IM 03 Physics KINEMATICS

Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: IM 03-Physics 1-2ndSEM-2020-2021
x College : ENGINEERING
Campus : BAMBANG
DEGREE PROGRAM BSME, BSECE COURSE NO. Physics 1

SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE Physics for Engineers
YEAR LEVEL I TIME FRAME 12 h WK NO. 3 & 4 IM NO. 3
I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE
Kinematics
II. LESSON TITLE
Equations of Kinematics
Freely Falling Bodies
Projectile Motion
III. LESSON OVERVIEW
In this lesson, the students will learn how to describe straight-line motion in terms of average velocity,
instantaneous velocity, average acceleration, and instantaneous acceleration. Also, how to interpret
graphs of position versus time, velocity versus time, and acceleration versus time for straight-line motion.
They will also learn how to solve problems involving straight-line motion with constant acceleration,
including free-fall problems and motion when the acceleration is not constant.
IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. illustrate velocity, acceleration and other quantities in kinematics;

2. solve for the velocity or acceleration of certain particles in motion under certain stipulated conditions;
3. illustrate free-falling bodies and develop formulas;
4. solve problems related to free-falling bodies;
5. develop projectile motion formulas;
6. solve projectile motion problems.
V. LESSON CONTENT
Motion
The world, and everything in it, moves. Even seemingly stationary things, such as a roadway, move with
Earth’s rotation, Earth’s orbit around the Sun, the Sun’s orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy,
and that galaxy’s migration relative to other galaxies. The classification and comparison of motions (called
kinematics) is often challenging. What exactly do you measure, and how do you compare?
Some general properties of motion that is restricted in three ways:
1. The motion is along a straight line only. The line may be vertical (that of a falling stone), horizontal
(that of a car on a level highway), or slanted, but it must be straight.
2. Forces (pushes and pulls) cause motion. But in this chapter you study only the motion itself, and
changes in the motion. Does the moving object speed up, slow down, stop, or reverse direction? If
the motion does change, how is time involved in the change?
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3. The moving object is either a particle (by which we mean a pointlike object such as an electron) or
an object that moves like a particle (such that every portion moves in the same direction and at the
same rate). A stiff pig slipping down a straight playground slide might be considered to be moving like
a particle; however, a tumbling tumbleweed would not, because different points inside it move in
different directions.
Position and Displacement
• To locate an object means to find its position relative to some reference point, often the origin (or
zero point) of an axis such as the 𝑥 axis.
Position is determined on an axis that is marked in units of length (here meters) and that extends
indefinitely in opposite directions. The axis label, here 𝑥, is always on the positive side of the
origin.
• The positive direction of the axis is in the direction of increasing numbers (coordinates), which
is toward the right.
• The opposite direction is the negative direction.
Example:
- A particle might be located at 𝑥 = 5 m, which means that it is 5 m in the positive direction from
the origin.
- If it were at 𝑥 = - 5 m, it would be just as far from the origin but in the opposite direction.
- On the axis, a coordinate of – 5 m is less than one of – 1 m, and both coordinates are less
than a coordinate of + 5 m.
• A plus sign for a coordinate need not be shown, but a minus sign must always be shown.
• A change from one position 𝑥1 to another position 𝑥2 is called a displacement 𝛥𝑥, where
𝛥𝑥 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
(The symbol Δ, the Greek uppercase delta, represents a change in a quantity, and it means the final
value of that quantity minus the initial value.)
• Displacement is an example of a vector quantity, which is a quantity that has both a direction
and a magnitude.
- Displacement has two features:

(1) Its 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 is the distance (such as the number of meters) between the original and
final positions.
(2) Its 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, from an original position to a final position, can be represented by a plus
sign or a minus sign if the motion is along a single axis.

𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ = a graphical representation of information like motion of a particle
Position of the Car at Various Times
(a) A pictorial representation of the motion of the car.

(b) A graphical representation (position-time graph) of the motion of the car.
TIP : 𝐴 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐼𝑠𝑛′ 𝑡 𝑎 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
The displacement of an object is 𝑛𝑜𝑡 the same as the distance it travels. Toss a tennis ball up and
catch it. The ball travels a 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 equal to twice the maximum height reached, but its 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 is
zero.
Average Velocity and Average Speed
• A compact way to describe position is with a graph of position 𝑥 plotted as a function of time 𝑡 –
a graph of 𝑥(𝑡).
- The notation 𝑥(𝑡) represents a function 𝑥 of 𝑡, not the product 𝑥 times 𝑡.

Example:
The graph of 𝑥(𝑡) for an armadillo that is stationary at 𝑥 = - 2 m. The value of 𝑥 is – 2 m for all
times 𝑡.
• (𝑎) The graph of 𝑥(𝑡) for a moving armadillo.

(𝑏) The path associated with the graph.
The scale below the 𝑥 axis shows the times at which the armadillo reaches various 𝑥 values.
• Figure (𝑎), also for an armadillo, is more interesting, because it involves motion.
- The armadillo is apparently first noticed at 𝑡 = 0 when it is at the position 𝑥 = -5 m.

