Add Maths

Kinematics I
By Aleem Baig
Kinematics
Kinematics is the study of moving objects/bodies.
In Add Maths, this topic will be restricted to motion in a straight line.
A number line is used to describe distance moved by the object. The
value 0 on the number line is called the reference point.

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Scalar and Vector Quantities
A scalar quantity has magnitude (size or a numerical value) only.
A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
The table list the quantities used in kinematics
Quantity Type Symbol Unit
Time 𝑡 Seconds (s), Hours (h)
Displacement Vector 𝑠 or 𝑥 Metres (m), Kilometres (km)
Velocity Vector 𝑢 or 𝑣 m/s or ms-1, km/h or kmh-1
Acceleration Vector 𝑎 m/s2 or ms-2
Distance Scalar D Metres (m), Kilometres (km)
Speed Scalar S m/s or ms-1, km/h or kmh-1
Displacement
Displacement is the distance an object is from the reference point.
The triangle has a displacement of 4 m (positive is right)
The square has a displacement of -5 m (negative is left)

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Distance Travelled
Suppose an object starts at 0, moves to 4 and then moves to -3.
What is its displacement?
What is the distance the object travelled?

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Displacement = -3 m
Distance travelled = 11 m
Speed
Speed is the rate of change of distance with respect to time.
That is,
𝐷
𝑆=
𝑇

The average speed of an object is given by

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑

𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛
Velocity
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time.

𝑠
𝑣=
𝑡

Average velocity is given by

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛
Note: a positive velocity means “moving to the right” and a negative
velocity means “moving to the left”

Positive velocity

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Negative velocity

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
That means an object velocity is increasing or decreasing.

𝑣−𝑢
𝑎=
𝑡

𝑎 – acceleration 𝑢 – initial velocity

𝑡 – time taken 𝑣 – final velocity

Note: A positive acceleration means accelerating to the right. A

negative acceleration (or deceleration) means accelerating to the left.
Displacement-Time Graph
A displacement-time graph can be used to model the motion of a body
travelling along a straight line.
Displacement – vertical axis
Time – horizontal axis

On a displacement-time graph,
• Velocity = Gradient of the line
• Straight Line = uniform or constant velocity
• Horizontal line = no velocity (object is stationary)
 Displacement s/m

A
B
C

F
D

E
Time t/s
Displacement-Time Graph
• A – Object is moving toward reference point from the negative
direction (moving right)
• B – Object is moving with away from the reference point in the
positive direction (moving right)
• C – Object is stationary
• D – Object is moving towards the reference point from the positive
direction (moving left)
• E – Object is moving away from reference point in the negative
direction (moving left)
• F – Object is at the reference point
Velocity-Time Graph
A velocity-graph can be used to model the motion of a body travelling
along a straight line.
Velocity – vertical axis
Time – horizontal axis

On a velocity-time graph,
• Acceleration = Gradient of the line
• Straight Line = uniform or constant acceleration
• Horizontal line = uniform velocity (no acceleration)
• Area between graph and x-axis = displacement
 Velocity v/ms-1

A
B
C

F
D

E
Time t/s
Velocity-Time Graph
• A – Object is moving in the negative direction (moving left) but is
experiencing a positive acceleration
• B – Object is moving in the positive direction (moving right) and
experiencing a positive acceleration
• C – Object is moving with constant velocity (no acceleration) in the positive
direction (moving right)
• D – Object is moving in the positive direction (moving right) with a negative
acceleration
• E – Object is moving in the negative direction (moving left) with a negative
acceleration
• F – Object is instantaneously at rest