1.

5 Five Key Equations for Motion

with Uniform Acceleration
Graphical analysis is an important tool for physicists to use to solve problems.
Sometimes, however, we have enough information to allow us to solve problems alge-
braically. Algebraic methods tend to be quicker and more convenient than graphical
analysis. For example, if you want to determine how far a passing vehicle would travel
in a given amount of time, you could perform an experiment using a motion sensor.
You would collect position–time data with the motion sensor and then plot the data
on a graph. From the graph, you could then measure how far the vehicle has gone in
a given amount of time. However, if you were in the vehicle, you would simply use
the vehicle’s speedometer to determine the speed of the vehicle. Knowing the speed of
your vehicle, you could easily determine how far it would travel in a given time interval
Dd
using the equation vav 5 . As you can see, the best way to solve a problem is usu-
Dt
ally determined by the information that is available to you.
To be able to solve problems related to motion with uniform acceleration, in which
the velocity may change but the acceleration is constant, we need to derive algebraic
equations that describe this type of motion. We will start with equations that we have
already used in previous sections.

A Displacement Equation for Uniformly

vf
Accelerated Motion
The velocity–time graph in Figure 1 shows a straight line with a non-zero intercept.
v (m/s [E])

area 1 This graph is a non-horizontal straight line, showing that the object is undergoing
uniform, or constant, acceleration. In other words, the velocity is increasing at a
vi
uniform, or constant, rate. We know that to determine the displacement of this object
area 2 from the velocity–time graph, we must determine the area under the line. For the
graph in Figure 1, we must determine the area of a rectangle and a triangle:
>
t (s) Dd 5 A triangle 1 A rectangle
1
Figure 1 A velocity–time graph for an 5 bh 1 lw
object undergoing uniform acceleration 2
1 > > >
5 Dt 1v f 2 v i2 1 Dtv i
2
1> 1> >
Learning Tip 5 v fDt 2 v iDt 1 v iDt
2 2
Interpreting Areas Under 1> 1>
a Motion Graph 5 v fDt 1 v iDt
2 2
Notice that the rectangular area
(green) in Figure 1 represents the > >
> vf 1 vi
displacement the object would Dd 5 a bDt (Equation 1)
2
have undergone had > it continued at
constant velocity v i. The triangular
area (blue) represents the extra We can use Equation 1 to determine the displacement of an object that is under-
displacement the object experienced going uniform acceleration. Equation 1 is very similar to an equation > that
> we previ-
due to its acceleration. ously developed from the defining equation for average velocity: Dd 5 v avDt. We can
relate the average velocity to the initial and final velocities by the equation
> >
> vf 1 vi
v av 5 a b
2 > >
> vf 1 vi > >
Then substituting v av in place of a b in Equation 1 gives Dd 5 v avDt directly.
2

36   Chapter 1 • Motion in a Straight Line NEL

 As you will see, Equation 1 can help us to solve many motion problems. However,
in some situations we will not know the initial velocity, the final velocity, or the time
interval for a given scenario. We could use the defining equation for acceleration in
a two-step process, but this tends to be difficult. To simplify things, we can derive a
number of other motion equations that will allow us to solve problems in one step.

Additional Motion Equations

> >
> vf 2 v1
Consider the defining equation for acceleration: a av 5
Dt
>
If we rearrange this equation to solve for final velocity (v f ), we get Equation 2:
> > >
v f 5 v i 1 a avDt (Equation 2)

You may use Equation 2 in problems that do not directly involve displacement.
>
If we substitute the expression vi 1 a avDt from Equation 2 into Equation 1, we get
> > >
v f 5 v i 1 a avDt (Equation 2)
> >
> vf 1 vi
Dd 5 a bDt (Equation 1)
2
1 > > >
5 1v i 1 a avDt 1 v i2 Dt
2
1 > >
5 12v i 1 a avDt2 Dt
2
> > 1>
Dd 5 v i Dt 1 a av Dt 2 (Equation 3)
2

This is Equation 3, which allows you to determine the displacement of an object moving
with uniform acceleration given a value for acceleration rather than a final velocity.