- It moves toward 𝑥 = 0, passes through that point at 𝑡 = 3 s, and then moves on to increasingly
larger positive values of 𝑥.
- It reveals how fast the armadillo moves.
• Figure (𝑏) depicts the actual straight-line motion of the armadillo and is something like what you
would see.
• Actually, several quantities are associated with the phrase “how fast.”
- One of them is the average velocity 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 , which is the ratio of the displacement Δ𝑥 that occurs
during a particular time interval Δ𝑡 to that interval:

- The notation means that the position is 𝑥1 at time 𝑡1 and then 𝑥2 at time 𝑡2 .
- A common unit for 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 is the meter per second (m/s).
• The figure shows how to find 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 for the armadillo for the time interval 𝑡 = 1 s to 𝑡 = 4 s.
- Draw the straight line that connects the point on the position curve at the beginning of the
interval and the point on the curve at the end of the interval.
- Then find the slope 𝛥𝑥 ⁄𝛥𝑡 of the straight line.
- For the given time interval, the average velocity is
Average Speed
• Average speed 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑔 is a different way of describing “how fast” a particle moves.
• Whereas the average velocity involves the particle’s displacement Δ𝑥, the average speed involves
the total distance covered (for example, the number of meters moved, independent of direction;
that is,
• Because average speed does 𝑛𝑜𝑡 include direction, it lacks any algebraic sign.
• Sometimes 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑔 is the same (except for the absence of a sign) as 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 .

Sample Problem
You drive a beat-up pickup truck along a straight road for 8.4 km at 70 km/h, at which point the truck runs
out of gasoline and stops. Over the next 30 min, you walk another 2.0 km farther along the road to a
gasoline station.
a. What is your overall displacement from the beginning of your drive to your arrival at the station?
Solution:
Assume, for convenience, that you move in the positive direction of an 𝑥 axis, from a first position of
𝑥1 = 0 to a second position of 𝑥2 at the station. The second position must be at:
𝑥2 = 8.4 km + 2.0 km = 10.4 km
Δ 𝑥 = 𝑥2 - 𝑥1 = 10.4 km - 0 = 10.4 km
Thus , your overall displacement is 10.4 km in the positive direction of the 𝑥 axis.
b. What is the time interval Δ𝑡 from the beginning of your drive to your arrival at the station?
Solution:
The time interval Δ𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘 = 30 min = 0.50 h
Time interval Δ𝑡𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 = ?
Displacement for the drive Δ𝑥𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 8.4 km ; average velocity 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔,𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 70 km/h
Δ𝑥𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔,𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 =
Δ𝑡𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒
Δ𝑥𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 8.4 𝑘𝑚
Δ𝑡𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 = = = 0.12 h
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔,𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 70 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
Δ𝑡 = Δ𝑡𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 + Δ𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘 = 0.12 h + 0.50 h = 0.62 h
c. What is your average velocity 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 from the beginning of your drive to your arrival at the station? Find
it both numerically and graphically.
Solution:
Numerically:
𝛥𝑥 10.4 𝑘𝑚
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = = = 16.77 km/h
𝛥𝑡 0.62 ℎ

Graphically:
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝛥𝑥 10.4 𝑘𝑚
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = = = = 16.77 km/h
𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝛥𝑡 0.62 ℎ
d. Suppose that to pump the gasoline, pay for it, and walk back to the truck takes you another 45 min.
What is your average speed from the beginning of your drive to your return to the truck with the
gasoline?
Total distance = 8.4 km + 2.0 km + 2.0 km = 12.4 km
Total time interval = 0.12 h + 0.50 h + 0.75 h = 1.37 h
12.4 𝑘𝑚
𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑔 = = 9.05 km/h
1.37 ℎ
Instantaneous Velocity and Speed
• The phrase “how fast” is more commonly refers to how fast a particle is moving at a given instant
– and that is its instantaneous velocity (or simply velocity) 𝑣.
• The velocity at any instant is obtained from the average velocity by shrinking the time interval Δ𝑡
closer and closer to 0. As Δ𝑡 dwindles, the average velocity approaches a limiting value, which is
the velocity at that instant:
• This equation displays two features of the instantaneous velocity 𝑣.
1. 𝑣 is the rate at which the particle’s position 𝑥 is changing with time at a given instant; that is,
𝑣 is the derivative of 𝑥 with respect to 𝑡.
2. 𝑣 at any instant is the slope of the particle’s position – time curve at the point representing
that instant.
• Velocity is another vector quantity and thus has an associated direction.
• Speed is the magnitude of velocity; that is, speed is velocity that has been stripped of any
indication of direction, either in words or via an algebraic sign.
Caution: Speed and average speed can be quite different.

- A velocity of + 5 m/s and one of – 5 m/s both have an associated speed of 5 m/s.
- The speedometer in a car measures the speed, not the velocity, because it cannot determine
the direction.
Sample Problem 1
The position of a particle moving on an 𝑥 axis is given by 𝑥 = 7.8 + 9.2 𝑡 − 2.1 𝑡 3 , with 𝑥 in meters
and 𝑡 in seconds. What is its velocity at 𝑡 = 3.5 s? Is the velocity constant, or is it continuously changing?
Solution:
𝑑𝑥 𝑑
𝑣 = = (7.8 + 9.2 𝑡 − 2.1 𝑡 3 )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑣 = 0 + 9.2 - (3)(2.1) 𝑡 2
𝑣 = 9.2 - 6.3 𝑡 2
At 𝑡 = 3.5 s,
𝑣 = 9.2 - (6.3) (3.5)2 = - 67.98 m/s
At 𝑡 = 3.5 s, the particle is moving in the negative direction of 𝑥 (note the minus sign) with a
speed of 67.98 m/s. since the quantity 𝑡 appears in the above equation, the velocity 𝑣 depends on 𝑡 and
so is continuously changing.
TIP : 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑣𝑠. 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑
Average velocity is 𝑛𝑜𝑡 the same as average speed. If you run from 𝑥 = 0 m to 𝑥 = 25 m and back to your
starting point in a time interval of 5 s, the average velocity is zero, whereas the average speed is 10 m/s.
Acceleration
• When a particle’s velocity changes, the particle is said to undergo acceleration (or to accelerate).
• For motion along an axis, the average acceleration 𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑔 over a time interval Δ𝑡 is
where the particle has velocity 𝑣1 at time 𝑡1 and then velocity 𝑣2 at time 𝑡2 . The instantaneous
acceleration (or simply acceleration) is the derivative of the velocity with respect to time:
• In words, the acceleration of a particle at any instant is the rate at which its velocity is changing
at that instant. Graphically, the acceleration at any point is the slope of the curve of 𝑣(𝑡) at that
point.

