INTRODUCTION TO DYNAMICS

Mechanics is a branch of physical science concerned with the behavior of bodies subjected to
the action of forces. The mechanics of rigid bodies is divided into two areas: statics and dynamics.
Statics is the study of objects in equilibrium (objects either at rest or in uniform motion i.e. moving
in constant velocity). Dynamics is the study of objects with accelerated motion due to the effect of a
force.

Dynamics has two branches: kinematics and kinetics. Kinematics treats only the geometric aspects
of the motion. It is used to define the motion of a particle without considering the forces causing
the motion. Kinetics analyzes the forces causing the motion. It relates the force acting on a body to
its mass and acceleration.

KINEMATICS OF PARTICLES

Terms:
particle – denotes an object of point size; a body so small that any differences in the motion of
its parts can be neglected (e.g. molecule, atom, electron)
body – denotes a system of particles which form an object of appreciable size

A. RECTILINEAR MOTION OF PARTICLES

Rectilinear Kinematics (Rectilinear Motion) – refers to a particle moving along a straight line. It is said
to be in rectilinear motion if any two particles of a body travel the same distance along two parallel
straight lines

Uniform Motion in a Straight Line

Concept Definition Symbol Equation

Displacement vector distance from an origin 𝛥𝑠 𝛥𝑠 = 𝑠’ − 𝑠
Velocity time rate of change of displacement vave 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 =
∆𝑠
∆𝑡
speed – magnitude of velocity v
Acceleration time rate of change of velocity 𝑎 ∆𝑣
𝑎=
∆𝑡

MOTION OF A PARTICLE

Uniform Rectilinear Motion (Uniform Motion) – motion with constant velocity

𝑠=𝑣◦𝑡
Uniformly Accelerated Rectilinear – motion with constant acceleration
*for constant acceleration, ac, initial velocity is equal to the final velocity
a. speed as a function of time
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑐 𝑡

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 b. position as a function of time
1
𝑠𝑓 − 𝑠𝑖 + 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑐 𝑡 2
2
c. speed as a function of position
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑎𝑐 (𝑠𝑓 − 𝑠𝑖 )
𝒈 = 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 𝒎/𝒔𝟐 𝒐𝒓 𝟑𝟐. 𝟑𝟐 𝒇𝒕/𝒔𝟐
Free-Falling Object
• an object is falling freely with no forces acting upon it except gravity

MOTION OF SEVERAL PARTICLES

Relative Motion
For particles moving along the same line, time should be recorded from the same starting
instant, and displacements should be measured from the same origin in the same direction.

• 𝑥𝐵/𝐴 = 𝑥𝐵 − 𝑥𝐴 = relative position of B with respect to A

𝑥𝐵 = 𝑥𝐴 + 𝑥𝐵/𝐴

• 𝑣𝐵/𝐴 = 𝑣𝐵 − 𝑣𝐴 = relative velocity of B with respect to A

𝑣𝐵 = 𝑣𝐴 + 𝑣𝐵/𝐴

• 𝑎𝐵/𝐴 = 𝑎𝐵 − 𝑎𝐴 = relative acceleration of B with respect to A

𝑎𝐵 = 𝑎𝐴 + 𝑎𝐵/𝐴

ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS

1. A ball is tossed from the window 20 meters above the

ground with a vertical velocity of 10 m/s. Determine:
a) velocity and elevation above the ground at time t
b) highest elevation reached by ball and corresponding
time
c) time when the ball hit the ground and corresponding
velocity

2. Ball is thrown vertically 12 m level in elevator shaft with

initial velocity of 18 m/s. At same instant, open-platform
elevator passes 5 m level moving upward at 2 m/s.
Determine:
a) when and where ball hits elevator
b) relative velocity of ball and elevator at contact

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