1 Mechanics

1A Motion
Daniel
 1 Velocity and acceleration
• Learning objectives
– Explain the distinction between scalar and vector
quantities.
– Distinguish between speed and velocity and
define acceleration.
– Calculate values using equations for velocity and
acceleration
 Scalar VS Vector
• Scalar
– A quantity that has a magnitude only.
• Vector
– A quantity that must have both magnitude and
direction

Scalar: num + unit

Vector: num + unit + direction

 Scalar VS Vector
Distance, displacement, speed, velocity,
acceleration, force, time, mass, weight, energy,
momentum, ampere, power
Scalar Vector
Distance Displacement
Speed Velocity
Mass Acceleration
Energy Force
Ampere Weight
power momentum
 Distance, displacement, speed and velocity

Solution,
Distance = 400 m
Displacement = 0
A man walks around the
playground for one loop. What is Speed v= 400/50 m/s = 8 m/s
the distance, displacement, speed Velocity v= 0
and velocity? 400 m for one loop,
50 seconds.
 Average and instantaneous speed
• Average speed
– Calculated by dividing the total distance for a
journey by the total time for the journey. Thus it
average out the slower and faster of the journey,
and even includes stops.
• Instantaneous speed
– Can be an important quantity, and we will look at
how to measure it in the next topic.
 Acceleration
• Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of
velocity.

or

u: the initial speed

v: the final speed
 exercise
A driver in a car travelling at about 40.2 km h-1 sees a cat run onto
the road ahead.
(a) Convert 40.2 km h-1 into a speed in m s-1.
(b) The car travels 16.5 m whilst the driver is reacting to the
danger. What is his reaction time?
(c) The car comes to a soap in 2.5 s. What is its deceleration?
Solution,
(a)

(b) ,

(c)
 exercise
An electron in an X-ray machine is accelerated from rest to
half the speed of light in 1.7×10-15 s. Calculate:
(a) The speed the electron reaches in m s-1
(b) The acceleration the electron experiences.

Solution,
u= 0 m/s, , t= 1.7×10-15 s

(a) m/s= 1.5×108 m/s

(b) m/s2= 8.8×1022 m/s2

 Subject vocabulary
• Speed

• Velocity

• Displacement

• Vector

• Scalar

• Average speed

• Instantaneous speed
 1A
2 Motion graph
 8

Time/ s Speed/ 6

speed/ ms-1
(m/s) 4
0 3 2
1 4 0
0 1 2 3 4 5
2 5 Time/ s
3 6
4 7
𝑣 −𝑢
𝑎= k: the gradient,
𝑡
𝑎𝑡 =𝑣 −𝑢 𝒌=
𝒚𝟐− 𝒚𝟏
=𝒂
𝒙 𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
𝑣 =𝑢+𝑎𝑡
 𝒖 +𝒗
𝒗=
𝟐
a, the speed is keep increase at a constant rate.
uniform acceleration motion.
b, the speed is keep increase at a constant rate, faster.
uniform acceleration motion.
c, the speed is keep constant, no change.
uniform linear motion.
d, the speed is keep decrease at a constant rate.
uniform acceleration motion.
 The shading area is the distance

Uniform linear motion, Uniform acceleration motion,

𝑢+ 𝑣
𝑠= 𝑡
𝑠=𝑣𝑡 2

s
 Motion in 1D
Uniform linear
𝑠=𝑣𝑡
motion

Motion in
1D
Uniform acceleration
motion
 Position-time graph
Uniform linear motion Uniform acceleration motion
 speed-time graph
Uniform linear motion Uniform acceleration motion
 acceleration-time graph
Uniform linear motion Uniform acceleration motion
Uniform linear motion Uniform acceleration motion
 Position-time graph

Describe the motion.

Solution,
From 0s to 2s, it moves forward, with constant speed.
From 2s to 4s, it keeps still, no move.
From 4s to 8s, it moves backward with uniform speed.
From 8s to 9s, it moves to the negative direction with uniform speed.

From 9s to 10s, it is at rest, no motion.

speed-time graph
Describe the motion.

