Motion in a Straight Line

Examples
1. The position of an object moving along the x-axis is given by:
x = a + bt², where a = 8.5 m, b = 2.5 m s⁻², and t is measured in seconds.
(i) What is its velocity at t = 0 s and t = 2.0 s?
(ii) What is the average velocity between t = 2.0 s and t = 4.0 s?
Ans: x = a + bt²
dx
v= = 2bt
dt
(i) Velocity at t = 0 and t = 2
2 x 2.5 x 0 = 0 and 2 x 2.5 x 2 = 10 m/s

48.5−18.5 30
(ii) Average Velocity = = = 15m/s
2 2
2. Obtain equations of motion for constant acceleration using method of
calculus.
Ans:

3. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 20 m s –1 from the

top of a multistorey building. The height of the point from where the ball is
thrown is 25.0 m from the ground.
(a) How high will the ball rise ?
(b) How long will it be before the ball hits the ground? Take g = 10 m s –2.
Ans: (a) u = 20m/s v = 0 a = -10m/s2
⇒ V2 −¿ u2 = 2as
⇒ 0 – 400 = 2 x -10 x s
⇒ -400 = -20 x s
⇒ s = 20 m
(b) When rising
v = u + at
⇒ 0 = 20 -10 x t
⇒ -20 = -10t
⇒ t = 2 sec
When falling
s = ut + 1/2at2

⇒ 45 = 0 +
1
x 10 x t2
2
⇒ 45 = 5t2
⇒ t2 = 9
⇒ t = 3 sec
Total time = 2 + 3 = 5 sec

4. Discuss the motion of an object under free fall. Neglect air resistance.
Ans: In free fall, an object experiences a constant acceleration
due to gravity, with g = 9.8m/s2. The velocity and displacement of
the object can be described using the kinematic equations v = u +
1
gt and s = ut + gt2 respectively, assuming it starts from rest and
2
neglecting air resistance.

5. Galileo’s law of odd numbers : “The distances traversed, during equal

intervals of time, by a body falling from rest, stand to one another in the
same ratio as the odd numbers beginning with unity [namely, 1: 3: 5:
7…...].” Prove it.
Ans: Let us divide the time interval of motion of an object under
free fall into many equal intervals τ and find out the distances
Traversed during successive intervals of time.
Since initial velocity is zero, we have: y = −(1/2)gt²
Using this equation, we can calculate the position of the object
after different time intervals: 0, τ, 2τ, 3τ, …
If we take −(1/2)gτ² as y₀, the position coordinate after the first
time interval τ, then the third column gives the positions in units
of y₀. The fourth column gives the distances traversed in
successive τs.
We find that the distances are in the simple ratio: 1 : 3 : 5 : 7 : 9 :
11 … as shown in the last column.
This law was established by Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), who was
the first to make quantitative studies of free fall.

6. When brakes are applied to a moving vehicle, the distance it travels

before stopping is called stopping distance. It is an important factor for
road safety and depends on the initial velocity (v 0) and the braking
capacity, or deceleration, –a that is caused by the braking. Derive an
expression for stopping distance of a vehicle in terms of v 0 and a.
Ans: Initial speed of the moving vehicle = v₀
Braking capacity or deceleration = a
Final velocity of the vehicle, v = 0 (as the vehicle stops)
Let the distance travelled by the vehicle after applying brakes
and when it stops = s.

v² = v₀² + 2(−a)s ⇒ 0 = v₀² − 2as ⇒ s = v₀² / 2a

Then applying third equation of motion, we have:

This is the expression for stopping distance.

