EQUATION

OF LINEAR
MOTION
 v = u + at Where ;
s = ut + at2 s = displacement
u = initial velocity

v2 = u2 + 2as
v = final velocity
a = acceleration
t = time interval
s = (u + v) t
Example 1:
A truck travelling at 25 ms-1 puts its brakes on for 4s.
This produces a retardation of 2 ms-2. What does the
trucks velocity drop to?

Solution:
u = 25 ms-1 t=4s a = - 2 ms -2 v=?

v = u + at
v = 25 + (-2)(4)
v = 25 8
v = 17 ms-1
Example 2:
Jason is riding on a bicycle at a velocity of 5 ms-1 to
the school. He slows down his bicycle before coming to
the junction. If the deceleration of the bicycle is 2 ms -
2
, find the value of s.
Solution:
u = 5 ms-1 a = - 2 ms-2 v = 0 ms-1 s = ?

v2 = u2 + 2as
0 = 25 + 2 (-2) s
0 = 25 4 s
4 s = 25
s = 6.25 m
Example 3:
A motorcycle accelerates with an acceleration of
4 ms-2 . Its initial velocity in 8 seconds is 2 ms -1 . Find
its displacement.

Solution:
a = 4 ms-2 u = 2 ms-1t = 8 s s=?

s = (2)(8) + (4)(82)
s = 16 + (4)(64)
s = 16 + 128
s = 144 m
Example 4:
A helicopter travelling at velocity of 250 ms-1 increases
its velocity to 400 ms-1 in 30 seconds. Calculate the
distance travelled by the helicopter.

Solution:
u = 250 ms-1 v = 400 ms-1 t = 30 s s = ?

s = (u + v) t
s = (250+400)(30)
s = (19500)
s = 9750 m
Exercise

1. Hazuri is driving a car at a velocity of 30 ms-1 . On

seeing a student crossing a road, he steps on his
brakes to stop the car. The speed of the car
decreases uniformly and comes to a halt after
travelling 150 m. What is the deceleration of the
car when the brakes are applied?
2. Azmi rides a bicycle at a constant acceleration of 2
ms-2 from rest and reaches a velocity of 12 ms-1 .
Calculate the distance travelled by Azmi.
3. A trolley starts from rest and accelerates
uniformly over a distance of 2 m. If the final
velocity after travelling 2 m is 2 ms-1 , what is the
acceleration of the trolley?