General Physics 1 Page 1 of 7

Kinematics: Motion along a straight line, 2D and 3D motion

IV. LESSON PROPER

LET’S BEGIN!

Based on the preliminary activities, what did you notice about it?
_________________________________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the lesson.

4.1 Let us convert a verbal description of a physical situation involving uniform acceleration in one
dimension into a mathematical description.

Mechanics is the branch of Physics dealing with the study of motion.

Mechanics can be divided into 2 areas - kinematics, dealing with describing
motions, and dynamics, dealing with the causes of motion.

To understand motion, it is essential to differentiate quantities such as distance and displacement, speed and
velocity, average velocity, instantaneous speed and instantaneous velocity, and average acceleration and
instantaneous acceleration.

Difference between Distance and Displacement

Distance is a scalar quantity (from A to B to C) that

refers to "how much ground an object has covered"
during its motion. So to get the distance traversed, you
just add 4m + 3m = 7m.

Source: http://sc13nc3.weebly.com/displacement.html

Displacement is a vector quantity (from A to C) that refers to "how far out of place an object is"; it is the object's
overall change in position. Displacement Δx is displacement, xf is the final position, and x0 is the initial
position. If you measure point A to point C, the displacement covered, is equal to 5m. Use can use the protractor
to measure the direction of the resultant vector or you can apply the Pythagorean Theorem in trigonometry.

4.2 Recognize whether or not a physical situation involves constant velocity or

constant acceleration
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Kinematics: Motion along a straight line, 2D and 3D motion

Average Velocity If x1 and x2 are the positions of an object at times t1 and t2, respectively, then
Average velocity = v = Displacement between two points = v = Δx = x2 − x1
Elapsed time between two points Δt t2 − t1
Instantaneous Velocity at a given moment in time. It has SI units of m/s.
Velocity
Speed at a given moment in time. Equal to the magnitude of the
Instantaneous speed instantaneous velocity. Has SI units of m/s.

Average acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes: a = Δv = vf – vo

Δt tf – to

where a is average acceleration, v is velocity, and t is time. The bar over a means average acceleration.
Let us analyze and explore the application of average acceleration
through the sample problems presented below.

Calculating Average Acceleration

1. A racehorse coming out of the gate accelerates from rest to a velocity of 15.0 m/s due west in 1.80 s. What
is its average acceleration?
v0 = 0, vf = −15.0 m/s (the negative sign indicates direction toward the west),
Δt = 1.80 s. Since the horse is going from zero to –15.0 m/s, its change in velocity equals its final velocity.
Solution:
Substitute the known values (Δv and Δt) and solve for the unknown a¯:
a¯= Δv = vf – vo = -15.0 m/s = 8.33 m/s2
Δt tf – to 180 s

Calculating Instantaneous Acceleration

2. A particle is in motion and is accelerating. The functional form of the velocity is v(t) = 20t − 5t 2 m/s.
a. Find the functional form of the acceleration.
b. Find the instantaneous velocity at t = 1, 2, 3, and 5 s.
c. Find the instantaneous acceleration at t = 1, 2, 3, and 5 s.
d. Interpret the results of (c) in terms of the directions of the acceleration and velocity vectors.
Solution
a. a(t) = dv(t) = 20 – 10 t m/s2
dt
b. v(1 s) = 15 m/s, v(2 s) = 20 m/s, v(3 s) = 15 m/s, v(5 s) = −25 m/s
c. a(1 s) = 10m/s2, a(2 s) = 0m/s2, a(3 s) = −10m/s2, a(5 s) = −30m/s2
d. At t = 1 s, velocity v(1 s) = 15 m/s is positive and acceleration is positive, so both velocity and
acceleration are in the same direction. The particle is moving faster.
Equations in Uniformly Accelerated Linear Motion
A motion, in which change in velocity in each unit of time is constant, is called the uniformly accelerated linear
motion. There are three equations of motions, which are used, in the uniformly accelerated linear motion. The
equations are as follows:
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Kinematics: Motion along a straight line, 2D and 3D motion

v2 = v1 + at
Graph for the Uniformly
s = v1t + ½ at2 Accelerated Linear Motion
v22 = v12 + 2as
Where v1 is the initial velocity of the moving body, v2 is the final velocity of the moving body, s is the distance
covered by the moving body, t is the time taken by the moving body, a is the acceleration of the body.

