C HAP TE R

KINEMATICS
w Distance and Displacement
C
Total length of path (ACB) covered by the particle, in definite time interval is
called distance. Displacement vector or displacement is the minimum distance A B
(AB) and directed from initial position to final position.
w Displacement in terms of position vector
r r r A
From DOAB D r = rB - rA Dr
rA
r r
rB = x2ˆi + y2ˆj + z 2 kˆ and rA = x1ˆi + y1ˆj + z1 kˆ B
rB
r $ O
D rr = (x2 - x1 )$i + (y2 - y1 )$j + (z2 - z1 )k
r
Displacement r Dr
w Average velocity = v av =
Time interval Dt

Distance travelled
w Average speed
Time interval

w For uniform motion Average speed =|average velocity|=|instantaneous velocity|

r
r dr
w Velocity v= =
dt dt
d ˆ ˆ ˆ
(
xi + yj + zk =
dt
i+
dt
)
dx ˆ dy ˆ dz ˆ
j + k = v xˆi + v y ˆj + v z kˆ
dt
r
change in velocity r Dv
w Average Acceleration = a av =
total time taken Dt

r
r dv d dv x ˆ dv y ˆ dv z ˆ
w Acceleration a= =
dt dt
(
v xˆi + v yˆj + v z kˆ =
dt
i+ )
dt
j+
dt
k = a xˆi + a y ˆj + a z kˆ

Important points about dv dv a

1D motion w In 1-D motion a = =v
dt dx
w Distance ³|displacement| and w Graphical integration in
Average speed ³ |average velocity| Motion analysis
w If distance >|displacement| this v t t
implies dv 2 2 2

a= Þ ò dv = ò adt Þ v2 - v1 = ò adt t1 t
dt v1 t1 t1
t2
(a) atleast at one point in path,
shaded area = change in velocity
velocity is zero. Þ Change in velocity = Area
(b) The body must have retarded between acceleration curve and
during the motion time axis, from t1 to t2 v

w Acceleration positive indicates x2 t2 t2

dx
velocity increases and speed may v=
dt
Þ ò dx = ò vdt Þ x2 - x1 = ò vdt
increase or decrease x1 t1 t1

w Speed increase if acceleration and Þ Change in position = displacement

velocity both are positive or negative = area between velocity curve and time t1 t
t2
(i.e. both have same sign) axis, from t1 to t2. shaded area = displacement
 æ dx ö
w Instantaneous velocity is the slope of position time curve çè v = ÷
dt ø
Important
point about æ dv ö vdv
w Slope of velocity-time curve = instantaneous acceleration ça = ÷ or
graphical è dt ø ds
analysis of
é Dx =
motion w v-t curve area gives displacement. ë ò vdt ùû
é Dv = adt ù
w a-t curve area gives change in velocity. ë ò û
Differentiation Differentiation
Displacement Velocity Acceleration
Integration Integration

Different Cases v–t graph s–t graph

v v=constant s vt
s=
1. Uniform motion
t t
2
s s =½ at
v
2. Uniformly accelerated motion with u = 0 at t = 0 at
v=
t t

v s 2
s = ut+½ at
3. Uniformly accelerated with u ¹ 0 and s = 0 at t = 0 =u
+ at
u v
t t
v s 2
t s =s0+ut+½ at
4. Uniformly accelerated motion with u ¹ 0 and s = s0 at t = 0 v =u
+a
u
t t

v s s=ut – ½ at2
u v=
5. Uniformly retarded motion till velocity becomes zero u–
at
t t
t0 t0

s
v
u
6. Uniformly retarded then accelerated in opposite direction t0
t
t
t0

Motion with constant acceleration : Equations of motion

r r
r r r r r r r æ u + vö r 1r r
In vector form : D r = r2 - r1 = s = ç t = ut + at 2 = vt - at
v = u + at è 2 ÷ø
r
2
r
rr r r a
v 2 = u2 + 2a.s sn th = u + (2n - 1)
2
[Snth ® displacement in nth second]
r In scalar form (for one dimensional motion) :
æ u + vö 1 1
v = u + at s=ç t = ut + at 2 = vt - at 2
è 2 ÷ø 2 2
a
v2 = u2+2as s n th = u + (2n - 1)
2
 There is no meaning of motion without reference or observer. If reference is not mentioned then we
take the ground as a reference of motion. Generally velocity or displacement of the particle w.r.t.
ground is called actual velocity or actual displacement of the body. If we describe the motion of a
RELATIVE
MOTION

