Chapter 2

Kinematics in One Dimension

Ch 2

Giancoli, PHYSICS,6/E 2004. Electronically

reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc.,
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

Module 2
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration
Giancoli, Sec 2-1, 2, 3, 4, 8
The following is an excellent lecture on this material.

AP Physics C Lesson 1

Ch 2

Giancoli, PHYSICS,6/E 2004. Electronically

reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc.,
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

Reference Frames
Any measurement of position, displacement, velocity or
acceleration must be made with respect to a defined reference
framethis is first step in problem solution.

Possible reference frames:

Window with up = + or
Un-stretched net with up = + or Stretched net with up = + or
Ground = not sufficient
information
Ch 2

Coordinate Axis
We will use a set of coordinate axis where x is
horizontal and y is vertical
+y
-x

x1

x2

+x

-y

Many problems will be motion in one dimension

so we will plot x vs. time.
Ch 2

Displacement
+y
-x

x1

x2

+x

-y

Displacement: change in position

x x2 x1
Displacement is a vector, so it has magnitude and
direction. In one dimension we use + or minus sign to
indicate direction.
Ch 2

Dont Confuse Displacement and Distance

A person walks 70 m East and 30 m West.

Distance traveled = 100 m

Displacement = 40 m East
Ch 2

or + 40 m
6

Negative Displacement
In the figure below the displacement is negative.

x x2 x1
A negative displacement may indicate motion toward
the West or something else depending on the situation
and
the
coordinate
system
chosen.
Ch 2
7

Average Speed and Velocity

distance traveled
average speed
time elapsed
displacement
average velocity (v )
time elapsed
x2 x1
x
v

t 2 t1
t

Average velocity is a vector, so it has magnitude

and direction. In one dimension we use + or minus
sign to indicate direction.
Ch 2
8

Example 1. An airplane travels 3100 km at a speed of 790 km/h, and

then encounters a tailwind that boosts its speed to 990 km/h for the
next 2800 km. What was the total time for the trip? (Assume three
significant figures)

x
x
v

t
t
t t t
1

x x
t

v
v
1

3100km 2800km
t

790 km
990 km
h
h

t 3.92 h 2.83 h 6.75 h

Ch 2

Example 1 (continued) An airplane travels 3100 km at a speed of 790 km/h,

and then encounters a tailwind that boosts its speed to 990 km/h for the next
2800 km. What was the total time for the trip? (Assume three significant
figures)

t 6.75 h

What was the average speed of the plane for this trip?

x
v
t

3100km 2800km
6.75h

874 km

Note: A simple average of v1 and v2 gives 890 km/h and is not correct

Ch 2

10

Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion

x
v
Velocity is slope of x vs. time graph
t

Ch 2

11

Acceleration
Average Acceleration: change in velocity
divided by the time taken to make this change.
v2 v1
v
a

t 2 t1
t

UNITS

Ch 2

s m
s
s2

12

Example 2. A car traveling at 15.0 m/s slows down to 5.0 m/s in

5.0 seconds. Calculate the cars acceleration.
t1 0

v1 15.0 m

t 2 5.0s

v2 5.0 m

Coordinate System: + is to the right

v v
a
t t
2
2

Ch 2

5.0 m 15.0 m
s
s

5.0 s 0 s

2.0 m

s2

( to the left )

13

Acceleration
Instantaneous Acceleration: same definition as
before but over a very short t.
a

Ch 2

lim
t 0

v
t

14

Instantaneous Velocity
instantaneous velocity is defined as the average velocity
over an infinitesimally short time interval.
v

Ch 2

lim
t 0

x
t

15

Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion

v
a
Acceleration is slope of v vs. time graph
t
Ch 2

16

Example 6: Calculate the acceleration between points A and B and B and

C.

lim
t 0

v
t

v
t

( straight line )

v2 v1 15.0 m 15.0 m
aAB
s
s 0.0 m

t 2 t1
s2
20.0 s 15.0 s

Ch 2

v2 v1
a BC
t 2 t1

15.0 m
s
s
25.0 s 20.0 s

5.0 m

2.0 m

s2

17

Module 3
Motion with Constant Acceleration
Giancoli, Sec 2-1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Ch 2