Combining the two equations,
• In words, the acceleration of a particle at any instant is the second derivative of its position 𝑥(𝑡)
with respect to time.
• A common unit of acceleration is the meter per second: m/(s . s) or m/s2.

- You will see other units in the problems, but they will each be in the form of length/(time . time)
or length/time2.
• Acceleration has both magnitude and direction (it is yet another vector quantity).
- Its algebraic sign represents its direction on an axis just as for displacement and velocity; that
is, acceleration with a positive value is in the positive direction of an axis, and acceleration
with a negative value is in the negative direction.
Sample Problem 2
A particle’s position on the 𝑥 axis is given by 𝑥 = 4 - 27𝑡 + 𝑡 3 , where 𝑥 in meters and 𝑡 in

seconds.
(a) Find the particle’s velocity function 𝑣(𝑡) and acceleration function 𝑎(𝑡).
(b) Is there ever a time when 𝑣 = 0?
Solution:
(a) Differentiate the position function 𝑥(𝑡) with respect to time,
𝑑𝑥 𝑑
𝑣 = = (4 - 27𝑡 + 𝑡 3 )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑣 = - 27 + 3𝑡 2 where 𝑣 in meters per second
- to get the acceleration function 𝑎(𝑡), differentiate the velocity function 𝑣(𝑡) with respect to
time,
𝑎 = +6𝑡 where 𝑎 in meters per second squared
(b) setting 𝑣(𝑡) = 0 yields
0 = - 27 + 3𝑡 2 which has the solution
𝑡 = 3s
Thus, the velocity is zero both 3 s after the clock reads 0.
TIP : 𝑁𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Negative acceleration doesn’t necessarily mean an object is slowing down. If the acceleration is negative
and the velocity is also negative, the object is speeding up!

TIP : 𝐷𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
The word 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 means a reduction in speed, a slowing down. Some confuse it with negative
acceleration, which can speed something up.
Motion Diagrams
• Velocity and acceleration are sometimes confused with each other, but they’re very different
concepts, as can be illustrated with the help of motion diagrams.
• A motion diagram is a representation of a moving object at successive time intervals, with velocity
and acceleration vectors sketched at each position, red for velocity vectors and violet for
acceleration vectors. The time intervals between adjacent positions in the motion diagram are
assumed equal.
Motion diagram of a car moving along a straight roadway in a single direction. The velocity at each instant
is indicated by a red arrow, and the constant acceleration is indicated by a purple arrow.
• A motion diagram is analogous to images resulting from a stroboscopic photograph of a moving

object.
- Each image is made as the strobe light flashes.

- The figure above represents three sets of strobe photographs of cars moving along a straight
roadway from left to right.
- The time interval between flashes of the stroboscope are equal in each diagram.
Figure a
- The images of the car are equally spaced: The car moves the same distance in each time
interval.
- This means that the car moves with 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 and has 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.
- The red arrows are all the same length (constant velocity) and there are no violet arrows (zero
acceleration).
Figure b
- The images of the car become farther apart as time progresses and the velocity vector
increases with time, because the car’s displacement between adjacent positions increases as
time progresses.
- The car is moving with a 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 and a constant 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.
- The red arrows are successively longer in each image, and the violet arrows point to the right.
Figure c
- The car slows as it moves to the right because its displacement between adjacent positions
decreases with time.
- In this case, the car moves initially to the right with a constant negative acceleration.
- The velocity vector decreases in time (the red arrows get shorter) and eventually reaches
zero, as would happen when the brakes are applied.
- Note that the acceleration and velocity vectors are 𝑛𝑜𝑡 in the same direction.
- The car is moving with a 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦, but with a 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.
Constant Acceleration: A Special Case
• In many types of motion, the acceleration is either constant or approximately so.
- For example, you might accelerate a car at an approximately constant rate when a traffic light
turns from red to green.
- Then graphs of your position, velocity, and acceleration would resemble in the figure
below.(Note that 𝑎(𝑡) in figure 𝑐 is constant, which requires that 𝑣(𝑡) in figure 𝑏 have a
constant slope.)
(𝑎) the position 𝑥(𝑡) of a particle moving with constant acceleration.

(𝑏) its velocity 𝑣(𝑡), given at each point by the slope of the curve in (𝑎).
(𝑐) its (constant) acceleration, equal to the (constant) slope of the curve of 𝑣(𝑡).
- Later when you brake the car to a stop, the deceleration might also be approximately
constant.
• When the acceleration is constant, the average acceleration and instantaneous acceleration are
equal

- Here 𝑣𝑜 is the velocity at time 𝑡 = 0, and 𝑣 is the velocity at any later time 𝑡. We can recast
this equation as
𝒗 = 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒂𝒕
- As a check, note that this equation reduces to 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 for 𝑡 = 0, as it must.

