Topic 1

Motion in One Dimension

Kinematics
Ø Describes motion while ignoring the external agents that might have caused or
modified the motion
Ø For now, will consider motion in one dimension
§ Along a straight line
Ø Motion represents a continual change in an object’s position.

Types of Motion
Ø Translational
§ An example is a car traveling on a highway.
Ø Rotational
§ An example is the Earth’s spin on its axis.
Ø Vibrational
§ An example is the back-and-forth movement of a pendulum.
Particle Model

We will use the particle model.

§ A particle is a point-like object; has mass but infinitesimal size

§ For example, if we wish to describe the motion of the Earth around the
Sun, we can treat the Earth as a particle and obtain reasonably accurate
data about its orbit. This approximation is justified because the radius of
the Earth’s orbit is large compared with the dimensions of the Earth and
the Sun.
Position

Ø The object’s position is its location

with respect to a chosen reference
point.
§ Consider the point to be the origin
of a coordinate system.

Ø Only interested in the car’s

translational motion, so model as a
particle

Pictorial representation
Data Table

Ø The table gives the actual data

collected during the motion of the
object (car).
Ø Positive is defined as being to the
right.

Tabular representation
Position-Time Graph

Ø The position-time graph shows the

motion of the particle (car).

Ø The smooth curve is a guess as to

what happened between the data
points.

Graphical representation
Displacement

Ø Displacement is defined as the change in position during some time interval.

§ Represented as Dx
Dx ≡ xf – xi (Eq. 1)
§ SI units are meters (m)
§ Dx can be positive or negative

Ø Different than distance

§ Distance is the length of a path followed by a particle.
Distance vs. Displacement – An Example

Ø Assume a player moves from one

end of the court to the other and
back.
Ø Distance is twice the length of the
court
§ Distance is always positive
Ø Displacement is zero
§ Δx = xf – xi = 0 since xf = xi
Vectors and Scalars

Ø Vector quantities need both magnitude (size or numerical value) and direction
to completely describe them.
§ Will use + and – signs to indicate vector directions in this chapter

Ø Scalar quantities are completely described by magnitude only.

Average Velocity (Vector)
Ø The average velocity is rate at which the displacement occurs.

Dx xf - xi
v x, avg º =
Dt Dt (Eq. 2)
§ The x indicates motion along the x-axis.

Ø The dimensions of average velocity are length / time [L/T]

Ø The SI units are m/s
Ø The average velocity can be positive or negative, depending on the sign of
the displacement (Δt is always positive)
Ø The average velocity is also the slope of the line in the position – time
graph
Average Speed (scalar)

Ø Speed is a scalar quantity.

§ Has the same units as velocity
§ Defined as total distance / total time:
d
v avg º
t (Eq. 3)
Ø The speed has no direction and is always expressed as a positive number.

Ø Neither average velocity nor average speed gives details about the trip
described.
Average Speed and Average Velocity

Ø The average speed is NOT the magnitude of the average velocity.

§ For example, a runner ends at her starting point.
§ Her displacement is zero.
§ Therefore, her velocity is zero.
§ However, the distance traveled is not zero, so the speed is not zero.
Example 1

Find the displacement, average velocity, and average speed of

the car in this Figure between position A and F.
Example 1
Instantaneous Velocity
Ø The limit of the average velocity as the time interval becomes infinitesimally
short, or as the time interval approaches zero.
Ø The instantaneous velocity indicates what is happening at every point of time.
Ø It is the slope of the line tangent to the x vs. t curve.
§ This would be the green line.
§The light blue lines show that as Dt gets smaller, they approach the green
line.
Ø The slope has units
§ Unless both axes have the same units
Instantaneous Velocity, equations

Ø The general equation for instantaneous velocity is:

Dx dx
v x = lim =
Dt ®0 Dt dt (Eq. 4)

Ø The instantaneous velocity

Ø vector quantity
Ø can be positive, negative, or zero.
Instantaneous Speed

Ø The instantaneous speed is the magnitude of the instantaneous velocity.

Ø The instantaneous speed has no direction associated with it.

Vocabulary Note

Ø “Velocity” and “speed” will indicate instantaneous values.

Ø Average will be used when the average velocity or average speed is indicated.
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2

(c ) 𝑥 = −4𝑡 + 2𝑡 !
#"
𝑣" = = −4 + 4𝑡
#$
at t = 2.5s, 𝑣" = −4 + 4 2.5 = 6 𝑚⁄𝑠
A Particle Under Constant Velocity

Ø Constant velocity indicates the instantaneous velocity at any instant during

a time interval is the same as the average velocity during that time interval.
§ vx = vx, avg
§ The mathematical representation of this situation is

Dx x f - x i
vx = = or xf = xi + v x Dt
Dt Dt (Eq. 5)
§ Common practice is to let ti = 0 and the equation becomes:

xf = xi + vx t (for constant vx) (Eq. 6)

Particle Under Constant Velocity, Graph

Ø The graph represents the motion of

a particle under constant velocity.