The Five Key Equations of Accelerated Motion

Table 1 shows the five key equations of accelerated motion. You should be able to
solve any kinematics question by correctly choosing one of these five equations. You
have seen how the first three are developed. We will leave the others to be developed
as an exercise.
Table 1 The Five Key Equations of Accelerated Motion

Variables found Variables not

Equation in equation in equation
> > >
> vf 1 vi > > >
Equation 1 Dd 5 a bDt Dd , Dt, v f, v i a av
2
> > > > > > >
Equation 2 v f 5 v i 1 a avDt a av, Dt, v f, v i Dd
> > 1> > > > >
Equation 3 Dd 5 v iDt 1 a avDt 2 Dd , a av, Dt, v i vf
2

Equation 4 vf2 5 vi2 1 2aavDd Dd, aav, vf, vi Dt

> > 1> > > > >
Equation 5 Dd 5 v fDt 2 a avDt 2 Dd , a av, Dt, v f vi
2

NEL 1.5 Five Key Equations for Motion with Uniform Acceleration    37
 Tutorial 1 Using the Five Key Equations of Accelerated Motion
The following Sample Problems will demonstrate how to choose equations and solve
problems involving the five key motion equations.

Sample Problem 1
A sports car approaches a highway on-ramp at a velocity of given variables and will allow us to solve for the unknown
20.0 m/s [E]. If the car accelerates at a rate of 3.2 m/s2 [E] for variable.
5.0 s, what is the displacement of the car? > > 1>
> > C03-F054-OP11USB.ai
Dd 5 v iDt 1 a avDt 2
2
Given: v i 5 20.0 m/s 3 E 4 ; a av 5 3.2 m/s2 3 E 4 ; Dt 5 5.0 s
> > > 1>
Required: Dd Solution: Dd 5 v iDt 1 a avDt 2
2
Analysis: Our first task is to determine which of the five m 1 m
equations of accelerated motion to use. Usually, you can solve a 5 a20.0 3 E 4 b 15.0 s2 1 a3.2 2 3 E 4 b 15.0 s2 2
s 2 s
problem using only one of the five equations. We simply identify
which equation contains all the variables for which we have 5 100 m 3 E 4 1 40 m 3 E 4
>
given values and the unknown variable that we are asked to Dd 5 1.4 3 102 m 3 E 4
calculate. In Table 1, we see that Equation 3 has all the Statement: During the 5.0 s time interval, the car is displaced
1.4 3 102 m [E].

Sample Problem 2
A sailboat accelerates uniformly from 6.0 m/s [N] to 8.0 m/s [N] vf2 2 vi2
at a rate of 0.50 m/s2 [N]. What distance does the boat travel? Solution: Dd 5
2aav
Given: vi 5 6.0 m/s; vf 5 8.0 m/s; aav 5 0.50 m/s2 m 2 m 2
Required: Δd a8.0 b 2 a6.0 b
s s
Analysis: In Table 1, we see that Equation 4 will allow us to 5
m
solve for the unknown variable. First, we rearrange the equation 2a0.50 2 b
s
to solve for ∆d :
m2
vf2 2
5 vi 1 2aavDd 164 2 362
s2
vf2 2 vi2 5 2aavDd 5
m
1
vf2 2 vi 2
s2
Dd 5
2aav Δd 5 28 m
Statement: The boat travels a distance of 28 m.

