Motion of Several Particles

When we have several particles which move independently along the same line, independent
equations of motion can be written for each of the particles. Whenever possible, time should be
recorded from the same initial instant for all particles and displacement should be measured from
the same reference point in the same direction. In other words, the same clock and tape
measuring tape should be employed in taking the time and distance respectively

Relative Motion of Two Particles

For two particles A and B as shown in the figure below moving along a straight line. Let the
position coordinates of A and B measured from the same origin be x A and xB respectively. The
difference xB – xA gives the relative position coordinate of B with respect to A and is denoted by
xB/A.

Therefore

x B / A =x B −x A or x B =x A + x B / A 13

Irrespective of the positions of A and B with respect to the origin, a positive sign for x B / A
indicate that B is to the right of A and a negative sign implies that B is to the left of A.

The rate of change of x B / A is referred to as the relative velocity of B with respect to A and is
denoted by v B / A . Differentiating equation 13 with respect to time

v B / A =v B−v A or v B=v A + v B / A 14

A positive sign for v B / A means that B is observed from A to move in the positive direction and a
negative sign implies that it is observed to move in the negative direction.

The rate of change of v B / A is known as the relative acceleration of B with respect to A and is
denoted by a B / A . Differentiating equation (14) with respect to time.

a B / A =a B−a A or a B=a A + aB / A 15
 Rectilinear Kiematics: Erratic Motion

When a particle has erratic or changing motion then its position, velocity, and acceleration
cannot be described by a single continuous mathematical function along the entire path. Instead,
a series of functions will be required to specify the motion at different intervals. For this reason,
it is convenient to represent the motion as a graph. If a graph of the motion that relates any two
of the variables s,v, a, t can be drawn, then this graph can be used to construct subsequent graphs
relating two other variables since the variables are related by the differential relationships v =
ds/dt, a = dv/dt, or ads = v dv. Several situations occur frequently.
i. Distance–time (s-t) graph
This graph shows the variation of distance with time for some rectilinear motion as shown
below.

 The tangent to this curve at any time ‘t’ gives

the velocity, v=ds /dt .

ii. Velocity-time (v-t) graph

The graph shows the variation of velocity with time for some rectilinear motion
 The tangent to this curve at any time ‘t’ gives
the acceleration, a=dv /dt .
 The area under the v-t graph is vdt , which from
eqn (1) is displacement (ds )
 Therefore, the area under the v-t graph gives the
net displacement covered by a particle from t1 to
t2

iii. Acceleration-time (a-t) graph

It shows the variation of acceleration with time for some rectilinear motion

 The area under the a-t curve during time interval

‘dt’ is adt
 From eqn 2, adt is dv .
 Therefore, the area under the a-t graph gives
the net change in velocity from t1 to t2
 iv. Acceleration-distance (a-s) curve
In this graph, acceleration is plotted against distance for some rectilinear motion.

 The area under the a-s curve during

displacement ds is ads which from equation (3)
is vdv=d ( v 2 /2 )
 The area under the a-s curve between position
coordinate s1 and s2 is
v2 s2
1
∫ vdv=∫ ads= 2 ( v 22−v 21 )
v1 s1
v. Velocity-distance (v-s) curve
Here, velocity (v) is plotted as a function of distance (s).

 At any point A on the curve, the slope is dv /ds

When the position coordinate (s) of a particle is known for all values of time, then the velocity
and acceleration may be determined either through mathematical or graphical differentiation
with respect to time. For most practical problems however, the functional relationship between
position coordinate and the time is usually unknown and will be determined via successive
integration from acceleration. The acceleration of particles can be constant or specified as a
function of time, velocity position coordinate or a combination of these variables as determined
by the nature of the forces acting on the particle.

Examples

1. Draw the a-t and v-t graphs

 2. A particle moves in a straight line with the acceleration shown in the figure below.
Knowing that it starts from the origin with v o =-14 m/s, plot the v-t and x-t curve for
0< t<15 s and determine (a) the maximum value of the velocity of the particle, (b) the
maximum value of its position coordinate.