Ø The slope of the graph is the value

of the constant velocity.

Ø The y-intercept is xi.

A Particle Under Constant Speed

Ø A particle under constant velocity moves with a constant speed along a

straight line.
Ø A particle can also move with a constant speed along a curved path.
Ø This can be represented with a model of a particle under constant speed.
Ø The primary equation is the same as for average speed, with the average
speed replaced by the constant speed.

d
v=
Dt
Average Acceleration

Ø Acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity.

Dv x v xf - v xi
ax,avg º =
Dt tf - t i (Eq. 7)
Ø Dimensions are L/T2
Ø SI units are m/s²
Ø In one dimension, positive and negative can be used to indicate direction.
Instantaneous Acceleration

Ø The instantaneous acceleration is the limit of the average acceleration as Dt

approaches 0.

Dv x dv x d 2 x
ax = lim = = 2 (Eq. 8)
Dt ®0 Dt dt dt
Ø The term acceleration will mean instantaneous acceleration.
§ If average acceleration is wanted, the word average will be included.
Instantaneous Acceleration – graph
Ø The slope of the velocity-time
graph is the acceleration.

Ø The green line represents the

instantaneous acceleration at
point B.

Ø The blue line is the average

acceleration.
Graphical Comparison

Ø The velocity-time graph (Figure b) is

found by measuring the slope of the
position-time graph at every instant
(Figure a).

Ø The acceleration-time graph (Figure

c) is found by measuring the slope of
the velocity-time graph at every
instant (Figure b).
Acceleration and Velocity, Directions

Ø When an object’s velocity and acceleration are in the same direction, the
object is speeding up.

Ø When an object’s velocity and acceleration are in the opposite direction, the
object is slowing down.
Acceleration and Force

Ø The acceleration of an object is related to the total force exerted on the object.
§ The force is proportional to the acceleration, Fx µ ax .
§ Assume the velocity and acceleration are in the same direction.
§ The force is in the same direction as the velocity and the object speeds
up.
§ Assume the velocity and acceleration are in opposite directions.
§ The force is in the opposite direction as the velocity and the object slows
down.
Example 3
Example 3

#%!
𝑣" = 40 − 5𝑡 ! , 𝑎" = #$
= −10𝑡,

𝑎𝑡 𝑡 = 2.0𝑠, 𝑎" = −10 2.0 = −20 𝑚⁄𝑠 !

Motion Diagrams
Ø A motion diagram can be formed by imagining the stroboscope photograph
of a moving object.
§Red arrows represent velocity.
§Purple arrows represent acceleration.
Constant Velocity

Ø Images are equally spaced.

Ø The car is moving with constant positive velocity (shown by red arrows
maintaining the same size).
Ø Acceleration equals zero.
Acceleration and Velocity

Ø Images become farther apart as time increases.

Ø Velocity and acceleration are in the same direction.
Ø Acceleration is uniform (violet arrows maintain the same length).
Ø Velocity is increasing (red arrows are getting longer).
Ø This shows positive acceleration and positive velocity.
Acceleration and Velocity

Ø Images become closer together as time increases.

Ø Acceleration and velocity are in opposite directions.
Ø Acceleration is constant (violet arrows maintain the same length).
Ø Velocity is decreasing (red arrows are getting shorter).
Ø Positive velocity and negative acceleration.
Kinematic Equations
Ø The kinematic equations can be used with any particle under uniform
acceleration.
Ø The kinematic equations may be used to solve any problem involving one-
dimensional motion with a constant acceleration.
Ø You may need to use two of the equations to solve one problem.
Ø Many times there is more than one way to solve a problem.
Kinematic Equations, 1

Ø For constant ax,

v xf = v xi + ax t (Eq. 9)
Ø Can determine an object’s velocity at any time t when we know its
initial velocity and its acceleration
§ Assumes ti = 0 and tf = t
Ø Does not give any information about displacement
Kinematic Equations, 2

Ø For constant acceleration,

v xi + v xf
v x ,avg =
2 (Eq. 10)
Ø The average velocity can be expressed as the arithmetic mean of the initial
and final velocities.
§ This applies only in situations where the acceleration is constant.
Kinematic Equations, 3

Ø For constant acceleration,

1
xf = xi + v x,avg t = xi + (v xi + v fx ) t (Eq. 11)
2

Ø This gives you the position of the particle in terms of time and
velocities.
Ø Doesn’t give you the acceleration.
Kinematic Equations, 4

Ø Substitute Eq. 9 into Eq. 11, we can obtain Eq. 12

Ø For constant acceleration,

1 2
xf = xi + v xi t + ax t (Eq. 12)
2
Ø Gives final position in terms of velocity and acceleration
Ø Doesn’t tell you about final velocity
Kinematic Equations, 5

%!" &%!#
Ø Rearrange Eq. 9, 𝑡 = '!

