RECTILINEAR

MOTION with variable

acceleration
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION
 When bodies are acted upon variable forces, they moved variable
acceleration. To determine the kinematics equations of motion in
such cases, it is necessary to apply the given data to the differential
equations of kinematics. Since the acceleration may vary in many
ways. No general equations can be stated as was done in the case of
constant acceleration. At most we can only indicate the procedure to
be followed.
Basically we have three principal variable, s, v, and a, related by a
common parameter t as in the following box.
s
v t
a
Each of these principal variables may be expressed in terms of the
time, or they may be expressed in terms of each other or even a
combination of the others.
Case 1:
The displacement is given in terms of the time; s= f(t), to find v and
a..
This is the simplest case and is easily solved by successive
differentiation of the displacement with respect to the time
𝑑𝑠
according to the fundamental definitions of velocity v=𝑑𝑡 and
𝑑𝑣 𝑑2𝑠
acceleration ( a = = ). As an example, let it be required to
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡2
determine the velocity and acceleration of a body after 3 sec, if the
motion is defined by the relation s = 5 t + 4 t3 , s being in feet and t
in seconds.

Differentiating, we obtain the equations of velocity and acceleration

𝑑𝑠
v= = 5 + 12 t2
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑣
a= 𝑑𝑡 = 24 t
hence at t = 3 sec,
v= 5 +12 x (3)2 = 113 ft per sec ans.
a= 24 x 3 = 72 ft per sec 2 ans.
Case 2:
The acceleration is expressed in terms of the time.
a = f(t), t find v and s.
𝑑𝑣 𝑑2𝑠
The general procedure is to start with a= =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡2
Written in the form of dv = a dt and integrate to find the velocity in
terms of the time.
𝑑𝑠
We may now apply v=𝑑𝑡 written in the form ds= v dt and likewise
integrate to determine the displacement in terms of the time squared.
Eliminating the time between these two relations will give an
equation between velocity and displacement.
As an example of Case 2 let it be required to determine the velocity
and displacement of a body after 2 sec, if the motion is defined by the
relation a= 2t, a being in feet per second squared and t in seconds, and
if it is known that s = 4 ft and v = 2 ft per sec when t = 1 sec.
Applying dv = a dt and integrating between the given limits we have
𝑣 𝑡
2
𝑑𝑣 = 1
𝑎 𝑑𝑡 = 2𝑡 𝑑𝑡
v-2 = t2 – 1
v= t2 + 1 (a)
We now replace the variable v, just found in terms of the time, in the
differential equation ds = v dt and again proceed to integrate between
the given limits. This gives t
𝑠 𝑡 𝑠 𝑡3
4
𝑑𝑠 = 1
𝑡2 + 1 𝑑𝑡 𝑜𝑟 [𝑠] 4 3
+𝑡 1
𝑡3 1 𝑡3 8
s- 4 = 3
+ t - 3
- 1 or s = 3 +t+3 (b)
hence if t = 2 sec, substitution in (a) and ( b) gives
v= 5 ft per sec. and s= 7.33 ft. ans.
CASE 3:
The velocity is given in terms of the time: i.e., v = f(t), to
find a and s.
This case is a combination of Case 1 and Case 2.
differentiating the given velocity-time relation determines
𝑑𝑣
the acceleration ( i.e., a = 𝑑𝑡 ) while integrating in
determines the displacement ( i.e., ∫ds = ∫ v dt )
Other cases; When the principal variables are not given as
functions of the time, direct differentiation or integration
cannot be performed as above without a preliminary
treatment. There are two main variations which follows:
CASE 4:
One of the principal variables is expressed in terms of an
adjacent variable: i.e., a = f (v) or v = f(s).
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑠
The procedure here is to use either a= 𝑑𝑡
or v = to relate
𝑑𝑡
the given variables in terms of the time and thereby
reduce the problem to one of the three preceding cases.
𝑑𝑣
For example, if we are given a = f ( v), apply a = 𝑑𝑡 = f(v)
separating the variables gives
𝑡 𝑣 𝑑𝑣
𝑡𝑜
𝑑𝑡 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑓(𝑣)
Which is integrated to give v in terms of the time t, which
is case 3.
CASE 5
The given variables are not adjacent; i.e., a = f(s).
In this case, we substitute the given relation in v dv = a ds,
separate the variables and integrate to obtain one variable in terms
of its adjacent variable in terms of its adjacent variable. Thus we
obtain case 4 and proceed as indicated therein.
Example :
Problem 1
When displacement S is given in terms of time t.
If S = 4t + 3t3
1.) Find S after t= 2 sec.
2.) Find V after t= 2 sec.
3.) V= 4 + 9 t2
3.) Find a after t= 2 sec. 𝑑𝑉
Solution: a= 𝑑𝑡
1.) S = 4t + 3t3 a=18t
S= 4(2) + 3(2)3 a=18(2)
s= 32 a= 36 m/s2
𝑑𝑠
2.) V=𝑑𝑡
S=4t+3t3
V= 4 + 9(2)2
V= 4 + 36
V= 40 m/s
Problem 2
When acceleration is expressed in term’s of time t.
if a = 2t, S = 4 m. and V = 2 m/s when t = 1 sec
1.) Find ‘a’
2.) Find ‘S’
3.) Find ‘V’
Solution:
1.) a = 2 t
a= 2 (1)
a= 2 m/s2
𝑑𝑉
2.) a= 𝑑𝑡