Solution,
From 0s to 2s, it accelerated with uniform acceleration.
From 2s to 4s, it keeps move at constant speed.
From 4s to 8s, it decreases the speed, forward.
From 8s to 9s, it moves to the negative direction with uniform
acceleration.
From 9s to 10s, it keeps move at constant speed, negative direction.
 v-t graph
Uniform linear motion Uniform acceleration motion

𝒖+ 𝒗
𝒔=𝒗𝒕 𝒔=
𝟐
𝒕

The shading area represent the distance travelled.

 Speed-time graph
In the v-t graph,
(a)What is the total distance
travelled?
(b)What is the total displacement
travelled?
Solution,
(a) Total distance,

2+ 8 S
𝑠1= × 8 𝑚=40 𝑚 (b) Total displacement,
2 2
1+
𝑠2 = ×2 𝑚=3 𝑚 S=S +S
2 1 2

S1=40m, S2=-3m
S=S1+S2=40m + 3m= 43m
S=S1+S2= 40m + (-3m)= 37m
 Speed-time graph
In the s-t graph,
(a)What is the total distance
travelled?

Position/ m
(b)What is the total displacement
travelled?

Solution,
(a) The total distance,

S = 8 + 0 + 8 + 2 + 0 = 18 m (b) The total displacement,

S= 8 + 0 + (-8) + (-2) + 0 = -2 m
 1A
3 Adding forces

Fresultant = F1 + F2 = 11 N + 7 N= 18 N

Fresultant = F1 + F2 = 11 N + (-7 N)= 4 N

 Analysis of forces

FA FB FC FD

FA+FB FA+FC

FAB FAC

FC
FA FB FA
FA FAB

FB
 FA FAB

FAy

FAx FB
 exercise
Work out the resultant force on a toy car if it has the
following forces acting on it:
1. Rubber band motor driving forwards 8.4 N
2. Air resistance 0.5 N
3. Friction 5.8 N
4. Child’s hand pushing forward 10 N
F2=0.5 N
F1=8.4 N
F3=5.8 N

F4=10 N

Fresultant = F1+F2+F3+F4= 8.4+(-0.5)+(-5.8)+10N=12.1N

 1A 4 Moments

moment = force × distance

力矩 力 perpendicular
N•m N distance from the
pivot to the line of
action of the force
垂线距离， m
 Principal of moment

Momentclockwise = Momentanticlockwise

W1x1 = W0x0 + W2x2

 Centre of gravity
The weight of an object is caused by the
gravitational attraction between the Earth and each
particle contained within the object. The sum of all
these tiny weight forces appears to act from a
single point for any object, and this point is called
the centre of gravity.
exercise
A child and his father are playing on a seesaw, see fig
H. They are exactly balanced when the boy (mass 46 kg)
sits at the end of the seesaw, 2.75 m from the pivot. If his
father weighs 824 N, how far is he from the pivot?

Solution,
m1= 46 kg, x1=2.75 m
W2= 824 N

Momentclockwise = Momentanticlockwise
W1x1 = W2x2
46 ×9.81 × 2.75 = 824 ×x2 x2 = 1.5 m
 50cm

A meterstick,
A necklace, 350 g
Suspending 15 cm, xnecklace mstick
What is the mass of the
stick?
mnecklace
Solution,
Momentclockwise = Momentanticlockwise
mnecklacexnecklace = mstickxstick

350 * 15 = mstick * (50-15)

350 ×15
𝑚 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘= =765 𝑔
50 −15
A student lay on a weightless
board, the length of the board is
2.50 m.
Two scales have readings are
F1= 350 N, F2= 250 N,

Solution,
Momentclockwise = Momentanticlockwise
Principal of moment,
Let the left scale be the axis,
Wx=F2l
(350+250)x=250*2.5
250 ∗2.5
𝑥= 𝑚=1.0 𝑚
(350 +250)
 1A 5 Newton’s laws of motion
Sir Isaac Newton was an
exceptional thinker and scientist.
His influence over science in the
West is still enormous, despite
the fact that he lived from 1642 to
11727. He was a professor at
Cambridge University, a member
of the British Parliament, and a
president of the respected
scientific organisation, the Royal
Society, in London.
 Newton’s law of motion
• NEWTON’S FIRST LAW OF MOTION
– if an object is stationary there needs to be a
resultant force on it to make it move. If the object
is already moving then it will continue at the same
speed in the same direction unless a resultant
force acts on it.

