Chapter 2: Motion in One Dimension

Phys 301
 Motion

Motion: A change in position.

Kinematics: A branch of physics that describes motion of objects without

reference to causes.

Dynamics: A branch of physics that describes the relation between forces

and change in motion.

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 Motion

Reference frame and coordinate system

Used to describe the motion of a point-object in space

A coordinate system consists of:

1. An origin at a particular point in space

2. A set of coordinate axes with scales and labels
3. Choice of positive direction for each axis: unit
vectors
4. Cartesian coordinates are typically used in
Physics

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 Position and displacement

▪ Scalar quantities have size or magnitude, but a direction is not

specified.
(temperature, mass, speed, etc.)

▪ Vector quantities have magnitude and a specific direction

(velocity, acceleration, etc.)

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 Position and displacement

Displacement: change in position, in one direction it is represented by ∆x.

Displacement is a vector with positive and negative direction, and a magnitude
(in absolute value).

∆x = x – xo (Displacement in one dimension, SI unit m)

xo : initial position
x : final position

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 Position and displacement
Displacement versus distance

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 Velocity

Velocity: the rate of change in position (the time it takes to change position)
It can be described as a “rate of motion.” It is a vector it has direction. SI unit
[m/s]

Average velocity: is ratio of a displacement ∆x, in a time interval ∆t during

which the displacement occurred.

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 Graphical Interpretation of velocity

• On a graph of x vs. t the average velocity is the slope of the straight line that connects
two points.
Positive slope means positive velocity
Negative slope means negative velocity

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 Graphical Interpretation of velocity

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 Graphical Interpretation of velocity

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 Speed

Average Speed: The total distance covered (independent of direction), in a

time interval ∆t.

• Average speed is a scalar it is always positive

Velocity student x = speed student x = 2 m/s

house LAU
Velocity student y = -2 m/s; speed student y = 2m/s

0 2m 4m Velocity and speed can be equal in some intervals

Student x (in 2 secs) and different in others

Student y (in 1 secs)

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 Instantaneous velocity

• the rate of motion at any given instant.

• It can be calculated by shrinking ∆t
• It is also a vector it can be both positive
and negative
• Instantaneous speed is the magnitude
of instantaneous velocity

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 Graphical Interpretation of Instantaneous velocity

• The slope of the line tangent to the position

vs time graph is defined to be the
instantaneous velocity at that time

• Positive slope means positive velocity

• Negative slope means negative velocity

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 Graphical Interpretation of Instantaneous velocity

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 Acceleration

Acceleration: Is defined by the change of a particle's velocity in a time interval ∆t. It is a

vector it can be positive or negative depending on direction. SI unit [m/s2].

Average acceleration:

Instantaneous acceleration: Acceleration over a

single moment in time, calculated as the slope of
velocity vs time graph

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 Acceleration

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 Acceleration

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 One Dimensional Motion with Constant Acceleration

• In real life it is very common to have constant

acceleration

• In the case of constant acceleration 5 equations

are used to describe the motion

• Constant acceleration means a velocity with

constant slope and position with varying slope
(unless acceleration is zero)

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 One Dimensional Motion with Constant Acceleration

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 Freely Falling Bodies

FELIX free fall Red Bull stunt

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 Freely Falling Bodies

Free Fall Acceleration: the rate at which an object accelerates

downward in the absence of air resistance.
• Depends on the latitude and elevation
• Represented as g with the standard value 9.8 m/s2
• Independent of the properties of the object (mass, density,
shape..)

Equations of motion in table 2.1 applies to Felix free fall, and to

objects in free fall near Earth’s surface
• In vertical flight along the y-axis
• Air resistance can be neglected

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 Freely Falling Bodies

• Initial velocity is zero

Vo = 0
• The positive direction is upward
a = -g
• For free fall in the kinematics equation use y
instead of x since the motion is on the vertical axis
• g = 9.8 m/s2

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 Tips

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 Sample Example

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 Summary

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 Summary

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