3. In a water-tank test involving the launching of a small model boat, the model’s initial
horizontal velocity is 6 m/s and its horizontal acceleration varies linearly from -12 m/s 2 at t
= 0 to t = -2 m/s2 at t =t1 and then remains equal to -2 m/s2 until t = 1.4 s. Knowing that v =
1.8 m/s when t = t1, determine (a) the value of t1, (b) the velocity and the position of the
model at t = 1.4 s.

Practice Problems

i. A particle moves in a straight line with the velocity shown in the figure below. Knowing
that x - -540 m at t = 0, (a) construct the a-t and the x-t curves for 0 < t < 50 s (b) the total
distance traveled by the particle when t = 50 s. the two times at which x = 0

ii. A parachutist is in a free fall t a rate of 200 km/h when he opens his parachute at an
altitude of 600 m. Following a rapid and constant deceleration, he then descends at a
constant rte of 50 km/h from 586 to 30 m, where he maneuvers the parachute into the
 wind to further slow his descent. Knowing that the parachutist lands with negligible
downward velocity, determine (a) the time required for the parachutist to land after
opening his parachute (b) the initial acceleration

iii. A particle travels along a straight track such that its position is described by the s-t graph.
Construct the v-t graph for the same interval

iv. In a 400-m race, runner A reaches her maximum velocity vA in 4 s with constant
acceleration and maintains that velocity until she reaches the halfway point with a split
time of 25 s. Runner B reaches her maximum velocity vB in 5 s with constant acceleration
and maintains that velocity until she reaches the halfway point with a split time of 25.2 s.
Both runners then run the second half of the race with the same constant deceleration of
0.1 m/s2. Determine (a) the race times for both runners, (b) the position of the winner
relative to the loser when the winner reaches the finish line.
 v. An accelerometer record for the motion of a given part of a mechanism is approximated
by an arc of a parabola for 0.2 s and a straight line for the next 0.2 s as shown in the
figure. Knowing that v = 0 when t = 0 and x = 0.8 m when t = 0.4 s, (a) construct the v–t
curve for 0 ≤ t ≤ 0.4 s(b) determine the position of the part at t = 0.3 s and t = 0.2 s

.
vi. The boat travels along a straight line with the speed described by the graph. Construct the
s–t and a–s graphs. Also, determine the time required for the boat to travel a distance s =
400 m if s = 0 when t = 0.

vii. The main elevator of the CN Tower in Toronto rises about 350 m and for most of its run
has a constant speed of 22 km/h. Assume that both acceleration and deceleration have a
constant magnitude of 1/4g and determine the time duration t of the elevator run.
viii. Two seconds are required to bring the piston rod of an air cylinder to rest; the
acceleration record of the piston rod during the 2 s is as shown below. Determine by
approximate means (a) the initial velocity of the piston rod, (b) the distance traveled by
the piston rod as it is brought to rest.

ix. The s–t graph for a train has been experimentally determined. From the data, construct
the v–t and a–t graphs for the motion; 0 0 ≤ t ≤ 40 s . For 0 ≤ t ≤ 30 s , the curve is
s= ( 0.4 t 2 ) m and then it becomes straight for; 0 t ≥ 30 s .

x. A vacuum propelled capsule for a high speed tube transportation system of the future is
being designed for operation between two stations A and B, which are 10 km apart. If the
acceleration and deceleration are to have a limiting magnitude of 0.6g and if velocities
are to be limited to 400 km/h, determine the minimum time t for the capsule to make the
10 km trip.

xi. The race car starts from rest and travels along a straight road until it reaches a speed of 26
m/s in 8 s as shown on the v–t graph. The flat part of the graph is caused by shifting
gears. Draw the a–t graph and determine the maximum acceleration of the car.
xii. A two-stage rocket is fired vertically from rest with the acceleration shown. After 15 s the
first stage A burns out and the second stage B ignites. Plot the v–t and s–t graphs which
describe the motion of the second stage for 0 ≤ t ≤ 40 s .