A object,
keep rest/ moving at constant speed,
Unless,
An unbalanced force
 NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION
This law tells us how much an objects motion will
be changed by a resultant force.

F = ma
The acceleration of an object is proportional to
the net force, and is inverse proportional to the
mass.
1
𝑎∝ 𝐹 𝑎∝
𝑚
 exercise
A block is 2 kg, a force 8 N pulling it to the right.
What is the acceleration of the block?

Solution,
m= 2 kg, F= 8 N

𝐹 =𝑚𝑎
𝐹 8𝑁 2
𝑎= = =4 𝑚/𝑠
𝑚 2 𝑘𝑔
A block is 2 kg, a force 8 N is acting on the block. The
coefficient of friction between the block and the ground
is 0.2.
a. What is the net force of the block?
b. What is the acceleration of the block?

Solution,
m= 2 kg, F= 8 N, μ= 0.2

a. Fnet = F+f = F + μmg = 8 N + (-0.2*2*9.81) N = 4.07 N

b. =2.03 m/s2
 NEWTON’S THIRD LAW OF MOTION
When an object A causes a force on another
object B, then object B causes an equal force in the
opposite direction to act upon object A.
Action force, Reaction force, Equal & opposite
 SUBJECT VOCABULARY
• Newton‘s first law of motion an object will remain at
rest, or in a state of uniform motion, until acted upon by
a resultant force

• Newton‘s second law of motion if an object‘s mass is

constant, the resultant force needed to cause an
acceleration is given by the equation:

• Newton‘s third law of motion for every action, there is

an equal and opposite reaction
 1A 6 Kinematics equations

• Zero acceleration • Constant acceleration

𝑠=𝑣𝑡
 Free fall
A metal ball is released from a cliff with 10 m
height. (a) When the metal ball will land on the
ground? (b) What is the final speed of the metal ball
when it lands on the ground?
Solution,
h= 10 m,
1
𝑎 ) 𝐻= 𝑔 𝑡
2
2
( 𝑏 ) 𝑣 =𝑢+𝑎𝑡

=
√ √
2𝐻 2×10
𝑔
=
9.81
𝑠=1.43𝑠
=14.0 m/s
(15) A book is knocked off a bench and falls vertically to the floor. If the book
takes 0.40 s to fall to the floor, calculate:
a its speed as it lands
b the height from which it fell
c the distance it falls during the first 0.20 s
d the distance it falls during the final 0.20 s.
Solution,
t=0.40 s, g=9.81 m/s2

(a ) v f  v0  at  (0  9.81*0.40) m / s  3.92m / s
1 2 1
(b) H  v0t  at  (0  *9.81*0.40 2 ) m  0.785m
2 2
1 2 1
(c) s first 0.2 s  v0t  at  (0  *9.81*0.20 ) m  0.196m
2

2 2
(d ) s final 0.2 s  H  s first 0.2  (0.785  0.196) m  0.589m
 Throw vertically
A football player throw up a ball with a speed of 9 m/s.
(a) What is the maximum height the ball reach? (b) How
long will the ball need to go back to the hands?
Solution,
u= 9 m/s,
(a) (b)
2
0=𝑢 + 2 𝑔h
2 2
𝑢 9
h= = =4.1 𝑚
2 𝑔 2 ×9.81
A player throw up a ball vertically up to the air, and it
takes 3.2 s to go back to his hands .
(a)What is the initial speed of the ball?
(b)What is the maximum height of the ball reaches above
the ground? The player is 1.8 m high.
Solution,
ttotal= 3.2 s
(a) 1 2
( 𝑏) 𝐻 = 𝑔 𝑡
2
𝑣 =𝑢+𝑎𝑡 1 2
𝐻 = ×9.81 ×1.6
0 =𝑢+ 𝑔𝑡 2
𝑢=−𝑔𝑡 =−(−9.81)× 1.6 𝑚/ 𝑠 𝐻 =12.6 𝑚
𝑢=15.7 𝑚 / 𝑠
 A hot-air balloon is 80 m above the ground and travelling
vertically downwards at 8.0 m s–1 when one of the
passengers accidently drops a coin over the side. How long
after the coin reaches the ground does the balloon touch
down?
Solution,
H=80m, v0=8.0m/s,
The coin drops with an uniform acceleration motion, and the initial speed of 8.0
m/s.
The hot-air balloon is uniform linear motion.
For the coin, For the balloon,
1 S  vt ,
S  v0t  at 2,
2 s 80
1 t2   s  10s
80  8.0t  *9.81t 2 , v 8
2
t1  3.3s Δ t  t2  t1  (10  3.3) s  6.7 s
 1A 7 Resolving vectors
• Resolving vector
 A jet is flying to north with a speed of 120 m/s,
on a bearing of wind blow from west to east at 30
m/s. What is the resultant speed of the jet to the
ground?
Solution,
vjet= 120 m/s, vwind= 30 m/s