Giancoli, PHYSICS,6/E 2004. Electronically

reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc.,
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

18

Motion with Constant Acceleration

Consider the case of a car that accelerates from rest with a constant
acceleration of 15 m / s2.

v2 v1
v

t 2 t1
t

v2 v1 a ( t2 t1 ) 0 15 m

s ( t 0 )
2

We can make a table

Ch 2

t (s)

v ( m/s)

a ( m/ s2 )

15

15

15

30

15

45

15

60

15

75

15
19

Derivations
In the next 4 slides we will combine several known
equations under the assumption that the acceleration is
constant.
This process is called a derivation.
In general you will need to know the initial
assumptions, the resultant equations and how to apply
them.
You do not need to memorize derivations
But, I could ask you to derive an equation for a
specific problem. This is very similar to an ordinary
problem without a numeric answer.
Ch 2

20

Motion at Constant Acceleration - Derivation

Consider the special case acceleration equals a
constant:
a = constant
Use the subscript 0 to refer to the initial
conditions
Thus t0 refers to the initial time and we will set t0 =
0.
At this time v0 is the initial velocity and x0 is the
initial displacement.
At a later time t, v is the velocity and x is the
displacement
Ch 2

In the equations t1t0 and t2 t

21

Motion at Constant Acceleration - Derivation

The average velocity during this time is:
x x0 x x0
v

t t0
t

(Eqn.1)

The acceleration is assumed to be constant

v v0
a
Constant
t

( Eqn. 2 )

v
vo
t

From this we can write

v v0 a t
Ch 2

( Eqn. 3 )
22

Motion at Constant Acceleration - Derivation

Because the velocity increases at a uniform rate, the average
velocity is the average of the initial and final velocities

v
v

v0 v
2

( Eqn. 4 )

From the definition of average velocity

x x0 v t

v0 v
x0 (
)t
2

vo

v0 v0 at
x0 (
)t
2

And thus

1 2
x x0 v0 t a t
2
Ch 2

( Eqn. 5 )
23

Motion at Constant Acceleration

The book derives one more equation by eliminating

time
The 4 equations listed below only apply when
a = constant

v v0 at

1 2
x x0 v0 t a t
2
v 2 v02 2 a ( x x0 )
Ch 2

v v0
v
2

24

Example 3. A world-class sprinter can burst out of the blocks to

essentially top speed (of about 11.5 m/s) in the first 15.0 m of the race.
What is the average acceleration of this sprinter, and how long does it
take her to reach that speed? (Note: we have to assume a=constant)
v 0

x 0

v 11.5 m

v v 2a x x
2

v v
2( x x )
2

(11.5 m ) 2 0 2
s
a
2(15.0m 0)

a 4.41 m
Ch 2

s2

x 15.0m

v v at
0

vv
a

11.5 m 0
s
t
4.41 m 2
s

t 2.61s
25

Example 4. A truck going at a constant speed of 25 m/s passes a car at rest.

The instant the truck passes the car, the car begins to accelerate at a constant
1.00 m / s2. How long does it take for the car to catch up with the truck.

1
x x v t at
2
t

0t

0t

1 2
xc x0c v0c t ac t
2

x t (25 m )t
s

xc

When the car catches the truck:

1
(1.0 m 2 )t 2
s
2

x x
c

1
(1.0 m )t (25 m )t
s
s
2
1
(1.0 m )t 25 m
s
s
2
2

t 50 s
How far has the car traveled when it catches the truck?

1
x (1.0 m )(50 s ) 1250m
s
2
2

Ch 2

26

Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion

x
v
Velocity is slope of x vs. time graph
t
v
a
Acceleration is slope of v vs. time graph
t
Ch 2

27

Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion

v

lim
t 0

x
t

v is slope of position
vs. time graph.

lim
t 0

v
t

a is slope of velocity
vs. time graph.

