What are the kinematic formulas?

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SCIENCE · PHYSICS · ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOTION · KINEMATIC FORMULAS AND PROJECTILE MOTION

What are the kinematic formulas?

Here are the main equations you can use to analyze situations with constant acceleration.

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What are the kinematic formulas?

The kinematic formulas are a set of formulas that relate the five kinematic
variables listed below.

Δx Displacement
t Time interval 
v​0    Initial velocity 
v    Final velocity 
a    Constant acceleration 

[Why is the time interval now written as t?]

If we know three of these five kinematic variables—Δx, t, v0​ , v, a—for an object

under constant acceleration, we can use a kinematic formula, see below, to
solve for one of the unknown variables.

The kinematic formulas are often written as the following four equations.
[Where did these formulas come from?]

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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

1. v = v0​ + at

v + v0​
2. Δx = ( ​ )t
2
1 2
3. Δx = v0​ t + ​ at​
2

4. v 2​ = v0​2 + 2aΔx
Since the kinematic formulas are only accurate if the acceleration is constant
during the time interval considered, we have to be careful to not use them
when the acceleration is changing. Also, the kinematic formulas assume all
variables are referring to the same direction: horizontal x, vertical y, etc.
[Wait, what?]

What is a freely flying object—i.e., a projectile?

It might seem like the fact that the kinematic formulas only work for time
intervals of constant acceleration would severely limit the applicability of
these formulas. However one of the most common forms of motion, free fall,
just happens to be constant acceleration.

All freely flying objects—also called projectiles—on Earth, regardless of their

mass, have a constant downward acceleration due to gravity of magnitude
m
g = 9.81 ​ 2 .
s​

m
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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

g = 9.81 ​ (Magnitude of acceleration due to gr
s2​

A freely flying object is defined as any object that is accelerating only due to
the influence of gravity. We typically assume the effect of air resistance is
small enough to ignore, which means any object that is dropped, thrown, or
otherwise flying freely through the air is typically assumed to be a freely flying
m
projectile with a constant downward acceleration of magnitude g = 9.81 ​ 2 .
s​

This is both strange and lucky if we think about it. It's strange since this
means that a large boulder will accelerate downwards with the same
acceleration as a small pebble, and if dropped from the same height, they
would strike the ground at the same time. [How can this be so?]

It's lucky since we don't need to know the mass of the projectile when solving
kinematic formulas since the freely flying object will have the same magnitude
m
of acceleration, g = 9.81 ​ 2 , no matter what mass it has—as long as air
s​
resistance is negligible.

m
Note that g = 9.81 ​ 2 is just the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity. If
s​
upward is selected as positive, we must make the acceleration due to gravity
m
negative a​y = −9.81 ​ 2 for a projectile when we plug into the kinematic
s​
formulas.

Warning: Forgetting to include a negative sign is one of the most common

sources of error when using kinematic formulas.

How do you select and use a kinematic

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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

formula?
We choose the kinematic formula that includes both the unknown variable
we're looking for and three of the kinematic variables we already know. This
way, we can solve for the unknown we want to find, which will be the only
unknown in the formula.

For instance, say we knew a book on the ground was kicked forward with an
initial velocity of v0​ = 5 m/s, after which it took a time interval t = 3 s for the
book to slide a displacement of Δx = 8 m. We could use the kinematic formula
1
Δx = v0​ t + ​ at2​ to algebraically solve for the unknown acceleration a of the
2
book—assuming the acceleration was constant—since we know every other
variable in the formula besides a—Δx, v​0 , t.

Problem solving tip: Note that each kinematic formula is missing one of the
five kinematic variables—Δx, t, v​0 , v, a.

1. v = v 0 + at (This formula is missing Δx.)

v + v0
2. Δx = ( )t (This formula is missing a.)
2

1 2
3. Δx = v 0 t + at (This formula is missing v.)
2

4. v 2 = v 20 + 2aΔx (This formula is missing t.)

To choose the kinematic formula that's right for your problem, figure out
which variable you are not given and not asked to find. For example, in the
problem given above, the final velocity v of the book was neither given nor
asked for, so we should choose a formula that does not include v at all. The
1 2

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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

kinematic formula Δx = v0​ t + ​ at​ is missing v, so it's the right choice in this
2
case to solve for the acceleration a.

