
short vertical distances, the motion of a freely falling object moving vertically is equivalent to the motion
of a particle under constant acceleration in one dimension. Therefore, expressions used to calculate
conditions under constant acceleration are very useful for free-fall. Then:
 16

Particle Under Constant

Particle Under Free-Fall
Acceleration

𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 𝑣𝑦𝑓 = 𝑣𝑦𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 → 𝑣𝑦𝑓 = 𝑣𝑦𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡

1 1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + (𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑓 )𝑡 𝑦𝑓 = 𝑦𝑖 + (𝑣𝑦𝑖 + 𝑣𝑦𝑓 )𝑡
2 2

1 1 1
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑣𝑥𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2 𝑦𝑓 = 𝑦𝑖 + 𝑣𝑦𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2 → 𝑦𝑓 = 𝑦𝑖 + 𝑣𝑦𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2
2 2 2

2 2 2 2 2 2
𝑣𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑥𝑖 + 2𝑎𝑥 (𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 ) 𝑣𝑦𝑓 = 𝑣𝑦𝑖 + 2𝑎𝑦 (𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 ) → 𝑣𝑦𝑓 = 𝑣𝑦𝑖 + 2𝑔(𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 )

Example. The Daring Skydivers

A skydiver jumps out of a hovering helicopter. A few seconds later, another skydiver jumps out, and they
both fall along the same vertical line. Ignore air resistance so that both skydivers fall with the same
acceleration. Does the difference in their speeds stay the same throughout the fall? Does the vertical
distance between them stay the same throughout the fall?

Answer. At any given instant, the speeds of the skydivers are different because one had a head start.in
any time interval ∆𝑡 after this instant, however, two skydivers increase their speeds by the same amount
because they have the same acceleration. Therefore, the difference in their speeds remains the same
throughout the fall.

The first jumper always has a greater speed than the second. Therefore, in a given interval, the first
skydiver covers a greater distance than the second. Consequently, the separation distance between them
increases.

Example. Not a Bad Throw for a Rookie

A stone thrown from the top of a building is given an initial velocity of 20.00 m/s straight upward. The
stone is launched 50.0 m above the ground, and the stone just misses the edge of the roof on its way
down as shown on the right illustration.
 17

a. Using 𝑡𝐴 = 0 as the time the stone leaves the

thrower’s hand at positive A, determine the time
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.

Answer

𝑣𝑦𝑓−𝑣𝑦𝑖
For (a): 𝑣𝑦𝑓 = 𝑣𝑦𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡 → 𝑡 =
𝑔

𝑣𝑦𝐵 − 𝑣𝑦𝐴
→ 𝑡 = 𝑡𝐵 =
𝑔

0−20.0 𝑚/𝑠
𝑡𝐵 = = 2.04 𝑠
−9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2

1
For (b): 𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑦𝐵 = 𝑦𝐴 + 𝑣𝑥𝐴 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2
2

𝑦𝐵 = 0 + (20 𝑚/𝑠)(2.04 𝑠)
1
+ (−9.8𝑚/𝑠2 )(2.04 𝑠)2
2
= 20.4 𝑚

2 2
For (c): 𝑣𝑦𝐶 = 𝑣𝑦𝐶 + 2𝑔(𝑦𝐶 − 𝑦𝐴 )

2
𝑣𝑦𝐶 = (20.0 𝑚/𝑠)2
+2(−9.80𝑚/𝑠2 )(0 − 0)
2
𝑣𝑦𝐶 = 400 𝑚2 /𝑠2

2
√𝑣𝑦𝐶 = √400 𝑚2 /𝑠2

𝑣𝑦𝐶 = −20.00 𝑚/𝑠

For (d): 𝑣𝑦𝐷 = 𝑣𝑦𝐴 + 𝑔𝑡 = 20.00 𝑚/𝑠 + (−9.80 𝑚/𝑠2 )(5.00 𝑠)

𝑚
= −29.00
𝑠
 18

1
𝑦𝐷 = 𝑦𝐴 + 𝑣𝑦𝐴 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2
2
1
= 0 + (20.0 𝑚/𝑠)(5.00 𝑠) + (−9.8 𝑚/𝑠2 )(5.00)2
2

= −22.50 𝑚

IN-TEXT ACTIVITY

1. Additional Lecture in Motion One Dimension

https://bcs.whfreeman.com/WebPub/Physics/TiplerPhysics6e/reprint-
PDFs/Tipler_Physics_6e_Chapter_2.pdf
2. PPT file (lecture) included in the module.

SESSION SUMMARY

This module introduces the concept of kinematics – describes the motion of points,
objects, and systems of groups of objects, without reference to the causes of motion. Position
and time are the two things in the study of kinematics. Position is primary used to determine the
displacement of the particle. Furthermore, position and time are required to specifically find
average velocity, average speed, instantaneous velocity, instantaneous speed, average
acceleration and instantaneous acceleration.
Constant acceleration also discussed in this module as basis in conceptualizing the free
fall motion showing their relationship as well.

REFERENCES

Serway, R.A. and Jewett, J. W. Physics for Scientists and Engineers. 10th edition. Cengage Learning.
Singapore. 2013