7. When a situation demands our immediate action, it takes some time

before we really respond. Reaction time is the time a person takes to
observe, think and act. For example, if a person is driving and suddenly a
boy appears on the road, then the time elapsed before he slams the
brakes of the car is the reaction time. Reaction time depends on
complexity of the situation and on an individual. You can measure your
reaction time by a simple experiment. Take a ruler and ask your friend to
drop it vertically through the gap between your thumb and forefinger (Fig.
2.8). After you catch it, find the distance d travelled by the ruler. In a
particular case, d was found to be 21.0 cm. Estimate reaction time.
Ans: d = 21 cm g = 9.8 m/s2 u = 0
1 2
Using 2nd Equation of motion, d = gt
2

⇒ t2 = 2d/g =
2 x 0.21
= 0.04
9.8
⇒ t = 0.02 sec

Questions
2.1 In which of the following examples of motion, can the body be
considered approximately a point object:
(a) a railway carriage moving without jerks between two stations.
(b) a monkey sitting on top of a man cycling smoothly on a circular track.
(c) a spinning cricket ball that turns sharply on hitting the ground.
(d) a tumbling beaker that has slipped off the edge of a table.
Ans: (a) and (b) The size of the railway carriage and the cap is
very small as compared to the distance they’ve travelled, i.e. the
distance between the two stations and the length of the race
track, respectively. Therefore, the cap and the carriage can be
considered as point objects.

2.2 The position-time (x-t) graphs for two children A and B returning from
their school O to their homes P and Q respectively are shown in Fig. 2.9.
Choose the correct entries in the brackets:
(a) (A/B) lives closer to the school than (B/A)
(b) (A/B) starts from the school earlier than (B/A)
(c) (A/B) walks faster than (B/A)
(d) A and B reach home at the (same/different) time
(e) (A/B) overtakes (B/A) on the road (once/twice).
Ans: (a) A lives closer to the school than B.
(b) A starts from the school earlier than B.
(c) B walks faster than A.
(d) Both A and B will reach home at the same time.
(e) B overtakes A on the roads once.

2.3 A woman starts from her home at 9.00 a.m., walks with a speed of 5
km h⁻¹ on a straight road up to her office 2.5 km away, stays at the office
up to 5.00 pm, and returns home by an auto with a speed of 25 km h⁻¹.
Choose suitable scales and plot the x-t graph of her motion.
Ans: Distance to her office = 2.5 km.
Walking speed the woman = 5 km/h
Time taken to reach office while walking = (2.5/5 ) h=(1/2) h = 30
minutes
Speed of auto = 25 km/h
Time taken to reach home in auto = 2.5/25 = (1/10) h = 0.1 h = 6
minutes

2.4 A drunkard walking in a narrow lane takes 5 steps forward and 3 steps
backward, followed again by 5 steps forward and 3 steps backward, and
so on. Each step is 1 m long and requires 1 s. Plot the x-t graph of his
motion. Determine graphically and otherwise how long the drunkard takes
to fall in a pit 13 m away from the start.
Ans: The time taken to go one step is 1 second. In 5 s, he moves
forward through a distance of 5 m, and then in the next 3s, he
comes back by 3 m. Therefore, in 8 s, he covers 2 m. So, to cover
a distance of 8 m, he takes 32 s. He must take another 5 steps
forward to fall into the pit. So, the total time taken is 32 s + 5 s =
37 s to fall into a pit 13 m away.

2.5 A car moving along a straight highway with speed of 126 km h⁻¹ is
brought to a stop within a distance of 200 m. What is the retardation of
the car (assumed uniform), and how long does it take for the car to stop?
Ans: u = 126 km/h = 35 m/s v=0 s = 200 m
v2 – u2 = 2as
⇒ 0 – (35)2 = 2 x a x 200
⇒ 400a = -1225
⇒ a = -3.06 m/s2

