KINEMATICS

By
Elias Mwape
elidoxamwape777@gmail.com
 KINEMATICS
Kinematics also referred to as motion is movement without
consideration what is causing it.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
 Define and use distance, displacement, speed, velocity and
acceleration
 Represent graphically the distance, displacement, speed, velocity
and acceleration
 Derive equations of motion and us them to solve problems
 Describe motion of bodies falling in a uniform gravitational field
without air resistance
 Describe circular motion
 Identify the relationship between the equations of linear and circular
motion
 Apply equations of circular motion to solve problems
 Describe projectile Motion
 Solve problems on projectile motion
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 OVERVIEW

 Linear Motion
 Motion under influence of gravity

 Circular Motion

 Projectile Motion

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 KINEMATICS
Types of motion
Linear motion
 This is the movement of an object along a straight line or
path e.g. a car travelling along a straight road.
Motion Circular (Rotational motion)
 Motion along a curved or circular path about the centre or
an axis e.g. a spinning wheel or rotating fan.
Oscillatory motion
 This is the movement where an object moves to and fro
about a fixed position e.g. the swinging of the bob of the
pendulum.
Random motion
 This is the movement of an object in a disorderly manner
e.g. in the case of gaseous particles.
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 DEFINITIONS
 Linear motion: is motion in a straight line or one dimensional
motion.
 Distance: Length between two or more points. Units are meters
(m).
 Displacement(s): Distance in specific direction. It is also the
shortest distance between two points. Units are meters (m).
 Speed(S): This is the distance per unit of time. Units are (m/s).

 Velocity(v):the rate change in displacement . Units are (m/s).

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Equations that govern linear motion
 Velocity – Time Graphs
(a) (c)
(b)

(d) (e) (f)

Drag Racer
Instantaneous Velocity is velocity at a particular instance.
A body moves with initial velocity 4 m/s along the
positive x- direction and accelerates uniformly at the rate
of 0.4m/s2.
(a) Find the displacement in the first four seconds.
(b) How much time does it take to reach the velocity
8m/s?
(c)How far will it travel in reaching the velocity of
8m/s?
Answers:
(a) s= 19.2m
(b) t=10s
(c) s=60m
1. Two points A and B are 15cm apart. A toy car moves from
point A to B and back to A in 2seconds. Calculate for the toy
car:
(a) The average speed .
(b) its average velocity
Answers:
(a) Speed=0.15m/s
(b) Average velocity=0m/s
2. A train is travelling a speed of 25m/s along a straight
track. A boy walks along the corridor in a carriage towards
the rear of the train, at a speed of 1m/s relative to the train.
What is his speed relative to Earth?
Answer: Speed= 24m/s
For vertical uniform motion of bodies under the
influence of gravity the governing equations are
usually given as:

a=g
It is impontant to note the Conversions as given below:

Upward motion g = - 9.8m/s2

Downward motion g = +9.8m/s2

Note: The reference direction for the given velocity should

not be of concern.
3. If a ball is thrown straight upward with a speed of 15m/s
and then falls and is caught by the person that threw it.
(a) How high does the ball go?
(b) How fast is it going the instant before it is caught?
(c) How long is it in the air?
Answers:
(a) s=11.5m
(b) Average velocity= 15m/s
(c) Average velocity= 3.06s
4.You throw a ball vertically upward from the roof of a building.
The ball leaves your hand at a point even with the roof railing with
an upward velocity of 15.0m/s; the ball is then in free fall. On its
way back down, it just misses the railing. At the location of the
building, g = 9.80m/s2.
Find
(a) the position and velocity of the ball 1.00s and 4.00s after
leaving your hand;
(b) the velocity when the ball is 5.00m above the railing;
(c) the maximum height reached and the time at which it is
reached; and (d) the acceleration of the ball when it is at its
maximum height.
Answers:
(a) At t=1s s= 10.1m v=5.2m/s and at t=4s s=-18.4m v=-24.2m/s
(b) s= 11.3m
(c) a=0m/s2
Prescribed textbooks
 Mike Crundell, Geoff Goodwin, Chris Mee, Wendy Brown, Brian
Arnold , 2014 Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics 2nd
ed. Cambridge University Press.
 Sang, D., Jones, G., Chadha, G. and Woodside, R., 2014. Cambridge
International AS and A Level Physics Course book. Cambridge
University Press

Recommended Textbooks
 Serway, R.A. and Vuille, C., 2014. College physics. Cengage
Learning.
 John D. Cutnell / Kenneth W. Johnson –Physics. John Wiley & Sons
- 9th Edition.
 Bueche, F.J. and Jerde, D.A., 1988. Principles of physics (Vol. 6).
New York: McGraw-Hill.
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THANK YOU

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