Sample problems
1. An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s2 for 32.8 s until is finally lifts off the ground. Determine
the distance traveled before takeoff.
Given: Find: d Solution:
a = + 32.8 s d = vi t + ½ a t2
V1 = 0 m/s d = (0 m/s)(32.8 s)+ 0.5(3.20 m/s2)(32.8 s)2
t = 32.8 m/s d = 1720 m
2. A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly over a time of 5.21 seconds for a distance of 110 m.
Determine the acceleration of the car.
Given: Find: a Solution:
D = 110 m d = vi t + ½ a t2
t = 5.21 s 110 m = (0 m/s)(5.21 s)+ 0.5(a)(5.21 s)2
vi = 0 m/s a = 8.10 m/ s2

4.3 Let us now recognize, construct and interpret graphs of constant velocity or acceleration,
displacement and velocity, time and acceleration.
We will look at three ways of describing motion: words, diagrams and graphs.
Let us now draw graphs of position vs. time, velocity vs. time and acceleration vs. time for a stationary object.

Source: https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-10/motion-in-one-dimension/21-motion-in-one-dimension-06

The object’s position is 0 metres in the positive direction from the reference point of let say 10 metres. The
object’s position from the reference point, remains at 10 metres for 120 seconds. The graph of position vs time
is a horizontal line parallel to the x-axis. The velocity and acceleration graphs are also shown. They are both
horizontal lines on the (x)-axis. Since the object’s position is not changing, her velocity is 0 and since velocity
is not changing, acceleration is 0.

Gradient is another word for "slope". The higher the gradient of a graph at a point, the steeper the line is at
that point. A negative gradient means that the line slopes downwards. The gradient of a position vs. time
graph gives the average velocity, while the tangent of a position vs. time graph gives the instantaneous velocity.
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Kinematics: Motion along a straight line, 2D and 3D motion

Motion at a constant velocity or uniform motion means that the position of the object is changing at the same
rate. We can now draw graphs of position vs time, velocity vs. time and acceleration vs. time. For the person
moving at constant velocity.

Source: https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-10/motion-in-one-
dimension/21-motion-in-one-dimension-06

Graphs for motion at constant velocity (a) position vs. time (b) velocity vs. time (c) acceleration vs. time.
The area of the shaded portion in the v vs t graph corresponds to the object's displacement.

Source: https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-10/motion-in-one-dimension/21-motion-in-one-dimension-06

Let’s say that in the person walks 100 m from the bus stop to his house in 100 s. Assume that the person’s
house is the origin. The following graphs can be drawn to describe the motion.

Source: https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-10/motion-in-one-dimension/21-motion-in-one-dimension-06

4.4. Solve problems involving one-dimensional motion with constant acceleration .

Let us solve the following sample problems and apply the kinematics
formulas.

1. An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s2 for 32.8 s until is finally lifts off the ground.
Determine the distance traveled before takeoff.
Given: Find: d Solution
A = 3.2 m/s2 d = vi t + 0.5 a t2
t = 32.8 s d = (0 m/s)*(32.8 s)+ 0.5*(3.20 m/s2)*(32.8 s)2
d = 1720 m
2. A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly over a time of 5.21 seconds for a distance of 110 m.
Determine the acceleration of the car.
Given: Find: a Solution:
d = 110 m d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
t = 5.21 110 m = (0 m/s)*(5.21 s) + 0.5*(a)*(5.21 s)2
vi = 0 m/s 110 m = (13.57 s2)*a
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Kinematics: Motion along a straight line, 2D and 3D motion

a = 8.10 m/ s2
Sample problem in Free-Fall motion
A stone is dropped into a deep well and is heard to hit the water 3.41 s after being dropped. Determine the
depth of the well.
Given: Solution:
a = -9.8 m/s2 d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
t = 3.41 s d = (0 m/s)*(3.41 s)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(3.41 s)2
vi = 0 m/s d = 0 m+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(11.63 s2)
Find: d d = -57.0 m

4.5 Describe 2 Dimensional and 3 Dimensional motions

Projectile motion is the motion of an object subject only to the acceleration of gravity, where the acceleration
is constant, as near the surface of Earth. To solve projectile motion problems, we analyze the motion of the
projectile in the horizontal and vertical directions using the one-dimensional kinematic equations for x and y.