Sample Problem 3
> >
A dart is thrown at a target that is supported by a wooden > vf 2 vi
backstop. It strikes the backstop with an initial velocity of Solution: a av 5
Dt
350 m/s [E]. The dart comes to rest in 0.0050 s. m m
(a) What is the acceleration of the dart? 0 2 350 3 E 4
s s
5
(b) How far does the dart penetrate into the backstop? 0.0050 s
5 270 000 m/s2 3 E 4
For (a): >
> > a av 5 7.0 3 104 m/s2 3 W 4
Given: v i 5 350 m/s 3 E 4 ; v f 5 0 m/s; Dt 5 0.0050 s
> Notice that the acceleration is in the opposite direction to the
Required: a av
initial motion. This must be true in order for the velocity of the
Analysis: We may use the defining equation for acceleration. dart to decrease to zero as it comes to rest. If the acceleration
> >
> vf 2 vi were in the same direction as the initial velocity, the final velocity
a av 5 would be greater than the initial velocity.
Dt
Statement: The acceleration of the dart is 7.0 3 104 m/s2 [W].

38   Chapter 1 • Motion in a Straight Line NEL

 > >
To solve (b), we have sufficient information to solve the problem > vf 1 vi
using any equation with displacement in it. Generally speaking, Solution: Dd 5 a bDt
2
in a two-part problem like this, it is a good idea to try to find
m m
an equation that uses only given information. Then, if we have 0 1 350 3 E 4
s s
made an error in calculating the first part (acceleration), our next 5° ¢ 10.0050 s2
2
calculation would be unaffected by the error. Therefore, we will
use Equation 1 to solve (b), since it can be solved using only >
Dd 5 0.88 m 3 E 4
given information.
> > Statement: The displacement of the dart into the backstop is
Given: v i 5 350 m/s 3 E 4 ; v f 5 0 m/s; Dt 5 0.0050 s 0.88 m [E].
>
Required: Dd
> >
> vf 1 vi
Analysis: Dd 5 a bDt
2

Practice
1. A football player initially at rest accelerates uniformly as she runs down the field,
travelling 17 m [E] in 3.8 s. What is her final velocity? T/I [ans: 8.9 m/s [E]]
2. A child on a toboggan sits at rest on the top of a tobogganing hill. If the child travels
70.0 m [downhill] in 5.3 s while accelerating uniformly, what acceleration does the
child experience? T/I [ans: 5.0 m/s2 [downhill]]

1.5 Summary
• The five key equations of accelerated motion, listed in Table 1 on page 37, apply
to motion with uniform (constant) acceleration. They involve the variables for
displacement, initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration, and time interval.
• When solving uniform acceleration problems, choose which equation(s) to
use based on the given and required variables of the problem.

1.5 Questions
1. A car accelerates from rest at a rate of 2.0 m/s2 [N]. Go-cart B accelerates uniformly from rest at a rate of
What is the displacement of the car at t = 15 s? T/I 0.333 m/s2. Which go-cart wins the race and by how
2. An astronaut is piloting her spacecraft toward the much time? T/I
International Space Station. To stop the spacecraft, she fires 5. A boat increases its speed from 5.0 m/s to 7.5 m/s over a
the retro-rockets, which cause the spacecraft to slow down distance of 50.0 m. What is the boat’s acceleration? T/I
from 20.0 m/s [E] to 0.0 m/s in 12 s. T/I 6. Within 4.0 s of liftoff, a spacecraft that is uniformly
(a) What is the acceleration of the spacecraft? accelerating straight upward from rest reaches an altitude
(b) What is the displacement of the spacecraft when it of 4.50 3 102 m [up]. T/I
comes to rest? (a) What is the spacecraft’s acceleration?
3. A helicopter travelling at a velocity of 15 m/s [W] (b) At what velocity is the spacecraft travelling when it
accelerates uniformly at a rate of 7.0 m/s2 [E] for 4.0 s. reaches this altitude?
What is the helicopter’s final velocity? T/I 7. Derive Equation 4 and Equation 5 in Table 1 on page 37 by
4. Two go-carts, A and B, race each other around a 1.0 km substituting other expressions. T/I
track. Go-cart A travels at a constant speed of 20.0 m/s.

NEL 1.5 Five Key Equations for Motion with Uniform Acceleration    39