Chapter 2

Uniformly Accelerated
Motion
 Speed
total distance traveled
Average Speed 
time taken

s
vav 
t
 Velocity
vector displacement
Average Velocity 
time taken

 s
vav 
t
 Acceleration
change in the velocity vector
Average Acceleration 
time taken
 
 v f  vi v
aav  
t f  ti t
What are the units for acceleration?
Uniformly Accelerated Motion
Along a Straight Line
 In this case…
• acceleration is a constant
• and the acceleration vector lies in the
line of the displacement vector.
The 5 Equations!
(1) s  si  vi t  at 1
2
2

(2) v f  vi  at

(3) v  v  2 as
2
f
2
i

(4) s  vav t
v f  vi
(5) vav 
2
 Problem Solution Guidelines
 Draw a sketch
– Indicate origin and positive direction
 List the given quantities using the symbols of the
equations. (si, vi, a)
– Is time known or do we need to find it?
– What are we to solve for?

 Write the general equations of kinematics

v f  vi  at s  si  vi t  2 at
1 2
 More Guidelines
 Rewrite the general equations using the
known quantities.
 Look at the knowns and unknowns and map

a strategy of solution.
 Check your units

 Make sure you are answering the question.

 Problem Solution Time
 Fifteen minutes
 Definitions
 Instantaneous Velocity
– the slope of the displacement versus time graph

 Instantaneous Acceleration
– the slope of the velocity versus time graph
 Slopes
Displacement

Time
Teaming Exercise
Next Problem solutions
 Free Fall
 The force of gravity points downward
– Acceleration of gravity near the surface of
Earth is called g = 9.8 m/s2 = 32.1 ft/s2
 Air resistance ignored

 Wehave then the conditions of one-

dimensional kinematics – straight line
motion with constant acceleration.
 Sample Problem
A ball is thrown vertically upward at 10
m/s. How high will it get, how long will it
be in the air, and how fast will it be moving
when it hits the ground.
Projectile Problems – Two
Dimensional Kinematics
 Ignore air resistance.

a =0
x

a = g = 9.81 m/s 2
downward
y
 The motions in the two
directions are independent
Horizontal

Vertical
Real Motion is the
Combination of the Two
2-D Problem Guidelines
 Set up two 1-D solutions

Origin x Origin y
Positive x Positive y
xi = yi =
vxi = vyi =
ax = 0 ay = g
 2-D Guidelines Cont’d
 Write general kinematic equations for each
direction
 Rewrite them for the problem at hand

 Find the condition that couples the motions

(usually time)
 Uniformly Accelerated
Motion Along a Straight Line

s  vav t
s  vi t  at
1
2
2

v f  vi
vav  v f  vi  at
2

v  v  2 as
2
f
2
i