particle w.r.t. an object which is also moving w.r.t. ground then velocity of particle w.r.t. ground is its
r r
actual velocity ( v act ) and velocity of particle w.r.t. moving object is its relative velocity ( v rel. ) and the
r r r r
velocity of moving object (w.r.t. ground) is the reference velocity ( v ref. ) then v rel = v act - v ref
r r r
v actual = v relative + v reference

r r r r r
If a rel = 0 then v rel = constant & srel = (v rel )t
r
If a rel = constant then we can use equation of motion in relative form
m
r r r
v rel = urel + a rel t
r r 1r
srel = u rel t + a rel t 2
2
r r
v 2rel = u2rel + 2a rel × srel

Relative velocity of Rain w.r.t. the Moving Man:

r uuuur Vertically up
A man walking west with velocity v m , represented by OA .
q
Let the rain be falling vertically downwards with velocity A
r uuur W
vm O –vm C
E
v r ,represented by OB as shown in figure.
q
r r r
The relative velocity of rain w.r.t. man v rm = v r - v m will be vr vrm
uuuur
represented by diagonal OD of rectangle OBDC.
B D
2 2 2 2
\ v rm = v + v + 2v r v m cos90° =
r m v +v
r m

r BD v m æv ö
If q is the angle which v rm makes with the vertical direction then tan q = = Þ q = tan -1 ç m ÷
OB v r è vr ø
Swimming into the River :
A man can swim with velocity vr , i.e. it is the velocity of man w.r.t. still water. If water is also flowing with
r r r r
velocity v R then velocity of man relative to ground v m = v + v R

• If the swimming is in the direction of flow of water or • If man is crossing the river as shown in the figure
r
along the downstream then vm = v + vR i.e. vr and v R not collinear then use the vector algebra
r r r
v m = v + v R (assuming v > vR)
v
vR

• If the swimming is in the direction opposite to the vR

flow of water or along the upstream then vm = v– vR
v vm
v
vR
 For shortest path Time of crossing For minimum time
B
B C

vR v
d d vR
vm d
q q
v v vm
q
A d
t= A
For minimum displacement vcosq
(for minimum time)
To reach at B: Note : If vR > v then for minimum
v v d
v sin q = v R Þ sin q = R drifting sin q = then t min =
v vR v

MOTION UNDER GRAVITY

If a body is thrown vertically up with a velocity u in the uniform gravitational
field (neglecting air resistance) then H
u2
(i) Maximum height attained H =
2g u
u
(ii) Time of ascent = time of descent =
g
2u
(iii) Total time of flight =
g
(iv) Velocity of fall at the point of projection = u (downwards)
(v) Gallileo's law of odd numbers : For a freely falling body released t1 t2
H
from rest ratio of successive distance covered in equal time interval 't'
h
S1 : S2 : S3 : ....Sn = 1: 3: 5 : ....: 2n–1
(vi) At any point on its path the body will have same speed for upward
journey and downward journey. If a body thrown upwards crosses a point
in time t1 & t2 respectively then height of point h =½ gt1t2
1
(vii) Maximum height H = g(t1 + t2)2 v 1
8 v
(viii) A body is thrown upward, downward & horizontally with same speed 3
v 2
takes time t1, t2 & t3 respectively to reach the ground then t 3 = t1 t2 &