- As a further check, take the derivative of
𝑑𝑣
𝑎 = , which is the definition of 𝑎.
𝑑𝑡
- Figure (𝑏) shows the 𝑣(𝑡) function; the function is linear and thus the plot is a straight line.
• In a similar manner we can rewrite
as
and then as
In which 𝑥𝑜 is the position of the particle at 𝑡 = 0, and 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 is the average velocity between
𝑡 = 0 and a later time 𝑡.
• For the linear velocity function 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡, the 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 velocity over any time interval (say, from
𝑡 = 0 to a later time 𝑡) is the average of the velocity at the beginning of the interval (=𝑣𝑜 ) and the
velocity at the end of the interval (= 𝑣).
- For the interval from 𝑡 = 0 to the later time 𝑡 then, the average velocity is
𝟏
𝒗𝒂𝒗𝒈 = (𝒗𝒐 + 𝒗)
𝟐
( 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡 ) substitute in
1 1 1
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = (𝑣𝑜 + 𝑣) = ( 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡 ) = ( 2 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡 )
2 2 2
1
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡 substitute in
2
1
𝑥 = 𝑥𝑜 + 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 𝑡 = 𝑥𝑜 + ( 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡 ) 𝑡
2
𝟏
𝒙 - 𝒙𝒐 = 𝒗𝒐 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕𝟐
𝟐
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜 𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜
from (𝑎= ; 𝑡 = ) substitute 𝑡 to
𝑡 𝑎
1
𝑥 - 𝑥𝑜 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2

𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜 1 𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜 2
𝑥 - 𝑥𝑜 = 𝑣𝑜 ( )+ 𝑎( )
𝑎 2 𝑎
𝑣𝑜 𝑣 𝑣𝑜2 1 𝑣 2 − 2𝑣𝑣𝑜 + 𝑣𝑜2

𝑥 - 𝑥𝑜 = - + 𝑎 ( )
𝑎 𝑎 2 𝑎2
𝑣𝑜 𝑣 𝑣𝑜2 1 𝑣2 1 2 𝑣 𝑣𝑜 1 𝑣𝑜2
= - + 𝑎 ( ) - 𝑎 ( ) + 𝑎 ( )
𝑎 𝑎 2 𝑎2 2 𝑎2 2 𝑎2
𝑣𝑜 𝑣 𝑣𝑜2 𝑣2 𝑣 𝑣𝑜 𝑣𝑜2
= - + - +
𝑎 𝑎 2𝑎 𝑎 2𝑎
𝑣 2 − 𝑣𝑜2
=
2𝑎
𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝟐𝒐 + 𝟐𝒂 ( 𝒙 - 𝒙𝒐 )
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜
from ( 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡 ; 𝑎= )
𝑡
1 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 − 𝑣𝑜 𝑡
{ 𝑥 - 𝑥𝑜 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 ; 𝑎 = 2 ( ) }
2 𝑡2
eliminate 𝑎,
𝑣− 𝑣𝑜 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 − 𝑣𝑜 𝑡
= 2( )
𝑡 𝑡2
2(𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 ) − 2𝑣𝑜 𝑡 = 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑣𝑜 𝑡
2(𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 ) = 𝑣𝑡 + 𝑣𝑜 𝑡
𝟏
𝒙 − 𝒙𝒐 = ( 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒗 ) 𝒕
𝟐
Eliminating 𝒗𝒐 ,
from ( 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡 ; 𝑣𝑜 = 𝑣 − 𝑎𝑡 ) substitute 𝑣𝑜 in
1
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 = ( 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑣 ) 𝑡
2
𝑡
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 = ( 𝑣 − 𝑎𝑡 + 𝑣 )
2
𝑡
= ( 2𝑣 − 𝑎𝑡 )
2
2𝑣𝑡 𝑎𝑡
= ( − )
2 2
𝟏
𝒙 − 𝒙𝒐 = 𝒗𝒕 − 𝒂𝒕𝟐
𝟐
Equations for Motion with Constant Acceleration
Note: Make sure that the acceleration is indeed constant before using the equations

Sample Problem 1
A golf cart has an aceleration of 0.4 𝑚/𝑠2 . What is the velocity after it has covered 10 𝑚 starting from
rest?
Solution:
Given: 𝑎 = 0.4 𝑚/𝑠2 ; 𝑣𝑜 = 0 ; 𝑥𝑜 = 0 ; 𝑥 = 10 𝑚 ; 𝑣 = ?
𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝟐𝒐 + 𝟐𝒂 ( 𝒙 - 𝒙𝒐 )
= 0 + 2 ( 0.4 𝑚/𝑠2 ) ( 10 𝑚 )
𝑣 = 2.83 𝑚/𝑠
Sample Problem 2
A car moving at 20 𝑚/𝑠 slows down at - 1.5 𝑚/𝑠2 to a velocity of 10 𝑚/𝑠. How far did the car go during
the slowdown?
Solution:
Given: 𝑣𝑜 = 20 𝑚/𝑠 ; 𝑣 = 10 𝑚/𝑠 ; 𝑎 = - 1.5 𝑚/𝑠2 ; 𝑥𝑜 = 0 ; 𝑥 = ?
𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝟐𝒐 + 𝟐𝒂 ( 𝒙 - 𝒙𝒐 )
𝑚 𝑚
𝑣 2 − 𝑣𝑜2 (10 𝑠 )2 − (20 𝑠 )2
𝑥 = =
2𝑎 2 ( −1.5 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑥 = 100 𝑚
Sample Problem 3
(a) A race car starting from rest accelerates at a constant rate of 5.00 𝑚/𝑠 2 . What is the velocity of the
car after it has traveled 1.00 x 102 ft?
(b) How much time has elapsed?
Solutions:
Given: 𝑎 = 5.00 𝑚/𝑠2 ; 𝑥𝑜 = 0 ; 𝑥 = 1.00 x 102 ft ; 𝑣𝑜 = 0
(a) 𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝟐𝒐 + 𝟐𝒂 ( 𝒙 - 𝒙𝒐 )
= 0 + 2 ( 5.00 𝑚/𝑠2 ) ( 30.5 𝑚 )

𝑣 = 17.5 𝑚/𝑠
(b) 𝒗 = 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒂𝒕
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜 17.5 𝑚/𝑠
𝑡 = = = 3. 50 s
𝑎 5.00 𝑚/𝑠 2
Sample Problem 4
Upon reaching a displacement of 90 𝑚, a car made a brake from 80 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ to 35 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ.
(a) What is the acceleration?

