Displacement (s) – the change in position of

a body

s = ∆r
(r)final – (r)initial
where r = position of body

Example 1

In 1-D: (i.e. or direction)

At time t1

x1 = 15 m

At time t2

x2 = 30 m

Displacement, s = ∆x
= x2 – x1
= (30 -15) m
= 15 m
s = ∆r
= (r)final – (r)initial
= rf - ri
where r = position of body
Example 1

In 2-D: At t2
j 5

s = ∆r
= r2 – r1
3 5 i = (5i + 5j) - (3i – 7j)
s = 2i + 12j m

-7

At t1
Average Velocity: ratio of the Instantaneous Velocity: velocity at an instant
displacement to the time taken
v = ∆r = dr = d(xi+yj) = vxi+ vyj
v = s = ∆r ∆t dt dt
∆t ∆t t→0
Unit: ms-1 Unit: ms-1
(iv) From 2-D Example (iii) Body moving in a circle

s = 2i + 12j r – position vector

If ∆t = 2s v v – instantaneous
r velocity
Average Velocity v = s = 2i + 12j
∆t 2

= (i + 6j) ms-1
Average Acceleration: ratio of the change in velocity to the time
taken

a = ∆v = ∆vx i + ∆vy j + ∆vz k

∆t ∆t ∆t ∆t

Unit: ms-2

Instantaneous Acceleration: the acceleration at an instant

or given time.

a= ∆v = dv = d(vx i + vy j) = axi+ ayj

∆t dt dt
t→0
Unit: ms-2
Class Question 2

The position of a particle is given by r = i+4t2j+tk. What is its a) position b)

velocity and c) acceleration after t = 4 sec? Give your answers in vector
notation.

a) At t = 4s c) a = dv = d (8tj + k)
dt dt
r = i + 4t2j + tk
= i + 4(4)2j + 4k = 8j ms-2
= (i + 64j + 4k) m
At t = 4s
b) v = dr = d (i + 4t2j + tk)
dt dt a = 8j ms-2

= (8tj + k) ms-1

At t = 4s

v = 8(4)j + k
= (32j + k) ms-1
In 1- D:
x direction
y direction
Motion in or

v = u + at
where v = final velocity
u = initial velocity
a = acceleration
t = time

v2 = u2 + 2as
where s = displacement

s = ut + ½ at2
In 2-D: y – direction
y
Motion in
x vy = uy + ayt
vy2 = uy2 + 2ayy
y = uyt + ½ ayt2

x – direction y = displacement
in the ‘y’ direction
vx = ux + axt
vx2 = ux2 + 2axx
x = uxt + ½ axt2

x = displacement
in the ‘x’ direction
Class Question 3

A particle is initially located at r = (2i+2j) m and has initial velocity, u = (-2i+4j) ms-1 .
It undergoes a constant acceleration of a = (-2i+3j) ms-2.

r initial (ri) = (2i+2j) m

u = ( -2i+4j ) ms-1
a = ( -2i+3j ) ms-2
t = 2s

a) What is the particle’s velocity after 2 seconds? (Give in vector notation)?

v = u + at
= (-2i + 4j) + (-2i + 3j) (2)
= (-2i + 4j) + (-4i + 6j)
= (-6i + 10j ) ms-1
b) Also where is it located? r initial (ri) = (2i+2j) m
u = ( -2i+4j ) ms-1
Displacement s = ut + ½ at2 a = ( -2i+3j ) ms-2
= ( -2i+4j ) (2) + ½ ( -2i+3j ) (2)2 t = 2s
= ( -4i + 8j ) + ½ ( -8i + 12j )
= ( -4i + 8j ) + ( -4i + 6j )
= ( -8i + 14j ) m

s = rfinal – rinitial
rfinal = s + rinitial
= ( -8i + 14j ) + (2i+2j)
= ( -6i + 16j ) m