Chapter 2
Kinematics in One Dimension
My lecture slides may be found on my website at
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~humanic/
and this link is also on Carmen
Acceleration
The notion of acceleration emerges when a change in
velocity is combined with the time during which the
change occurs.
Acceleration
DEFINITION OF AVERAGE ACCELERATION
v − v o Δv
a= = SI unit: m/s2
t − to Δt
DEFINITION OF INSTANTANEOUS ACCELERATION
Δv
a = lim
Δt→0 Δt
Acceleration
Example: Acceleration and Increasing Velocity
Determine the average acceleration of the plane.
v o = 0 km h v = 260 km h to = 0 s t = 29 s
! !
! v − v o 260 km h − 0 km h km h
a= = = +9.0 = +2.5 m 2
t − to 29 s − 0 s s s
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
x − xo v − vo
v= a=
t − to t − to
When working in 1-dimension, it is customary to dispense
with the use of boldface symbols overdrawn with arrows for
the displacement, velocity, and acceleration vectors. We will,
however, continue to convey the directions with a plus
or minus sign.
_ x − xo _ v − vo
v= a=
t − to t − to
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
Let the object be at the origin when the clock starts.
xo = 0 to = 0
x − xo x
v= v=
t − to t
True for
constant
acceleration
x = vt = 1
2
(vo + v )t
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
True for constant acceleration
v − vo v − vo
a =a= a=
t − to t
at = v − vo
v = vo + at
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
Five kinematic variables:
1. displacement, x
2. acceleration (constant), a
3. final velocity (at time t), v
4. initial velocity, vo
5. elapsed time, t
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
v = vo + at
x = 12 ( vo + v) t = 12 ( vo + vo + at ) t
2
x = vot + at 1
2
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
Boat moving with constant acceleration --> find x
2
x = vot + at 1
2
2
= ( 6.0 m s) (8.0 s) + 1
2 (2.0 m s ) (8.0 s)
2
= +110 m
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
Example: Catapulting a Jet
Find its displacement.
vo = 0 m s a = +31 m s 2
x = ?? v = +62 m s
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
v − vo v − vo
a= t=
t a
x = 12 (vo + v )t = 12 (vo + v )
(v − vo )
a
2 2
v −v o
x=
2a
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
2 2
x=
v −v 2
=
( 62 m s) − ( 0 m s)
2
o
= +62 m
2a 2 (31m s )2
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
Equations of Kinematics for Constant Acceleration
v = vo + at
x= 1
2
(vo + v )t
2 2
v = v + 2axo
2
x = vot + at 1
2
Applications of the Equations of Kinematics
Reasoning Strategy
1. Make a drawing.
2. Decide which directions are to be called positive (+) and
negative (-).
3. Write down the values that are given for any of the five
kinematic variables.
4. Verify that the information contains values for at least three
of the five kinematic variables. Select the appropriate equation.
5. When the motion is divided into segments, remember that
the final velocity of one segment is the initial velocity for the next.
6. Keep in mind that there may be two possible answers to a
kinematics problem.
Applications of the Equations of Kinematics
Example: An Accelerating Spacecraft
A spacecraft is traveling with a velocity of +3250 m/s. Suddenly
the retrorockets are fired, and the spacecraft begins to slow down
with an acceleration whose magnitude is 10.0 m/s2. What is
the velocity of the spacecraft when the displacement of the craft
is +215 km, relative to the point where the retrorockets began
firing?
a = -10.0 m/s2
v=?
Applications of the Equations of Kinematics
a = -10.0 m/s2
v=?
x a v vo t
+215000 m -10.0 m/s2 ? +3250 m/s
Applications of the Equations of Kinematics
x a v vo t
+215000 m -10.0 m/s2 ? +3250 m/s
2 2
v = v + 2ax
o v = ± v + 2ax2
o
2
v=± (3250 m s) + 2 (−10.0 m s 2
) (215000 m)
= ±2500 m s
Applications of the Equations of Kinematics
Freely Falling Bodies
In the absence of air resistance, it is found that all bodies
at the same location above the Earth fall vertically with
the same acceleration. If the distance of the fall is small
compared to the radius of the Earth, then the acceleration
remains essentially constant throughout the descent.
This idealized motion is called free-fall and the acceleration
of a freely falling body is called the acceleration due to
gravity.
2 2
g = 9.80 m s or 32.2 ft s
Freely Falling Bodies
2
g = 9.80 m s
Freely Falling Bodies
Example: A Falling Stone
A stone is dropped from the top of a tall building. After 3.00s
of free fall, what is the displacement y of the stone?
Freely Falling Bodies
y a v vo t
? -9.80 m/s2 0 m/s 3.00 s
Freely Falling Bodies
y a v vo t
? -9.80 m/s2 0 m/s 3.00 s
2
y = vot + at 1
2
2
= ( 0 m s) (3.00 s) + 1
2 (−9.80 m s ) (3.00 s)
2
= −44.1 m
Freely Falling Bodies
Example: How High Does it Go?
The referee tosses the coin up
with an initial speed of 5.00m/s.
In the absence if air resistance,
how high does the coin go above
its point of release?
Freely Falling Bodies
y a v vo t
? -9.80 m/s2 0 m/s +5.00
m/s
Freely Falling Bodies
y a v vo t
? -9.80 m/s2 0 m/s +5.00
m/s
2 2
2 2 v −v
v = v + 2ay o y= o
2a
2 2
y=
v −v
=
2
( 0 m s) − ( 5.00 m s)
2
o
= 1.28 m
2a 2 (−9.80 m s )
2
Freely Falling Bodies
Conceptual Example: Acceleration Versus Velocity
There are three parts to the motion of the coin. On the way
up, the coin has a vector velocity that is directed upward and
has decreasing magnitude. At the top of its path, the coin
momentarily has zero velocity. On the way down, the coin
has downward-pointing velocity with an increasing magnitude.
In the absence of air resistance, does the acceleration of the
coin, like the velocity, change from one part to another?
Graphical Analysis of Velocity and Acceleration
Object moving with constant velocity (zero acceleration)
x = vot + 12 at 2 = vot
x = vot
Δx + 8 m
Slope = = = +4 m s = vo
Δt 2s
Graphical Analysis of Velocity and Acceleration
Changing velocity during a bike trip
v = 0 m/s
v = -1 m/s
v = 2 m/s
Graphical Analysis of Velocity and Acceleration
Object moving with changing velocity
Slope of the tangent line
is the instantaneous
velocity at the t = 20 s
point:
Slope = Δx/Δt
2
x = v t + at
o
1
2
= (26 m)/(5 s)
= 5.2 m/s = v
Graphical Analysis of Velocity and Acceleration
Object moving with constant acceleration
v = vo + at
Δv + 12 m s
Slope = = = +6 m s 2 = a
Δt 2s
