GENERAL PHYSICS

1
SCHOOL YEAR
Engr. LAZARO R. BINAY
2022
JR.
2023 SST-II
 OBJECTIVES:

6. Solve problems involving one-dimensional

motion with constant acceleration in contexts
such as, but not limited to, the “tail-gating
phenomenon”, pursuit, rocket launch, and free-
fall problems.
 REVIEW:

Quadratic Formula:
Motion with
Constant
Motion with Constant
Acceleration
 Motion with Constant Acceleration

Uniformly Accelerated Motion (UAM) Equations

Unknown Quantity Probable equation to use

or
 Motion with Constant Acceleration

Uniformly Accelerated Motion (UAM) Equations

Definition of Quantities Definition of Quantities

Final velocity in - direction Initial time that corresponds to

initial position
Initial velocity in – direction Final time that corresponds to
final position
Final position in – direction Acceleration in – direction

Initial position in – direction

Solving
Problem-Solving Strategy
SET UP the problem using the following steps:
1. You MUST decide at the beginning of a
problem where the origin of coordinates is,
and which axis direction is positive. These
choices are usually a matter of convenience.
It is often easiest to place the particle at the
origin at time ; then . It is always helpful to
make a motion diagram showing these
choices and some later positions of the
particle.
SET UP the problem using the following steps:

2. Remember that your choice of the positive

axis direction automatically determines the
positive directions for velocity and
acceleration. If is positive to the right of the
origin, then and are also positive toward the
right.
SET UP the problem using the following steps:

3. Restate the problem in words first, and then

translate this description into symbols and
equations. When does the particle arrive at a
certain point (that is, what is the value of )?
Where is the particle when its velocity has a
specified value (that is, what is the value of
when has the specified value)?
SET UP the problem using the following steps:

4. Make a list of quantities such as , , , , , and .

In general, some of them will be known and
some will be unknown. Write down the values
of the known quantities and decide which of
the unknows are the target variables. Be on
the lookout for implicit information. For
example, “A car sit at a stoplight” usually
means .
EXECUTE the solution:

5. Choose an equation (UAM) to use that

contains only one of the target variables.
Solve this equation for the target variable,
using symbols only. Then substitute the
known values and compute the value of the
target variables. Sometimes you will have to
solve two simultaneous equations for two
unknown quantities.
EVALUATE your answer:

6. Take a hard look at your results to see

whether they make sense. Are they within
general range of values you expected?
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1:

A motorcycle heading east through a small town

accelerates after he passes the signpost marking
of the town limits. His acceleration is a constant .
At time he is east of the signpost, moving east
at . a) Find his position and velocity at time . b)
Where is the motorcyclist when his velocity is ?
 SET UP:

Given:
 EXECUTE:

a) Required:
at
at
EXECUTE:

Solution:
EXECUTE:

Solution:
 EXECUTE:

b) Required:
when
EXECUTE:

Solution:
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2:
Annabel Lee who’s riding a motorbike is
approaching a stoplight moving with a velocity
of . The light turns yellow, and Annabel applies
the brakes and skids to a stop. If Annabel’s
acceleration is , determine the displacement of
the motorbike during the skidding process. (Note
that the direction of the velocity and the
acceleration vectors are denoted by a and a
sign.)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 2:

Required:
Given:
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2:

Solution:
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3:

Suppose a car merges into

freeway traffic on a 200-m-
long ramp. If its initial velocity
is and it accelerates , how
long does it take the car to
travel the up the ramp?
(Such information might be
useful to a traffic engineer.)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 3:

Given: Required:
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3:

Solution:
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3:

Solution:
Pursui
Two-Body Pursuit
Problems
Two-Body Pursuit Problems

In a two-body pursuit problem, the motions of

the objects are coupled – meaning, the unknown
we seek depends on the motion of both objects.
To solve these problems, we write the equations
of motion for each object and then solve them
simultaneously to find the unknown.
 Two-Body Pursuit Problems

A two-body pursuit scenario where car 2 has a

constant velocity and car 1 is behind with a constant
acceleration.
Sample Problem 1: (Two-Body Pursuit)

A motorist travelling with constant velocity of

about passes a school-crossing corner, where
the speed limit is about . Just as the motorist
passes, a police officer on a motorcycle stopped
at the corner start off in pursuit with constant
acceleration of .
(a) How much time elapses before the officer
catches up with the motorist?
Sample Problem 1: (Two-Body Pursuit)

(b) What is the officer’s speed at that point?

(c) What is the total distance each vehicle has
traveled at that point?
 Sample Problem 1: (Two-Body Pursuit)

Given:
Sample Problem 2: (Two-Body Pursuit)

A car travelling east at a constant speed of

begins to accelerate at when it is behind a truck
currently moving east at a constant speed of .
How long will it take for the car to catch up with
the truck? How far will the truck and car travel
during this time period?
BOARDWORK PROBLEM 1:

It was once recorded that a Jaguar left skid

marks that were in length. Assuming that the
Jaguar skidded to a stop with a constant
acceleration of , determine the speed of the
Jaguar before it began to skid.
BOARDWORK PROBLEM 2:

On dry concrete, a car can accelerate opposite

to the motion at a rate of , whereas on wet
concrete it can accelerate opposite to the motion
at only . Find the distance necessary to stop a
car moving at on (a) dry concrete and (b) wet
concrete.
 SET UP:

Given:
BOARDWORK PROBLEM 3: (Two-Body Pursuit)

A cheetah waits in hiding behind a bush. The

cheetah spots a gazelle running past at . At the
instant the gazelle passes the cheetah, the
cheetah accelerates from rest at to catch the
gazelle. (a) How long does it take the cheetah to
catch the gazelle? (b) what is the displacement
of the gazelle and cheetah?