Source: https://ibphymechanicskgv2015.weebly.com/projectile-motion.html

3 Dimensional Motion occurs when a body moves in X, Y and Z Axis altogether (obviously with respect to a
frame) OR In simple terms when a body moves in space.
There are three ways an object can accelerate: a change in velocity, a change in direction, or a change in
both velocity and direction.

4.6 Solve problems involving 2 Dimensional and 3 Dimensional motions.

Sample problems on 2 Dimensional and 3 Dimensional motions

1. The observation deck of tall skyscraper 370 m above the street. Determine the time required for a penny
to free fall from the deck to the street below.
Given Find: t Solution:
vi = 0 m/s d = vi t + 0.5 a t2
d = -370 m -370 m = (0 m/s)(t)+ 0.5(-9.8 m/s2)(t)2
a = -9.8 m/s 2 t = 8.69 s

2. A bullet is moving at a speed of 367 m/s when it embeds into a lump of moist clay. The bullet penetrates for
a distance of 0.0621 m. Determine the acceleration of the bullet while moving into the clay. (Assume a uniform
acceleration.)
Given: Find: a Solution:
vi = 367 m/s vf2 = vi2 + 2 ad
vf = 0 m/s (0 m/s)2 = (367 m/s)2 + 2(a) (0.0621 m)
d = 0.0621 m a = -1.08*106 m /s2
(The - sign indicates that the bullet slowed down.)
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Kinematics: Motion along a straight line, 2D and 3D motion

Sample problem in 3 Dimensional motion.

During a fireworks display, a shell is shot into the air with an initial speed of 70.0 m/s at an angle of 75.0º
above the horizontal, as illustrated in Figure. The fuse is timed to ignite the shell just as it reaches its highest
point above the ground.
(a) Calculate the height at which the shell explodes.
(b) How much time passed between the launch of the shell and the explosion?
(c) What is the horizontal displacement of the shell when it explodes?
Because air resistance is negligible for the unexploded shell, the analysis
method outlined above can be used. The motion can be broken into horizontal
and vertical motions in which ax = 0 and ay = –g.
We can then define x0 and y0 to be zero and solve for the desired quantities.
Because y0 and vy are both zero, the equation simplifies to
0 = vOy2 – 2gy.
Solving for y gives
Y = v0y2 -2 gy y = v0y2
2g
Now we must find v0y, the component of the initial velocity in the y-direction.
It is given by v0y = v0 sin θ, where v0y is the initial velocity of 70.0 m/s, and θ0 = 75.0º is the initial angle.
Thus, vOy = v0 sin θ0 = (70.0 m/s)(sin 75º) = 67.6 m/s
and y is y = (67.6 m/s)22(9.80 m/s2)
so that y = 233 m.

Solution for (b)

As in many physics problems, there is more than one way to solve for the time to the highest point. In this
case, the easiest method is to use y = y0 + 12 (v0y+vy) ty = y0 + 12 (v0y + vy) t

Because y0 is zero, this equation reduces to simply

y = 12 (v0y + vy) ty=12(v0y+vy)t.
Note that the final vertical velocity, vy, at the highest point is zero.
Thus,
t = 2y = 2(233 m) = 6.90 s
(v0y+vy) (67.6 m/s)

Solution for (c)

Because air resistance is negligible, ax=0 and the horizontal velocity is constant, as discussed above. The
horizontal displacement is horizontal velocity multiplied by time as given by x = x0 + vxt, where x0 is equal to
zero: x = vxt,
Where:
vx is the x-component of the velocity, which is given by vx = v0 cos θ
Now, vx = v0 cos θ = (70.0 m/s)(cos 75º) = 18.1 m/s
The time t for both motions is the same, and so x is
x = (18.1 m/s) (6.90 s) = 125 m.
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Kinematics: Motion along a straight line, 2D and 3D motion

We had just finished the discussion on Kinematics motions. Let’s

move on to the next higher level of activity/ies or exercise/s that
demonstrate your potential skills/knowledge of what you have
learned.