𝑣𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡=√ 𝑣 +𝑣 2
𝑗𝑒𝑡
2
𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑑
north to east
 A jet is flying to north with a speed of 120 m/s,
on a bearing of wind blow from west to east at 30
m/s. What is the resultant speed of the jet to the
ground?
Solution,
vjet= 120 m/s, vwind= 30 m/s

𝑣𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡=√ 𝑣 +𝑣 2
𝑗𝑒𝑡
2
𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑑
north to east
 1A 8 Projectiles

Horizontal
projectile

projectile

Projectile with
an angle
 Horizontal projectile
• Horizontal direction
– Uniform linear motion

• Vertical direction
– Uniform acceleration
– Initial speed is zero
– a=g=9.81
 A ball rolls off a table with a horizontal velocity of 1.2
m/s. The ball takes 0.9 s to reach the ground and lands a
distance s from the table as shown.

(a) What is the height of the table?

(b) What is the final speed of the
ball when it lands on the
ground ？
Solution,
vx= 1.2 m/s, t=0.9 s (b) vx= 1.2 m/s
vy= gt= 9.81×0.9m/s=8.8m/s

𝑣=√ 𝑣 +𝑣 =√ 1.2 +8.8 =8.88𝑚/𝑠

2 2
𝑥 𝑦
2 2
In a action movie, a motorist is run off a cliff and lands on a safety
cushion. If the cliff is 10 m high, and the safety cushion is 20 m away
from the base of the cliff.
(a)How long will the motorist take to land on the safety cushion?
(b)What is the speed of the motorist need to land on the safety
cushion?

Solution,
H= 10 m, S= 20 m
(a)

𝑡=
√ √
2𝐻 2×10
g
=
9.81
𝑠=1.4𝑠
(b)
m/s
= 14 m/s
A player throw up a ball vertically up to the air with a
speed of 12 m/s.
(a)What is the maximum height the ball reach?
(b) How long does it take for the ball to go back to his
hands?
Solution, (b)
u= 12 m/s
0 =𝑢+ 𝑎𝑡
(a)
− 𝑢 −12
𝑡1 = = 𝑠=1.22 𝑠
𝑎 9.81

−𝑢
𝑠= =
2
−12
2
𝑡 =𝑡 +𝑡
=7.33𝑚 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 1 2 =2×1.22𝑠=2.44𝑠
2𝑎 2×(−9.81)
 A rifle is fired horizontally and travels 200.0 m. The rifle
barrel is 1.90 m from the ground. What speed must the
bullet have been travelling at? Ignore friction.

Solution,
For the horizontal direction,
S= 200.0 m, H= 1.90 m
1 2
𝑠 =𝑣𝑡
𝐻= 𝑔𝑡
2 m/s=322.6 m/s

𝑡=
√ √
2 𝐻 2 ×1.90
𝑔
=
9.81
=0.622 𝑠
 (16) At the start of a football match, the umpire bounces the ball so that it
travels vertically and reaches a height of 15.0 m.
a How long does the ball take to reach this maximum height?
b One of the ruckmen is able to leap and reach to a height of 4.0 m with his hand.
How long after the bounce should this ruckman endeavour to make contact with
the ball?

Solution, (b) t1  1.75s, t2

H=15.0m, g=-9.81m/s2 1 2
H2  gt2 , t1
1 2 2
(a ) S  v0t  at , 2H 2 2  (15  4)
2 t2   s  1.50 s 4m
1 2 g 9.81
H  gt
2 1 2
H man  gtman ,
2H 2
t
g 2H 2* 4
tman  s s  0.903s
2*15.0 g 9.81
 s  1.75s ttotal  t1  t2  tman  (1.75  1.50  0.903) s  2.35s
9.81