(b) What is the elapsed time?
(c) Upon the slow down of the acceleration, how much time will elapse to bring the car to rest from
80 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ ?
(d) What is the distance covered at the lapsed time to bring the car to rest from 80 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ?
(e) If the car is set to rest after traveling 250 m, what is the total breaking time?
Solutions:
(a) Use the formula 𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝟐𝒐 + 𝟐𝒂 ( 𝒙 - 𝒙𝒐 )

𝑘𝑚 𝑘𝑚
𝑣 2 − 𝑣𝑜2 ( 35 ℎ )2 − ( 80 ℎ )2
𝑎 = = = - 28750 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ2
2 (𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 ) 2 ( 0.09 𝑘𝑚)
in terms of 𝑚⁄𝑠2 , by conversion,
𝑎 = − 2.22 𝑚⁄𝑠2
Note: The velocities are positive and the acceleration is negative. This guarantees the
decreasing in the speed or slowing of the car.
𝟏
(b) For the elapsed time we use 𝒙 − 𝒙𝒐 = ( 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒗 ) 𝒕
𝟐
2 ( 𝑥− 𝑥𝑜 ) 2 ( 0.09 − 0 )𝑘𝑚
𝑡= = ( 80 + 35 ) 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
= 0.0016 h = 5.76 s
𝑣𝑜 +𝑣
( c ) to compute the elapsed time to bring the car to rest from 80 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ, we use
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑜 0 − 80 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
𝑡 = = = 0.0028 h = 10.08 s
𝑎 − 28750 𝑘𝑚/ℎ2
(d) the displacement of the car in the elapsed time to bring the car to rest from 80 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ is given by
the equation
𝟏
𝒙 - 𝒙𝒐 = 𝒗𝒐 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕𝟐
𝟐
1
𝑥-0 = (80 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ) (0.0028 ℎ) + ( - 28750 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ2 ) ( 0.0028 h )2
2
𝑥 = 0.11 km = 110 km
𝟏
(e) Using 𝒙 − 𝒙𝒐 = 𝒗𝒕 − 𝒂𝒕𝟐 with the final velocity of zero (“at rest”), we compute the required breaking
𝟐
time based on the formula

1
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 = 𝑣𝑡 − 𝑎𝑡 2
2
1
𝑥−0 = 0 - 𝑎𝑡 2
2
𝑥 250 𝑚
𝑡2 = 1 - 1
− 2𝑎 − 2 ( − 2.22 𝑚⁄𝑠 2 )
𝑡 = 15.01 s
Acceleration of Gravity
Drop a stone, and it falls. Does the stone fall at constant speed, or is it accelerated? Does the motion of
the stone depend on its shape, its size, or its color?
• Long ago such questions were answered by Greek philosophers, notably Aristotle, by reasoning
based on what to them were self-evident priciples.
• One such principle was that each kind of material had a natural place where it belonged and
toward which it tried to go.
- Thus fire rose naturally upward toward the sun and stars.
- Stones were “earthy” and so fell down toward their home in the earth.
- A big stone was more earthy than a small one and so should fall faster.
• For over two thousand years lmost nobody felt it necessary to perform experiments to seek
information on the physical universe.
• Then Galileo (1564-1642) revolutionized science by doing just that: performing experiments.
- Galileo’s universe turned out to be perhaps less charming than that of Aristotle, but it had the
merit of fitting the facts. Modern science owes its success in understanding and utilizing
natural phenomena to its reliance on experiment and observation.
• What Galileo found, as the result of careful measurements, was that

𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 at the same place near the earth’s surface.
- This acceleration, which is called the acceleration of gravity (symbol 𝗀), does not have the
same value everywhere.
- The worlwide average of 𝗀 at sea level is 9.81 m/s2, but 𝗀 is 9.83 m/s2 at the poles, 9.78 m/s2
at the equator, and still less atop Mount Everest.
- In this course we use 𝗀 = 9.80 m/s2 which is the average for the United States.
- In U.S. Customary Units 𝗀 = 32.2 ft/s2.
• An object falling freely from rest thus has an instantaneous speed of 9.8 m/s (32 ft/s) after the first
second, a speed of 19.6 m/s (64 ft/s) after the next second, and so on.
- The longer the time during which a stone falls after being dropped, the greater its speed when
it hits the ground. But the stone’s 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 is always the same.

If air resistance is neglected, all freely falling objects near the earth’s surface have the same
acceleration of 𝗀 = 9.8 m/s2. The longer an object falls, the faster it falls.
• Another aspect of Galileo’s work deserves comment.
- His conclusion that all things fall with the same constant acceleration is an 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 of
reality.
- The actual accelerations with which objects fall depend on many factors besides the location
on the earth – for instance, the size and shape of the object and the density and state of the
atmosphere.
- A stone, for example, falls faster than a feather does in air because of the effects of buoyancy
and air resistance.
- Galileo saw that the basic phenomenon was a constant acceleration downward, with other
factors acting merely to cause deviations from the constant value.
- In a vacuum the stone and feather fall with exactly the same acceleration.
All objects that fall in a vacuum near the earth’s surface have the same downward acceleration. In air,
however, a stone falls faster than a feather because air resistance affects it less.
Why Raindrops Don’t Kill
• The drag force due to air resistance on an object of a given mass, size, and shape depends on
the speed of the object – the faster it goes, the more the drag.
• In case of a falling object, the drag force increases as the speed increases until finally it cannot
go any faster.
• The object then continues to fall at a constant terminal speed.
- the terminal speed of a person in free fall is about 54 m/s ( 120 mi/h ), whereas it is only about
6.3 m/s ( 14 mi/h ) with an open parachute.
This graph compares how the speed of a falling body varies with time when it is in a vacuum and
when it is in air.
• In the absence of air resistance, raindrops would reach the ground at speeds high enough to be
dangerous.
• A cloud consists of tiny water droplets or ice crystals whose terminal speeds are so small, often
1 cm/s or less, that very little updraft is needed to keep them suspended indefinitely.
- When a cloud is rapidly cooled, however, the water droplets or ice crystals grow in size and
weight until their terminal speeds become too great for updrafts to keep them aloft.
- The result is a fall of raindrops or snowflakes from the cloud.
Free Fall
𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑝 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛.
• We can apply the formulas for motion under constant acceleration to objects in free fall.
• It is important to keep in mind that the direction of the acceleration of gravity g is always downward,
no matter whether we are dealing with a dropped object or with one that is initially thrown upward.
• The free-fall acceleration near Earth’s surface is 𝑎 = −𝘨 = 9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠2 and the 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 of the
acceleration is 𝘨 = 9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠2 . Do not substitute - 9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠2 for 𝘨.
• The speed (that is, magnitude of velocity) that a dropped object has when it reaches the ground
is the same as the speed with which it must be thrown upward from the ground to rise to the same
height.