dV= a dt
∫dv = ∫ a dt
𝑉 𝑡
2
𝑑𝑉 = 1
2𝑡 dt
 2 𝑡2
V-2 = [ 2 ]01
V-2 = t 2 - 1
V= t2 + 1
𝑑𝑆
V= 𝑑𝑡

ds= Vdt

∫ds = ∫ V dt
3.) V = t2 + 1
𝑆 𝑡
𝑑𝑆 = (𝑡2 + 1) dt V=(2) 2 + 1
4 1 V= 5 m/s
𝑡3
S-4 = [ 3 + t]t1
𝑡3 1
S-4 = [ ( 3 + t) – ( 3 + 1)]
𝑡3+3𝑡 1+3
s-4 = 3 - ( 3 )
3( S-4) = t3 + 3t – 4
3S-12 = t3 + 3t -4
3S = t 3 + 3t + 8
3S = 2 3 + 3(2) + 8
S= 7.33 m
Problem 3
The motion of particle is governed by the relation a= 4t2 where a is in m/s2
And t is in seconds. When t is zero, V =2 m/s and s = 4 m.

a. Find the velocity when t = 2 sec

b. Find distance when t= 2 sec
c. Find the acceleration when t= 2 sec

Solution:

a.) Velocity when t = 2 sec

a= 4t2
𝑑𝑣
a= 𝑑𝑡
𝑉 𝑡
2
𝑑𝑣 = 0
𝑎 𝑑𝑡
𝑡
V-2 = 03
4𝑡2 𝑑𝑡
𝑡
V-2= 4
3
When t= 2
𝑡3
V= 4 3 +2
23
V= 43= 12.67 m/s
b.) Distance when t= 2 sec c.) Acceleration when t= 2 sec
𝑑𝑠 a= 4t2
V =𝑑𝑡
𝑠 1 4𝑡3 a= 4(2)2
4
𝑑𝑠 = (
0 3
+ 2)dt a= 16 m/s2
𝑡4
s-4= 412 + 2t

24
s-4 =412 + 2(2)

s= 13.33 m
Solve the following problem:
𝑡3
1. The motion of a particle is given by the equation s= 2t - 6 + 2t2 where S is in m
4

and t in seconds.
Compute:
a. Distance when t = 2 sec.
b. Velocity when t= 2 sec.
c. Acceleration when t= 2 sec.
2. The acceleration of a point is a= 20t m/s2 When t = 0, s = 40m and V = -10 m/s
a. What is the position of the point at t = 3 sec?
b. What is the velocity of the point at t= 3 sec?
c. What is the acceleration of the point at t =3 sec?