[Shouldn't there be a fifth kinematic formula that is missing the initial velocity?]

How do you derive the first kinematic formula,

v = v0​ + at ?
This kinematic formula is probably the easiest to derive since it is really just a
rearranged version of the definition of acceleration. We can start with the
definition of acceleration,

Δv
a= ​ [Isn't this the average acceleration?]
Δt

Now we can replace Δv with the definition of change in velocity v − v​0 .

v​− v​0
a= ​
Δt

Finally if we just solve for v we get

v = v​0 + aΔt

And if we agree to just use t for Δt, this becomes the first kinematic
formula.

v = v0​ + at

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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

How do you derive the second kinematic

v + v0​
formula, Δx = ( ​ )t?
2
A cool way to visually derive this kinematic formula is by considering the
velocity graph for an object with constant acceleration—in other words, a
constant slope—and starts with initial velocity v0​ as seen in the graph below.

Created with Raphaël

v (m/s)

v​0

t (s)
t

The area under any velocity graph gives the displacement Δx. So, the area
under this velocity graph will be the displacement Δx of the object.

Δx =  total area

We can conveniently break this area into a blue rectangle and a red triangle
as seen in the graph above.

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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

The height of the blue rectangle is v0​ and the width is t, so the area of the
blue rectangle is v​0 t.
The base of the red triangle is t and the height is v − v​0 , so the area of the red
1
triangle is ​ t(v − v0​ ).
2

The total area will be the sum of the areas of the blue rectangle and the red
triangle.

1
Δx = v​0 t + ​ t(v − v​0 )
2
1
If we distribute the factor of ​ t we get
2

1 1
Δx = v0​ t + ​ vt − ​ v0​ t
2 2

We can simplify by combining the v0​ terms to get

1 1
Δx = ​ vt + ​ v​0 t
2 2

And finally we can rewrite the right hand side to get the second kinematic
formula.

v + v0​
Δx = ( ​ )t
2
This formula is interesting since if you divide both sides by t, you get
Δx v + v​0 Δx
​ = (​ ). This shows that the average velocity ​ equals the average of
t 2 t
v + v​0
the final and initial velocities ​ . However, this is only true assuming the
2
acceleration is constant since we derived this formula from a velocity graph

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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

with constant slope/acceleration.

How do you derive the third kinematic formula,

1 2
Δx = v0​ t + ​ at​ ?
2
1
There are a couple ways to derive the equation Δx = v0​ t + ​ at2​ . There's a cool
2
geometric derivation and a less exciting plugging-and-chugging derivation.
We'll do the cool geometric derivation first.

Consider an object that starts with a velocity v0​ and maintains constant
acceleration to a final velocity of v as seen in the graph below.

Created with Raphaël

v (m/s)

v0​

t (s)
t

Since the area under a velocity graph gives the displacement Δx, each term

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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

1
on the right hand side of the formula Δx = v0​ t + ​ at2​ represents an area in the
2
graph above.

The term v​0 t represents the area of the blue rectangle since A​rectangle = hw.

1 1
The term ​ at2​ represents the area of the red triangle since Atriangle
​ = ​ bh.
2 2
[Wait, how?]

1
That's it. The formula Δx = v0​ t + ​ at2​ has to be true since the displacement
2
must be given by the total area under the curve. We did assume the velocity
graph was a nice diagonal line so that we could use the triangle formula, so
this kinematic formula—like all the rest of the kinematic formulas—is only true
under the assumption that the acceleration is constant.

Here's the alternative plugging-and-chugging derivation. The third kinematic

formula can be derived by plugging in the first kinematic formula, v = v​0 + at,
Δx v + v​0
into the second kinematic formula, ​ = ​ .
t 2

If we start with second kinematic formula

Δx v + v​0
​ =​
t 2

and we use v = v​0 + at to plug in for v, we get

Δx (v​0 + at) + v​0

​ =​
t 2

We can expand the right hand side and get

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Δx v0​ at v0​
​ =​ +​ +​
t 2 2 2
v​
Combining the ​ 0 terms on the right hand side gives us
2

Δx at
​ = v​0 + ​
t 2

And finally multiplying both sides by the time t gives us the third kinematic
formula.