A stone dropped from a height 𝑦 reaches the ground with the speed √2𝘨𝑦. In order to reach the height
𝑦, a stone thrown upward from the ground must have the minimum speed √2𝘨𝑦.
Sample Problem 1
A stone is dropped from the top of a building 1000 ft high. How long does it take the stone to reach the
ground? (Neglect air resistance). What is its velocity when it strikes the ground?
Solution
Given: 𝑣𝑜 = 0 ; stone is simply dropped from rest

𝑎 = - 𝘨 = 32.2 𝑓𝑡⁄𝑠2
To find the time it takes the stone to reach the ground, use the formula
𝟏
𝒚 − 𝒚𝒐 = 𝒗 𝒐 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕𝟐
𝟐
1
0 - 1000 ft = 0 + (- 32.2 𝑓𝑡⁄𝑠2 ) 𝑡 2
2
𝑡 = 7.88 s ≈ 7.9 s
The final velocity when it strikes the ground,
𝑣 = 0 + 𝘨𝑡
= (- 32.2 𝑓𝑡⁄𝑠2 ) (7.88 s)
𝑣 = - 253.74 𝑓𝑡/𝑠

Sample Problem 2
A stone is thrown upward with an initial velocity of 16 m/s.
(a) What will its maximum height be?

(b) When will it return to the ground?
(c) Where will it be in 0.8 s?
(d) Where will it be in 2.4 s?
Solution:
Given: 𝑣𝑜 = 16 m/s ; 𝑎 = −𝘨 = 9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠2
(a) at the top of the path, 𝑥 = 𝑦 ; 𝑣 = 0

𝑣 2 − 𝑣𝑜2
𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 =
2𝑎
𝑚 2
0 − (16 )
𝑦–0 = 𝑠
2 (−9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 )
𝑦 = 13.06 𝑚 ≈ 13.00 𝑚
1
(b) use the formula 𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝘨𝑡 2
2
1
0 - 13.06 𝑚 = 0 + (−9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠2 ) 𝑡 2
2
𝑡 = 1.63 𝑠
(c) To find the height of the stone a given time after it was thrown upward, we make use of formula
1
𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝘨𝑡 2 for 𝑡 = 0.8 𝑠
2
1
𝑦 - 0 = (16 𝑚/𝑠) (0.8 𝑠) + (−9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠2 ) (0.8 𝑠)2
2

𝑦 = 9.66 𝑚 ≈ 10 𝑚
1
(d) When we substitute 𝑡 = 2.4 𝑠 in 𝑦 − 𝑦𝑜 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝘨𝑡 2
2
1
𝑦 - 0 = (16 𝑚/𝑠) (2.4 𝑠) + (−9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠2 ) (2.4 𝑠)2
2
𝑦 = 10.18 𝑚 ≈ 10 𝑚
The result means that at 0.8 s the stone is at a height of 10 m on its way up, then it goes on further to its
maximum height of 13 m, and at 2.4 s it is once more at a height of 10 m but now on the way down.
Projectile Flight
𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒.
• In considering the flight of a projectile, let us ignore the curvature of the earth, the variation of 𝘨
with altitude, and (for the moment) air resistance. If the initial velocity 𝑣𝑜 of the projectile makes
an angle of 𝜃 with level ground, its components have the magnitudes
𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑣𝑜𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃 ; 𝑣𝑜𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃
• We can once again use the formulas for straight-line motion to examine the horizontal and vertical
aspects of the projectile’s flight separately, since these are independent of each other.
• The horizontal velocity component 𝑣𝑥 remains constant during the flight.
• The vertical component 𝑣𝑦 gradually drops to zero owing to the downward acceleration of gravity
and then becomes more and more negative ( meaning the projectile falls faster and faster) until
the ground is reached.
• If we consider vertically upward to be the + 𝑦-direction, at the time 𝑡 the projectile’s velocity
components become
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 ; 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 − 𝘨𝑡

• If the projectile starts from the point 𝑥𝑜 , 𝑦𝑜 , then at the time 𝑡 its horizontal and vertical
coordinates of position will be
𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒
1
𝑥 = 𝑥𝑜 + 𝑣𝑜𝑥 𝑡 ; 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑜 + 𝑣𝑜𝑦 𝑡 − 𝘨𝑡 2
2
Sample Problem 1
A ball is thrown at 20.0 m/s at an angle of 65° above the horizontal. The ball leaves the thrower’s hand
at a height of 1.80 m. At what height will it strike a wall 10.0 m away.
Solution:
First we find the time of flight 𝑡 from the horizontal component of the ball’s initial velocity, which
is
𝑣𝑜𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = (20.0 m/s) Cos 65° = 8.45 m/s
since 𝑥 = 10.0 m is the horizontal distance to the wall,

𝑥 10.0 𝑚
𝑡 = = = 1.18 s
𝑣𝑜𝑥 8.45 𝑚/𝑠
the vertical component of the ball’s initial velocity is
𝑣𝑜𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = (20.0 m/s) Sin 65° = 18.13 m/s
the height at which the ball strikes the wall is therefore

1
𝑦 = 𝑦𝑜 + 𝑣𝑜𝑦 𝑡 − 𝘨𝑡 2
2
1
= 1.80 m + (18.13 m/s) (1.18 s) - (9.80 m/s2 ) (1.18 s)2
2
𝑦 = 16.37 m
Sample Problem 2
A ball is thrown horizontally at 8 m/s.

