MODULE 01 | RECTILINEAR KINEMATICS

DYNAMICS Occasionally, the term “average speed” is used. The

Engineering Mechanics is divided into two areas of
study, namely, Statics and Dynamics. Statics is
concerned with the equilibrium of a body that is
either at rest or moves with constant velocity.
Dynamics deals with the accelerated motion of a
body.
RECTILINEAR KINEMATICS
average speed is always a positive scalar and is
defined as the total distance traveled by a particle,
sT, divided by the elapsed time ∆ t .
ST
( V sp) avg= ∆ t

The kinematics of a particle is characterized by

determining the particle’s position, velocity, and
acceleration, at any instant of time, in a straight line.

POSITION – It specifies the location of a point at any

given instant of time, positive if the point is located at
ACCELERATION – provided the velocity of the
the right of origin, negative if located at the left of the
particle is known at two points, the average
origin (by conventional number line).
acceleration of the particle during the time interval
∆ t is defined as:
∆V
a avg=
∆t

DISPLACEMENT – It measures the change of

position after some time from initial point. Positive if
the final position is on the right of the initial point and
negative if the final position is on left of the initial
point.

VELOCITY – if the particle moves through a

displacement ∆ s during the time interval ∆ t , the
average velocity of the particle during this time INSTANTANEOUS ACCELERATION
interval is:
2
dV d S
∆S a= =
V avg = dt d t 2
∆t

Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration Relation

dS dV
dt= =
V a
INSTANTANEOUS VELOCITY

dS
V=
dt a dS=v dV

Note: For Instantaneous Velocity and Acceleration,

Integration and Differentiation is involved.
SPEED – is the magnitude of the velocity. It is
generally expressed in units of m/s or ft/s. Sample Problems:

1
 MODULE 01 | RECTILINEAR KINEMATICS

1. The car moves in a straight line such that for a

short time its velocity is defined by v = (3t2 + 2t) ft/s,
where t is in seconds. Determine its position and
acceleration when t = 3 s. When t = 0, s = 0.

2. A small projectile is fired vertically downward into

a fluid medium with an initial velocity of 60 m/s. Due
to the drag resistance of the fluid, the projectile
experiences a deceleration of a = (-0.40v3) m/s2,
where v is in m/s. Determine the projectile’s velocity
and position 4 seconds after it is fired.

3. The position of the front bumper of a test car

under microprocessor control is given by x = 2.17 +
4.8t2 – 0.1t6, meters. Find its position and
acceleration at the instants when the car has zero
velocity.

4. An uncontrolled automobile travelling at 45 mph

strikes a highway crash barrier square on. After
initially hitting the barrier, the automobile decelerates
at a rate proportional to the distance x the
automobile has moved into the barrier; specifically,
by equation, a = - 60