Physics Notes
Chapter: Motion in a Straight Line
Introduction:
Motion in a straight line (also called rectilinear motion) is the simplest form of motion in which an
object moves along a single straight path. It is one-dimensional motion and is described using
position, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration.
Basic Terms:
1. Position: The location of a particle on a straight line with respect to a reference point. 2. Distance:
Total length of the path covered, scalar quantity. 3. Displacement: Shortest distance between initial
and final position, vector quantity. 4. Speed: Rate of change of distance with time, scalar. 5.
Velocity: Rate of change of displacement with time, vector. 6. Acceleration: Rate of change of
velocity with time, vector.
Equations of Motion:
For uniformly accelerated motion: 1. v = u + at 2. s = ut + 1/2 at² 3. v² - u² = 2as where: u = initial
velocity, v = final velocity, a = acceleration, s = displacement, t = time.
Graphical Representation:
1. Position-Time Graph: Slope gives velocity. 2. Velocity-Time Graph: Slope gives acceleration,
area under graph gives displacement. 3. Acceleration-Time Graph: Area under graph gives change
in velocity.
Solved Example 1:
A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 2 m/s² for 5 seconds. Find the final velocity and
displacement. Solution: u = 0, a = 2 m/s², t = 5s v = u + at = 0 + 2×5 = 10 m/s s = ut + 1/2 at² = 0 +
0.5×2×25 = 25 m Final velocity = 10 m/s, Displacement = 25 m.
Solved Example 2:
A particle moves with initial velocity 20 m/s and uniform retardation of 2 m/s². Find the time taken to
come to rest and the distance travelled. Solution: u = 20, v = 0, a = -2 v = u + at ⇒ 0 = 20 - 2t ⇒ t =
10s s = (v² - u²)/(2a) = (0 - 400)/(-4) = 100 m Time = 10 s, Distance = 100 m.
Important Points to Remember:
- Displacement can be zero even if distance is not (e.g., round trip). - Average speed = Total
distance / Total time. - Average velocity = Net displacement / Total time. - Instantaneous velocity is
slope of displacement-time graph at that point. - Retardation is simply negative acceleration. - Free
fall is an example of uniformly accelerated motion with a = g (≈9.8 m/s²).