(a) How fast is it moving 2 s later?
(b) In what direction is it moving?

Solution:
(a) The ball’s velocity after 2 s has the horizontal component
𝑣𝑥 = 8 m/s
and the vertical component 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 + 𝘨𝑡
= 0 + (- 9.8 m/s2 ) (2 s)
𝑣𝑦 = - 19.6 m/s
hence the magnitude of its final velocity is
𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑥2 + 𝑣𝑦2
= (8 m/s)2 + (-19.6 m/s)2
𝑣 = 21.17 m/s
𝑣𝑦 19.6
(b) tan 𝜃 = = ; 𝜃 = 67.80°
𝑣𝑥 8
Projectile Range
• We can use the formulas derived to find the range of a projectile launched from the ground, that
is, how far from its starting point it will return to the ground.
- We first calculate the time of flight 𝑇.

In projectile flight, the horizontal component of velocity is constant in the absence of air resistance.
• The projectile will continue to rise until the vertical component of its velocity, given by
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 − 𝘨𝑡 is zero.
At this time 𝑡,
𝑣𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃
0 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 − 𝘨𝑡 and 𝑡 =
𝘨
• The projectile needs the same amount of time to return to the ground, and so its total time of flight
is
2 𝑣𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃
𝑇 = 2𝑡 = 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝘨
Since 𝑣𝑥 is constant, the projectile’s range 𝑅 is
2 𝑣𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 2𝑣𝑜2
𝑅 = 𝑣𝑥 𝑇 = (𝑣𝑜 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃) ( ) = 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃
𝘨 𝘨
This formula can be simplified by making use of the trigonometric identity

1
𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = 𝑆𝑖𝑛 2𝜃
2
The range may therefore be written
2𝑣𝑜2
𝑅 = 𝑆𝑖𝑛 2𝜃 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒
𝘨
• We note that 𝑅 is a maximum when 𝑆𝑖𝑛 2𝜃 = 1, because 1 is the highest value the sine function
can have.
- Since Sin 90° = 1, the maximum range 𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 occurs when the initial angle 𝜃 is 45°.
2𝑣𝑜2
𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
𝘨
• Any other angle, greater or smaller, will result in a shorter range.
In the absence of air resistance, the maximum range of a projectile occurs when it is sent off at an angle
of 45°.
• If 𝜃1 is an angle that leads to a range 𝑅, the other angle 𝜃2 for the same range is given by the
formula
𝜃2 = 90° − 𝜃1 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒

Sample Problem 3
An arrow leaves a bow at 30 m/s.

(a) What is its maximum range?
(b) At what two angles could the archer point the arrow if it is to reach a target 70 m away?
Solution
(a) The maximum range is

𝑚
2𝑣𝑜2 (30 𝑠 )2
𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 = = = 91.84 m
𝘨 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
2𝑣𝑜2
(b) From 𝑅 = 𝑆𝑖𝑛 2𝜃 we obtain
𝘨
𝑚
𝑅𝘨 (70 𝑚)(9.8 2 )
𝑠
𝑆𝑖𝑛 2𝜃1 = = 𝑚 = 0.76
𝑣𝑜2 (30 𝑠 )2
Thus 2𝜃1 = sin−1 0.76 = 49.46° ; 𝜃1 = 24.73°
The other angle for the same range is
𝜃2 = 90° - 𝜃1 = 90° - 24.73° = 65.27°
VI. LEARNINGACTIVITIES
Solve the following problems:
𝑡3
1. The motion of a particle is given by the equation 𝑥 = 2𝑡 4 − + 2𝑡 2 where 𝑥 is in meters and 𝑡
6
in seconds. Compute: (6 points)
(a) displacement when 𝑡 = 2 𝑠,
(b) velocity when 𝑡 = 2 𝑠,
(c) acceleration when 𝑡 = 2 𝑠.
2. The driver of a train traveling at 30 m/s applies the brakes when he passes an amber signal. The next
signal is 1.5 km down the track and the train reaches it 75 s later. Assuming a uniform acceleration,
find the velocity of the train at the second signal and the train’s acceleration.
(10 points)
3. A ball is thrown vertically from the ground with a velocity of 30 m/s.

(a) What time is required for the ball to rise to its maximum height?
(b) How high does the ball rise?
(c) How long after it is thrown does the ball have a velocity of 10 m/s upward?
(d) When is the displacement of the ball zero?
Note: Illustrate and solve the problem. (12 points)
4. A projectile is launched with an initial velocity of 60.0 m/s at an angle of 30° above the horizontal. The
projectile lands on a hillside 4.0 s later. Neglect air friction.
(a) What is the projectile’s velocity at the highest point of its trajectory?
(b) What is the straight-line distance from where the projectile was launched to where it hits its target?
Note: Illustrate and solve the problem. (10 points)