1
height from where the particle was thrown is H = gt t
2 12

PROJECTILE MOTION

Horizontal Motion Vertical Motion

u cosq = ux ; ax = 0; x = uxt = (u cosq)t vy = uy – gt where uy = u sinq;
y 1 1
u ucosq y = uyt – gt2= usinqt – gt2
2 2
H r
q Net acceleration = a = a xˆi + a y ˆj = - gjˆ
x
R At any instant :
u vx = ucosq, vy = usinq – gt
Velocity of particle at time t : Projectile motion on inclined plane-up
r motion
v = v x ˆi + v y ˆj = u x ˆi + (u y - gt)ˆj = u cos qˆi + (u sin q - gt)ˆj
a^=gcosa
If angle of velocity vr from horizontal is a, then t=T
H max A
a) gsina
vy u y - gt (q- u
u sin q - gt gt =usin
tan a = = = = tan q - u^ a)
s(q- g a gcosa

a
q-
vx ux u cos q u cos q t=0 q uc o
a B
O
r At highest point : vy=0, vx=ucosq (ucosq)T

2u y 2u ^ 2u sin ( q - a )
Time of flight : T = 2u sin q r Time of flight: T = =
r = g^ g cos a
g g

Horizontal range : u2^ u2 sin2 ( q - a )

r r Maximum height : Hmax = =
2g ^ 2g cos a

2u 2 sin q cos q u 2 sin 2q 2u x u y Range on inclined plane :

R = ( u cos q ) T = = = r
g g g
2u 2 sin ( q - a ) cos q
It is same for q and (90°–q) and maximum for q=45° R = OA =
g cos 2 a

u2y u2 sin2 q 1 2
Maximum height : H = = = gT u2
at angle q = p + a
r
2g 2g 8 r Max. range : R max =
g (1 + sin a ) 4 2

H 1
r = tan q
R 4 Projectile motion on inclined plane – down
r Equation of trajectory motion (put a=–a in above)
^
=u
+a)
(q

u
gx2 æ xö
in
us

y = x tan q - = x tanq ç 1 - ÷
2u cos2 q
2
è Rø O
q
-a
uco H
s(q+
a)=
Horizontal projection from some height uII
gsi
na
u gc o g
sa A
a

h
2u ^ 2u sin ( q + a )
r Time of flight : T = 2t H = =
a^ g cos a
R

2h u2^ u2 sin2 ( q + a )
r Time of flight T= r Maximum height : H = =
g 2a ^ 2g cos a

2h r Range on inclined plane :

r Horizontal range R = uT = u
g
2u2 cos q sin ( q + a )
r Angle of velocity at any instant with horizontal R = OA =
g cos 2 a
æ gt ö
q = tan -1 ç ÷ u2 p a
è uø r Max. range: R max = at angle q = -
g (1 - sin a ) 4 2
 KEY POINTS :

• A positive acceleration can be associated with a "slowing down" of the body because the origin and the positive
direction of motion are a matter of choice.
• The x-t graph for a particle undergoing rectilinear motion, cannot be as shown in figure because infinitesimal
changes in velocity are physically possible only in infinitesimal time.

• In oblique projection of a projectile the speed gradually decreases up to the highest point and then increases
because the tangential acceleration opposes the motion till the particle reaches the highest point, and then
it favours the motion of the particle.
• In free fall, the initial velocity of a body may not be zero.
• A body can have acceleration even if its velocity is zero at an instant.
• Average velocity of a body may be equal to its instantaneous velocity.
• The trajectory of an object moving under constant acceleration can be straight line or parabola.
• The path of one projectile as seen from another projectile is a straight line as relative acceleration of one
projectile w.r.t. another projectile is zero.
• If a = f(x) then

v2 x2
dv v 22 - v 12
a= v
dx
Þ ò vdv =
v1
ò adx
x1
Þ
2
= Shaded area
x
x1 x2

For projectile motion :

A body crosses two points at same height in time t1 and t2 the points are at distance x and y from starting
point then
(a) x + y = R (b) t1 + t2 = T
(c) h = ½ gt1t2
(d) Average velocity from A to B is ucosq

A B
u h
q
x
y

Note :- If a person can throw a ball to a maximum distance 'x' then the maximum height to which he can
throw the ball will be (x/2)