ENSC 20072

Dynamics of Rigid Bodies

Rectilinear Kinematics: Erratic Motion

By: Engr. Jovee Lyra B. Canilao
RECTILINEAR KINEMATICS: ERRATIC MOTION
• When a particle has erratic or changing motion then its position, velocity, and
acceleration cannot be described by a single continuous mathematical function
along the entire path.

• It is convenient to represent the motion as a graph.

• If a graph of the motion that relates any two of the variables s,v,a,t can be
drawn, then this graph can be used to construct subsequent graphs relating two
other variables.
THE s-t, v-t and a-t GRAPHS
o Given the s-t graph, construct v-t graph
THE s-t, v-t and a-t GRAPHS
o Given the v-t graph, construct a-t graph
THE s-t, v-t and a-t GRAPHS
o Given the a-t graph, construct v-t graph
THE s-t, v-t and a-t GRAPHS
o Given the v-t graph, construct s-t graph
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. A bicycle moves along a straight road such that its posItIon is described by the
graph shown below. Construct the v-t and a-t graphs for 0 ≤ t ≤ 30 s.
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
2. The speed of a train during the first minute has been recorded as follows:

Plot the v-t graph, approximating the curve as straight line segments between the
given points. Determine the total distance travelled.
QUESTIONS?