Introductory Physics

Chapter 2 – Part 3
The equations of motions for constant
acceleration; free fall

Lecture 6 – September 23
Outline – Chapter 2
• Position and displacement
• Average velocity
• Speed and velocity
• Graphs of motion
• Instantaneous velocity
• Average acceleration
• Instantaneous acceleration
• Motion with constant acceleration
Free fall
• Integrals and motion
 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Equations of motion

1. Equation for velocity

v v2  v1 v2  v1
a  aave    (Usually we can
t t  t0 t take to=0)

v2  v1  at Initial velocity
(v at t=0)
v(t) = v1 + at
 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Equations of motion

2. Equation for position

 x x2  x1 x2  x1 x2  x1  vavgt
vave   
t t  t 0 t
Since the velocity varies linearly with time (constant
acceleration),we can write:

vavg  v1  v2 
1
2
Note: this “trick” is valid only
for constant acceleration!!!
You will see why this is so in the next lecture.
 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Equations of motion

vavg  12 v1  v2  x2  x1  vavgt

v2 = v1 + at Equation for velocity

vavg  12 v1  at  v1   v1  12 at

x2  x1  vavg t  x1  v1t  at 1
2
2
Motion with Constant Acceleration
Equations of motion

x2 = x1 + v1 t + ½ at 2 Equation for position

v2 = v1 + at Equation for velocity

• These two can be used to solve any problem regarding motion with
constant acceleration.
• A third equation is sometimes useful. It reduces the number of steps to
solution.
• However, the “third” equation is not a new, independent equation.
Alternate notation:
use zero for all “initial” values and no subscript for “final”.
 Motion with Constant Acceleration
The third equation – Galilei’s formula
v = v0 + at v  v0
t
a 2
 v  v0  1  v  v0 
x  x0  v0t  at  x0  v0 
1
2
2
  2 a 
 a   a 
 2 v 0 v  2 v 0 2  v 2  2 v v0  v 0 2   v 2  v0 2 
x  x 0     x0  
 


 2a   2a 

v 2 = v0 2 + 2 a (x – x0) or v 2
= v 0 + 2 a d
2
 Example of Motion with constant acceleration
Freely falling bodies
(free fall)

All bodies (near Earth’s surface) have a

downward acceleration of about 9.80 m/s 2 on
earth if they are free to fall and experience no
wind resistance.

a = 9.8 m/s2 = g
The direction is always downwards
(even if the body moves upwards).
 Freely falling bodies
If you choose the positive direction upwards, then +
a = -g
in all the equations of motion.
vo may be positive, negative or zero,
depending of the initial conditions of the problem. ⃗
𝑔
v = v0 + at = v0 – gt

y = y0 + v0t + ½at 2 =y0 + v0t– ½gt 2 Surface

of the
Earth
v 2 = v0 2 + 2 a (y – y0) = -
=v0 2 – 2 g (y – y0) Warning: only if up is positive.
 v = v0 + at
y
x = x0 + v0 t + ½ at 2
v 2 = v0 2 + 2 a (x – x0)
y0
y0=yi=28 m
v0=? (positive direction)
x
a=-g= -9.8 m/s2
v = v0 - gt At t=6 s we have y=28m. y =0
f

y = 28 + v0 t - ½ gt 2 28 = 28 + v0 6 - ½ 9.8* 36
v 2 = v0 2 - 2 g (y – y0) v0 = 29.4 m/s
v 2 = v0 2 - 2 g (0 – 28) vf = 37.6 m/s
 x v = v0 + at
x = x0 + v0 t + ½ at 2
v 2 = v0 2 + 2 a (x – x0)
y0
y0=yi=0 m
v0=? (negative direction)
y
a=g= 9.8 m/s2
v = -v0 + gt At t=6 s we have y= 0 m. yf =28 m
y = - v0 t + ½ gt 2 0= - v0 6 + ½ 9.8* 36
v 2 = v0 2 + 2 g (y ) v0 = 29.4 m/s
v 2 = v0 2 +2 g (28) vf = 37.6 m/s
 Graphical Interpretation

The change in position which is the displacement

is the area under the v – t graph.
If the area is below the axis, it is negative.
 Graphical Interpretation

The change in velocity is

the area under the a – t graph.

If the area is below the axis, it is negative.