Ø Substitute the value of t into Eq. 11, we can obtain Eq. 13.

Ø For constant acceleration,

v xf2 = v xi2 + 2ax ( xf - xi ) (Eq. 13)

Ø Gives final velocity in terms of acceleration and displacement
Ø Does not give any information about the time
When a = 0

Ø When the acceleration is zero,

§ vxf = vxi = vx
§ xf = xi + vx t
Ø The constant acceleration model reduces to the constant velocity model.
Kinematic Equations – summary

v xi + v xf
v x ,avg =
2
Graphical Look at Motion: Displacement – Time curve

Ø The slope of the curve is the

velocity.
Ø The curved line indicates the velocity
is changing.
§ Therefore, there is an acceleration.
Graphical Look at Motion: Velocity – Time curve

Ø The slope gives the acceleration.

Ø The straight line indicates a constant

acceleration.
Graphical Look at Motion: Acceleration – Time curve

Ø The zero slope indicates a constant

acceleration.
Example 4
Example 4
Example 4

𝑥!"#,%&'"( = 𝑥!"#,&')&"( + 𝑣!"# 𝑡 = 45 𝑚⁄𝑠 ×1𝑠 + 45 𝑚⁄𝑠 𝑡

1 -
3 -
𝑥)#**+,#,%&'"( = 𝑥)#**+,#,& + 𝑣)#**+,#,& 𝑡 + 𝑎)#**+,# 𝑡 = 0 + 0 + 𝑡
2 2

𝑥!"#,%&'"( = 𝑥)#**+,#,%&'"(

3 -
45 + 45𝑡 = 𝑡 → 3𝑡 - − 90𝑡 − 90 = 0
2

90 ± 90- + 4×3×90
𝑡=
3×2

𝑡 = 31𝑠
Freely Falling Objects
Ø A freely falling object is any object moving freely under the influence of
gravity alone.
Ø It does not depend upon the initial motion of the object.
§ Dropped – released from rest
§ Thrown downward
§ Thrown upward
Acceleration of Freely Falling Object

Ø The acceleration of an object in free fall is directed downward, regardless of

the initial motion.
Ø The magnitude of free fall acceleration is g = 9.80 m/s2.
§ g decreases with increasing altitude
§ g varies with latitude
§ 9.80 m/s2 is the average at the Earth’s surface
§ The italicized g will be used for the acceleration due to gravity.
§ Not to be confused with g for grams
Acceleration of Free Fall, cont.

Ø We will neglect air resistance.

Ø Free fall motion is constantly accelerated motion in one dimension.
§ Use model of a particle under constant acceleration
Ø Let upward be positive
Ø Use the kinematic equations
§ With ay = -g = -9.80 m/s2
§ Negative sign means the acceleration of a freely falling object is downward
§ Note displacement is in the vertical direction
Free Fall – An Object Dropped

Ø Initial velocity is zero

Ø Let upward be positive
Ø Use the kinematic equations
§ Generally use y instead of x since
vertical
vo= 0
Ø Acceleration is
a = -g
§ ay = - g = - 9.80 m/s2
Free Fall – An Object Thrown Downward

Ø ay = - g = - 9.80 m/s2
Ø Initial velocity ¹ 0
§ With upward being positive, initial
velocity will be negative.
vo≠ 0
a = -g
Free Fall – Object Thrown Upward

Ø Initial velocity is upward, so positive

Ø The instantaneous velocity at the v=0
maximum height is zero.
Ø ay = -g = -9.80 m/s2 everywhere in
the motion vo≠ 0

Ø The motion may be symmetrical. a = -g

§ Then tup = tdown

§ Then v = -vo
Ø The motion may not be symmetrical.
§ Break the motion into various
parts.
§ Generally up and down
Example 5

Ø Initial velocity at A is upward (+) and

acceleration is -g (-9.8 m/s2).
Ø At B, the velocity is 0 and the
acceleration is -g (-9.8 m/s2).
Ø At C, the velocity has the same
magnitude as at A, but is in the
opposite direction.
Ø The displacement is –50.0 m (it ends
up 50.0 m below its starting point).
Example 5
Example 5