1 2
Δx = v0​ t + ​ at​
2
Again, we used other kinematic formulas, which have a requirement of
constant acceleration, so this third kinematic formula is also only true under
the assumption that the acceleration is constant.

How do you derive the fourth kinematic

formula, v 2​ = v02​ + 2aΔx?
To derive the fourth kinematic formula, we'll start with the second kinematic
formula:

v + v​0
Δx = ( ​ )t
2

We want to eliminate the time t from this formula. To do this, we'll solve the
v − v​0
first kinematic formula, v = v0​ + at, for time to get t = ​ . If we plug this
a
expression for time t into the second kinematic formula we'll get

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v + v​0 v − v​0
Δx = ( ​ )( ​ )
2 a

Multiplying the fractions on the right hand side gives

v2​ − v2​0
Δx = ( ​ )
2a

And now solving for v2​ we get the fourth kinematic formula.

v 2​ = v0​2 + 2aΔx

What's confusing about the kinematic

formulas?
People often forget that the kinematic formulas are only true assuming the
acceleration is constant during the time interval considered.

Sometimes a known variable will not be explicitly given in a problem, but

rather implied with codewords. For instance, "starts from rest" means v​0 = 0,
"dropped" often means v0​ = 0, and "comes to a stop" means v = 0. Also, the
magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity on all freely flying projectiles is
m
assumed to be g = 9.81 ​ 2 , so this acceleration will usually not be given
s​
explicitly in a problem but will just be implied for a freely flying object.

People forget that all the kinematic variables—Δx, v​o , v, a—except for t can be
negative. A missing negative sign is a very common source of error. If
upward is assumed to be positive, then the acceleration due to gravity for a
m
freely flying object must be negative: a​g = −9.81 ​ 2 .
s​

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1
The third kinematic formula, Δx = v​0 t + ​ at2​ , might require the use of the
2
quadratic formula, see solved example 3 below.

People forget that even though you can choose any time interval during the
constant acceleration, the kinematic variables you plug into a kinematic
formula must be consistent with that time interval. In other words, the initial
velocity v​0 has to be the velocity of the object at the initial position and start of
the time interval t. Similarly, the final velocity v must be the velocity at the final
position and end of the time interval t being analyzed.

What do solved examples involving the

kinematic formulas look like?

Example 1: First kinematic formula, v = v0​ + at

A water balloon filled with Kool-Aid is dropped from the top of a very tall
building.

What is the velocity of the water balloon after falling for t = 2.35 s?

Assuming upward is the positive direction, our known variables are

v​0 = 0 (Since the water balloon was dropped, it started at rest.)

t = 2.35 s (This is the time interval after which we want to find the velocity.)
m
a​g = −9.81 ​ 2 (This is implied since the water balloon is a freely falling
s​
object.)

[Isn't the final velocity zero since it hits the ground?]

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The motion is vertical in this situation, so we'll use y as our position variable
instead of x. The symbol we choose doesn't really matter as long as we're
consistent, but people typically use y to indicate vertical motion.

Since we don't know the displacement Δy and we weren't asked for the
displacement Δy, we'll use the first kinematic formula v = v​0 + at, which is
missing Δy.

v = v 0 + at (Use the first kinematic formula since it's missing Δy.)

m
v = 0 m/s + (−9.81 ​ 2 )(2.35 s) (Plug in known values.)
s​

v = −23.1 m/s (Calculate and celebrate!)

Note: The final velocity was negative since the water balloon was heading
downward.

[Can't we call downward the positive direction?]

Example 2: Second kinematic formula,

v + v0​
Δx = ( ​ )t
2
A leopard is running at 6.20 m/s and after seeing a mirage that's taken the
form of an ice cream truck; the leopard then speeds up to 23.1 m/s in a time
of 3.3 s.

How much ground did the leopard cover in going from 6.20 m/s to 23.1
m/s?

