Chapter

3
Motion in one Dimension
z Kinematics is description of motion, without referring to z Instantaneous acceleration : It is the time rate of change
cause of motion. dv
of velocity. It is given by a = .
z Motion in one dimension is also called motion along a dt
straight line or rectilinear motion. dv d 2x
z Distance travelled: The length of the actual path traversed a= =
by a particle is called distance travelled. It is a scalar. Its
dt dt 2
SI unit is metre (m). dv é dx ù
Also, a = v ê∵ v= ú
z Displacement: The straight line distance from the initial dx ë dt û
position to the final position is called displacement. It is a z Acceleration is a vector. Its SI unit is ms−2. In uniform
vector. Its SI unit in metre (m). motion, acceleration is zero.
If we consider a particle moving on X-axis, its z Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion:
displacement is given by s = x2 − x1, where x1 = initial ¾ When a particle is moving along a straight line and
position and x2 = final position. its acceleration is constant, the following kinematics
z Displacement of a particle can be zero, positive or equations can be used.
negative. But distance travelled cannot be zero (once the
1
motion starts) or negative i.e., distance travelled is always v = u + at , s = ut + at 2 , v 2 - u 2 = 2as
positive. 2
Displacement æ 1ö
z Average velocity: vavg = snth = u + a ç n - ÷
Total time è 2ø
x2 - x1 Dx where u = initial velocity, v = final velocity,
vavg = = a = acceleration, t = time, s = displacement and
t2 - t1 Dt
snth = displacement in nth second.
z Instantaneous velocity : It is given by
Dx dx z Graphs for rectilinear motion
v = lim =
Dt ®0 Dt dt (a) Position-time (x-t) graphs
z Velocity is a vector and its SI unit is metre per second ¾ The slope of position-time graph gives velocity of
(ms−1). particle.
z Uniform and non-uniform motion: If the velocity (i) Particle is at rest:
remains same both in magnitude and in direction, the
motion is said to be uniform. If the direction of velocity or
the magnitude of velocity or both change, we say that the
particle has variable velocity and the particle is in non-
(ii) 
Particle is in uniform motion i.e., moving with
uniform motion.
constant velocity.
total distance travelled
z Average speed =
time taken to cover that distance
z Speed is a scalar. It cannot be negative.
z Average acceleration:
change in velocity v2 - v1 Dv
aavg = = =
time taken t2 - t1 Dt
3.2 Physics

(iii) Particle is moving with constant acceleration: (i) Particle is at rest. In this (ii) Particle is in
1 2 case a = 0. uniform motion.
Here x = ut + at . So x-t graph is a parabola.
2
Figure (a): Initial velocity, u = 0 and
particle is at x = 0 when t = 0 [The
slope of curve at origin is zero] So a-t graph is In this case a = 0.
time axis itself. So a-t graph is time
axis itself.
Figure (b): Initial velocity, u ≠ 0 and dv
z a=v [where s = displacement]
particle is at x = 0, when t = 0 [The ds
slope of curve at origin is not zero] dv a acceleration a
\ = Þ slope of v - s graph = =
ds v velocity v
Also, slope of v2-s graph = 2 (acceleration) = 2a.
Figure (c): Initial velocity, u = 0 and
If the area under acceleration-displacement graph
particle is at x = x0, when t = 0 [Slope
(a-s graph) is A, then the final velocity is given by the
of curve at x = x0 is zero]
formula, v = u 2 + 2 A , where u = initial velocity of the
particle.
Figure (d): Initial velocity, u ≠ 0 and z Invalid graphs: The graphs such as the following are
particle is at x = x0 when t = 0 [The invalid.
slope of the curve at x = x0 is not zero] (a) (b)

(b) Velocity-time (v-t) graphs

¾ The slope of v-t graph gives acceleration.
¾ The area under v-t graph gives displacement. This graph is invalid This graph is invalid
since at the same since at the same
(i) Particle is at rest (ii) P
 article is in uniform motion
instant a particle instant a particle
cannot have two cannot have two
positions. velocities.
(c) (d)
In this case v-t graph is In this case acceleration of the
time axis itself. particle is 0.

(iii) Particle is moving with constant acceleration This graph is invalid This graph is invalid
since speed cannot be since distance
negative. travelled cannot
decrease.

(a) Initial velocity, (b) Initial velocity, (c) Uniformly retarded

u = 0 u ≠ 0 motion
z
(iv) In a v-t graph positive area gives positive displacement
and negative area gives negative displacement.
The displacement time (s-t) graph, the velocity time
(v-t) graph and the speed-time graph for a particle which
is uniformly retarded and then is uniformly accelerated
(in the opposite direction) are as in figures (a), (b) and (c)
respectively.
z Motion under the action of gravity
¾ For a freely falling body (with zero initial velocity),
Total displacement = (+A1) + (−A2) = A1 − A2
the equations of motion are,
Total distance travelled = A1 + A2
Acceleration – time (a-t) graphs 1 2 2 æ 1ö
z v = gt, s = gt , v = 2 gs, snth = g ç n - ÷
¾ The area under a-t graph gives change in velocity. 2 è 2ø
 Motion in one Dimension 3.3

¾  or a body projected vertically upwards (with initial

F The above equation can also be used in the case of a body
velocity, u), the equations of motion are, dropped from a raising balloon, when its speed is u and
v = u − gt when it is at a height h from the ground.
1 æ 1ö Relative velocity
s = ut - gt 2 , v 2 - u 2 = -2 gs , snth = u - g ç n - ÷ z

2 è 2ø If the absolute velocity of body A is v A and the absolute
u2 
Maximum height attained is hmax = . velocity of body B is vB, then velocity of A with respect to
2g
B (i.e., velocity of A as observed by B) is given by
Time of ascent = Time of descent   
v AB = v A - vB
u 2hmax Similarly, acceleration of A with respect to B is given by
ta = td = =   
g g a AB = a A - aB

¾ 
If a body is projected vertically upwards with an where a A = acceleration of A;

initial velocity u from the top of a tower of height h aB = acceleration of B
and time taken by the body to reach ground is t, then    
v A , vB , a A and aB in the above equations
1
h = gt 2 - ut
2
 are relative to ground.