VII. ASSIGNMENT
Answer the following questions briefly.
Note: - please answer in your own words

- No credit if just copied from the internet
1. A typical sprinter speeds up during the first third of a race and slows gradually over the rest of the
course. Is it accurate to say that a sprinter is 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 as he slows during the final two-thirds of
the race?
Note: Please support your answer. (3 points)
2. Each of the following automobile trips takes one hour. The positive 𝑥 – direction is to the east.
(i) Automobile A travels 50 km due east.
(ii) Automobile B travels 50 km due west.
(iii) Automobile C travels 60 km due east, then turns around and travels 10 km due west.
(iv) Automobile D travels 70 km due east.
(v) Automobile E travels 20 km due west, then turns around and travels 20 km due east.
a. Rank the five trips in order of average 𝑥 – velocity from most positive to most negative.
(5 points)
b. Which trips, if any, have the same average 𝑥 – velocity? (2 points)
c. For which trip, if any, is the average 𝑥 – velocity equal to zero? (2 points)
3. A ball is thrown straight up into the air. Neglect air resistance. While the ball is in the air, what can
you say about its acceleration? (4 points)
4. A hunter aims a rifle directly at a squirrel on a branch of a tree. The squirrel sees the flash of the rifle’s
firing. Should the squirrel stay where it is or drop from the branch in free fall at the instant the rifle is
fired? (4 points)
VIII. REFERENCES
Halliday, David, et.al. (2001). Fundamentals of Physics. Singapore: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Serway, Raymond A, et.al. (2012). Physics Fundamentals I. Pasig City, Philippines: Cengage
Learning Asia Pte. Ltd.
Young, Hugh D. et.al. (2008). University Physics with Modern Physics. Jurong, Singapore: Pearson
Education, Inc.
Disclaimer: This document does not claim any originality and cannot be used as a substitute for
prescribed textbooks. The information presented here is merely a collection by the faculty member for
her respective teaching assignments. Various sources as mentioned at the end of the document as well
as freely available material from internet were consulted for preparing this document. The ownership of
the information lies with the respective authors or institutions. Further, this document is not intended to
be used for commercial purpose and the faculty member is not accountable for any issues, legal or
otherwise, arising out of use of this document. The faculty member makes no representations or
warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this document and specifically
disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.



IM 03 Physics KINEMATICS

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Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

DEGREE PROGRAM BSME, BSECE COURSE NO. Physics 1

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

II. LESSON TITLE

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. illustrate velocity, acceleration and other quantities in kinematics;

Some general properties of motion that is restricted in three ways:

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 1 of 26

Position and Displacement

• The opposite direction is the negative direction.

- Displacement has two features:

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 2 of 26

𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ = a graphical representation of information like motion of a particle

Position of the Car at Various Times

(a) A pictorial representation of the motion of the car.

TIP : 𝐴 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐼𝑠𝑛′ 𝑡 𝑎 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

Average Velocity and Average Speed

- The notation 𝑥(𝑡) represents a function 𝑥 of 𝑡, not the product 𝑥 times 𝑡.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 3 of 26

• (𝑎) The graph of 𝑥(𝑡) for a moving armadillo.

- The armadillo is apparently first noticed at 𝑡 = 0 when it is at the position 𝑥 = -5 m.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 4 of 26

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 5 of 26

𝑥2 = 8.4 km + 2.0 km = 10.4 km

Δ𝑡 = Δ𝑡𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 + Δ𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘 = 0.12 h + 0.50 h = 0.62 h

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 6 of 26

Total distance = 8.4 km + 2.0 km + 2.0 km = 12.4 km

Total time interval = 0.12 h + 0.50 h + 0.75 h = 1.37 h

Instantaneous Velocity and Speed

• This equation displays two features of the instantaneous velocity 𝑣.

• Velocity is another vector quantity and thus has an associated direction.

Caution: Speed and average speed can be quite different.

𝑣 = 9.2 - (6.3) (3.5)2 = - 67.98 m/s

TIP : 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑣𝑠. 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 8 of 26

Combining the two equations,

• A common unit of acceleration is the meter per second: m/(s . s) or m/s2.

A particle’s position on the 𝑥 axis is given by 𝑥 = 4 - 27𝑡 + 𝑡 3 , where 𝑥 in meters and 𝑡 in

(a) Differentiate the position function 𝑥(𝑡) with respect to time,

𝑣 = - 27 + 3𝑡 2 where 𝑣 in meters per second

𝑎 = +6𝑡 where 𝑎 in meters per second squared

(b) setting 𝑣(𝑡) = 0 yields

0 = - 27 + 3𝑡 2 which has the solution

Thus, the velocity is zero both 3 s after the clock reads 0.

TIP : 𝑁𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 9 of 26

• A motion diagram is analogous to images resulting from a stroboscopic photograph of a moving

- Each image is made as the strobe light flashes.

Constant Acceleration: A Special Case

• In many types of motion, the acceleration is either constant or approximately so.

(𝑎) the position 𝑥(𝑡) of a particle moving with constant acceleration.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 11 of 26

- As a check, note that this equation reduces to 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 for 𝑡 = 0, as it must.

• In a similar manner we can rewrite

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 12 of 26

𝑣𝑜 𝑣 𝑣𝑜2 1 𝑣 2 − 2𝑣𝑣𝑜 + 𝑣𝑜2

Equations for Motion with Constant Acceleration

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 13 of 26

Given: 𝑎 = 0.4 𝑚/𝑠2 ; 𝑣𝑜 = 0 ; 𝑥𝑜 = 0 ; 𝑥 = 10 𝑚 ; 𝑣 = ?

Given: 𝑣𝑜 = 20 𝑚/𝑠 ; 𝑣 = 10 𝑚/𝑠 ; 𝑎 = - 1.5 𝑚/𝑠2 ; 𝑥𝑜 = 0 ; 𝑥 = ?

Given: 𝑎 = 5.00 𝑚/𝑠2 ; 𝑥𝑜 = 0 ; 𝑥 = 1.00 x 102 ft ; 𝑣𝑜 = 0