Ch 2

28

Example 6: Calculate the acceleration between points A and B and B and

C.

lim
t 0

v
t

v
t

( straight line for A B & B C)

v2 v1 15.0 m 15.0 m
aAB
s
s 0.0 m

t 2 t1
s2
20.0 s 15.0 s

Ch 2

v2 v1
a BC
t 2 t1

15.0 m
s
s
25.0 s 20.0 s

5.0 m

2.0 m

s2

29

Module 4
Falling Objects
Giancoli, Sec 2-1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Ch 2

Giancoli, PHYSICS,6/E 2004. Electronically

reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc.,
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

30

Falling Objects

Galileo showed that for object falling from rest

with no air resistance
y t2
Note that this is true when acceleration is
constant
Ch 2

31

Falling Objects
Galilei showed that
v1 9.8 m / s

near the surface of the earth

at the same location

v2 19.6 m / s

in the absence of air resistance

v3 29.4 m / s

all objects fall with the same constant

acceleration g, the acceleration
due to gravity
g = 9.8 m/s2
Note: g is a positive number. When you define your
coordinate system, you can decide whether up or down is
positive.
Ch 2

32

Up and Down Motion

For object that is thrown upward
and returns to starting position:
1
y y v t gt
2
assumes up is positive
2

velocity changes sign (direction)

but acceleration does not

v v0 gt
Velocity at top is zero
time up = time down
Velocity returning to starting
position = velocity when it was
Ch 2
released
but opposite sign

33

Acceleration due to Gravity

Ch 2

34

Example 5
(2-47) A stone is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 12.0
m/s from the edge of a cliff 70.0 m high (Fig. 234). (a) How much later does it
reach the bottom of the cliff? (b) What is its speed just before hitting? (c) What
total distance did it travel?
(a) UP = POSITIVE
v 12.0 m
0

a 9.8 m

y 0

y 70m

1
y y v t gt
2
70 0 12t 4.9t 2
2

4.9t 12t 70 0
2

Use quadratic equation:

(12) (12) 2 (4)(4.9)(70)

t
(2)(4.9)

t 2.75s, 5.20 s
Ch 2

Answer = 5.20 s
35

Example 5 2-47 A stone is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 12.0 m/s
from the edge of a cliff 70.0 m high (Fig. 234). (a) How much later does it
reach the bottom of the cliff? (b) What is its speed just before hitting? (c) What
total distance did it travel?
(b)

v v at 12 m s (9.8 m s )(5.2s) 38.9 m s

2

(c) Find maximum height, where

v0

v v 2a ( y y )
2

v 2 v02 2a ( y y0 )

v v
yy
( 2)(a )
2

0 (12 m ) 2
s
y 0
(2)(9.8 m 2 )
s
Total distance =
Ch 2

7.35m

7.35m 7.35m 70.0m

84.7 m

36

Example 5 (2-47) continued. A stone is thrown vertically upward with a speed of

12.0 m/s from the edge of a cliff 70.0 m high (Fig. 234). (a) How much later does it
reach the bottom of the cliff? (b) What is its speed just before hitting? (c) What total
distance did it travel? Excel Calculationuse the equation for displacement and
velocity to get y and vy vs time.

Ch 2

37

Problem Solving Tips

1. Read the whole problem and make sure you
understand it. Then read it again.
2. Decide on the objects under study and what the
time interval is.
3. Draw a diagram and choose coordinate axes.
4. Write down the known (given) quantities, and
then the unknown ones that you need to find.
5. What physics applies here? Plan an approach to a
solution.
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38

Problem Solving Tips

6. Which equations relate the known and
unknown quantities? Are they valid in this
situation? Solve algebraically for the unknown
quantities, and check that your result is
sensible (correct dimensions).
7. Calculate the solution and round it to the
appropriate number of significant figures.
8. Look at the result is it reasonable? Does it
agree with a rough estimate?
9. Check the units again.
Ch 2

39