⇒ 0 = 35 -3.06t
V = u + at

⇒ - 35 = -3.06t
⇒ t = 11.4 s

2.6 A player throws a ball upwards with an initial speed of 29.4 m s⁻¹.
(a) What is the direction of acceleration during the upward motion of the
ball?
(b) What are the velocity and acceleration of the ball at the highest point
of its motion?
(c) Choose the x = 0 m and t = 0 s to be the location and time the ball is
at its highest point, vertically downward direction to be the positive
direction of x-axis, and give the signs of position, velocity, and
acceleration of the ball during its upward, and downward motion.
(d) To what height does the ball rise and after how long does it return to
the player's hands? (Take g = 9.8 m s⁻² and neglect air resistance.)
Ans: (a) The direction of acceleration during the upward motion of
the ball is vertically downward.
(b) At the highest point, velocity of ball is zero but acceleration (g
= 9.8 ms-2) in vertically downward direction.
(c) If we consider the highest point of ball motion as x = 0, t = 0,
and vertically downward direction to be +ve direction of the x-
axis, then
 During the upward motion of the ball before reaching the
highest point position, x = +ve, velocity, v = -ve and
acceleration, a = +ve.
 During the downward motion of the ball after reaching the
highest point position, velocity and acceleration, all three
quantities are positive.
(d) (a) u = 29.4m/s v = 0 a = -9.8 m/s2
⇒ V2 −¿ u2 = 2as
⇒ 0 – (29.4)2 = 2 x -9.8 x s

⇒
−29.4 x 29.4
=s
2 x−9.8
⇒ s = 44.1 m

v = u + at
⇒ 0 = 29.4 -9.8 x t
⇒ -29.4 = -9.8t
⇒ t = 3 sec
Total time = 3 + 3 = 6 sec

2.7 Read each statement below carefully and state with reasons and
examples, if it is true or false ; A particle in one-dimensional motion
(a) with zero speed at an instant may have non-zero acceleration at that
instant
(b) with zero speed may have non-zero velocity,
(c) with constant speed must have zero acceleration,
(d) with positive value acceleration must be speeding up
Ans: (a) True. Consider a ball thrown up. At the highest point,
speed is zero but the acceleration is non-zero.
(b) False. If a particle has non-zero velocity, it must have speed.
(c) True. If the particle rebounds instantly with the same speed, it
implies infinite acceleration which is physically impossible.
(d) False. True only when the chosen direction is along the
direction of motion.
2.8 A ball is dropped from a height of 90 m on a floor. At each collision
with the floor, the ball loses one tenth of its speed. Plot the speed-time
graph of its motion between t = 0 to 12 s.
Ans:

2.9 Explain clearly, with examples, the distinction between:

(a) magnitude of displacement (sometimes called distance) over an
interval of time, and the total length of path covered by a particle over the
same interval.
(b) magnitude of average velocity over an interval of time, and the
average speed over the same interval. Show in both (a) and (b) that the
second quantity is either greater than or equal to the first. When is the
equality sign true? [For simplicity, consider one-dimensional motion only.]
Ans: (a) Let us consider an example of a football; it is passed to
player B by player A and then instantly kicked back to player A
along the same path. Now, the magnitude of displacement of the
ball is 0 because it has returned to its initial position. However,
the total length of the path covered by the ball = AB +BA = 2AB.
Hence, it is clear that the first quantity is greater than the
second.
(b) Taking the above example, let us assume that football takes t
seconds to cover the total distance. Then,
The magnitude of the average velocity of the ball over time
0
interval t = Magnitude of displacement/time interval = = 0.
t
The average speed of the ball over the same interval = total
2 AB
length of the path/time interval =
t
Thus, the second quantity is greater than the first.
The equality sign is true if the ball moves only in one direction
from one player to another (considering one-dimensional motion).

2.10 A man walks on a straight road from his home to a market 2.5 km
away with a speed of 5 km h⁻¹. Finding the market closed, he instantly
turns and walks back home with a speed of 7.5 km h⁻¹. What is the:
(a) magnitude of average velocity, and
(b) average speed of the man over the interval of time (i) 0 to 30 min, (ii)
0 to 50 min, (iii) 0 to 40 min?
Ans: (a) Magnitude of the average speed is zero since the
displacement is zero, as the man walks back to initial position.
(B)

2.11 In Exercises 2.9 and 2.10, we have carefully distinguished between

the average speed and magnitude of average velocity. No such distinction
is necessary when we consider instantaneous speed and magnitude of
velocity. The instantaneous speed is always equal to the magnitude of
instantaneous velocity. Why?
Ans: Instantaneous velocity and instantaneous speed are equal
for a small interval of time because the magnitude of the
displacement is effectively equal to the distance travelled by the
particle.

2.12 Look at the graphs (a to d) (Fig. 2.10) carefully and state, with
reasons, which of these cannot possibly represent one-dimensional motion
of a particle.

Ans: None of the four graphs shows a one-dimensional motion.

(a) Shows two positions at the same time, which is not possible.
(b) A particle cannot have velocity in two directions at the same
time.
(c) Graph shows negative speed, which is impossible. Speed is
always positive.
(d) Path length decreases in the graph; this is also not possible.

2.13 Figure 2.11 shows the x-t plot of one-dimensional motion of a

particle. Is it correct to say from the graph that the particle moves in a
straight line for t < 0 and on a parabolic path for t > 0? If not, suggest a
suitable physical context for this graph.
Ans: It is not correct to say that the particle moves in a straight
line for t < 0 (i.e., -ve) and on a parabolic path for t > 0 (i.e., +
ve) because the x-t graph cannot show the path of the particle.
For the graph, a suitable physical context can be the particle
thrown from the top of a tower at the instant t =0.

2.14 A police van moving on a highway with a speed of 30 km h⁻¹ fires a

bullet at a thief's car speeding away in the same direction with a speed of
192 km h⁻¹. If the muzzle speed of the bullet is 150 m s⁻¹, with what
speed does the bullet hit the thief's car? [Note: Obtain that speed which is
relevant for damaging the thief's car.]
25
Ans: Speed of police van = 30 km/h = m/s
3
160
Speed of thief’s car = 192 km/h = m/s
3
25 475
Speed of bullet = + 150 = m/s
3 3
475 160
Relative velocity of bullet w.r.t to thief’s car = Vb/t = −¿ =
3 3
105 m/s

2.15 Suggest a suitable physical situation for each of the following graphs
(Fig. 2.12):
Ans: (a) A ball at rest on a smooth floor is kicked. It rebounds
from a wall with reduced speed and moves to the opposite wall
which stops it.
(b) A ball falling freely (after thrown up), on striking the ground
rebounds with reduced speed after each hit against the ground.
(c) A uniformly moving cricket ball turned back by hitting it with a
bat for a very short time-interval.

2.16 Figure 2.13 gives the x-t plot of a particle executing one-dimensional
simple harmonic motion. Give the signs of position, velocity and
acceleration variables of the particle at t = 0.3 s, 1.2 s, -1.2 s.

Ans: In S.H.M, acceleration, a = – kx.

(i) At t = 0.3 s, x < 0, v < 0, a > 0.
(ii) At t = 1.2 s, x > 0, v > 0 and a < 0.
(iii) At t = -1.2 s, x < 0, v > 0 and a > 0.

2.17 Figure 2.14 gives the x-t plot of a particle in one-dimensional motion.
Three different equal intervals of time are shown. In which interval is the
average speed greatest, and in which is it the least? Give the sign of
average velocity for each interval.

Ans: Greatest in 3, least in 2

v > 0 in interval 1 and 2, v < 0 in interval 3.

2.18 Figure 2.15 gives a speed-time graph of a particle in motion along a

constant direction. Three equal intervals of time are shown. In which
interval is the average acceleration greatest in magnitude? In which
interval is the average speed greatest? Choosing the positive direction as
the constant direction of motion, give the signs of v and a in the three
intervals. What are the accelerations at the points A, B, C and D ?

Ans: The acceleration is greatest in interval 2

The average speed is greatest in interval 3
The sign of v and a in the three intervals are:
 v > 0 in interval 1, 2 and 3
 a > 0 in interval 1, a < 0 in interval 2, a=0 in interval 3
Acceleration is zero at A,B,C and D.