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Assuming the initial direction of travel is the positive direction, our known
variables are

v0​ = 6.20 m/s (The initial speed of the leopard)

v = 23.1 m/s (The final speed of the leopard)
t = 3.30 s (The time it took for the leopard to speed up)

Since we do not know the acceleration a and were not asked for the
acceleration, we'll use the second kinematic formula for the horizontal
v + v​0
direction Δx = ( ​ )t, which is missing a.
2

v + v0
Δx = ( )t (Use the second kinematic formula since it's missing a.)
2

23.1 m/s + 6.20 m/s
Δx = ( ​ )(3.30 s) (Plug in known values.)
2

Δx = 48.3 m (Calculate and celebrate!)

Example 3: Third kinematic formula,

1 2
Δx = v0​ t + ​ at​
2
A student is fed up with doing her kinematic formula homework, so she
throws her pencil straight upward at 18.3 m/s.

How long does it take the pencil to first reach a point 12.2 m higher than
where it was thrown?

Assuming upward is the positive direction, our known variables are

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v0​ = 18.3 m/s (The initial upward velocity of the pencil)

Δy = 12.2 m (We want to know the time when the pencil moves through this
displacement.)
 m
a = −9.81 ​ 2 (The pencil is a freely flying projectile.)
 s​

Since we don't know the final velocity v and we weren't asked to find the final
velocity, we will use the third kinematic formula for the vertical direction
1
Δy = v​0y t + ​ a​y t2​ , which is missing v.
2

1
Δy = v0y
​ t + ​ ay​ t2​ (Start with the third kinematic formula.)
2

Normally we would just solve our expression algebraically for the variable we
want to find, but this kinematic formula can not be solved algebraically for
time if none of the terms are zero. That's because when none of the terms
are zero and t is the unknown variable, this equation becomes a quadratic
equation. We can see this by plugging in known values.

1  m
12.2 m = (18.3 m/s)t + ​ (−9.81 ​ 2 )t2​ (Plug in known values.)
2  s​

To put this into a more solvable form of the quadratic equation, we move
everything onto one side of the equation. Subtracting 12 m from both sides
we get

1  m
0 = ​ (−9.81 ​ 2 )t2​ + (18.3 m/s)t − 12.2 m (Put it into the form of the qu
2  s​

At this point, we solve the quadratic equation for time t. The solutions of a
quadratic equation in the form of at2​ + bt + c = 0 are found by using the
​−b ± √​​b2​ −​ 4ac
quadratic formula t = ​ . For our kinematic equation
​ ​
2 a
1  m

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a = ​ (−9.81 ​ 2 ), b = 18.3 m/s, and c = −12.2 m.

2  s​

So, plugging into the quadratic formula, we get

​−18.3 m/s ± √​​(18.3 m/s)2​ − 4[ ​ (−9.81

1  m
​ ​ )(−12.2 m)]
2  s2​
t= ​
​ 1  m
​2[ ​ (−9.81 ​ 2 )]
2  s​

Since there is a plus or minus sign in the quadratic formula, we get two
answers for the time t: one when using the + and one when using the −.
Solving the quadratic formula above gives these two times:

t = 0.869 s and t = 2.86 s

There are two positive solutions since there are two times when the pencil
was 12.2 m high. The smaller time refers to the time required to go upward
and first reach the displacement of 12.2 m high. The larger time refers to the
time required to move upward, pass through 12.2 m high, reach a maximum
height, and then fall back down to a point 12.2 m high.

So, to find the answer to our question of "How long does it take the pencil to
first reach a point 12.2 m higher than where it was thrown?" we would choose
the smaller time t = 0.869 s.

[What if the quadratic formula gives a negative answer?]

Example 4: Fourth kinematic formula,

v2​ = v0​2 + 2aΔx
A European motorcyclist starts with a speed of 23.4 m/s and, seeing traffic up
ahead, decides to slow down over a length of 50.2 m with a constant

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 m
deceleration of magnitude 3.20 ​ 2 . Assume the motorcycle is moving forward
 s​
for the entire trip.

What is the new velocity of the motorcyclist after slowing down through
the 50.2 m?

Assuming the initial direction of travel is the positive direction, our known
variables are

v0​ = 23.4 m/s (The initial forward velocity of the motorcycle)

 m
a = −3.20 ​ 2 (Acceleration is negative since the motorcycle is slowing down
 s​
and we assumed forward is positive.)
Δx = 50.2 m (We want to know the velocity after the motorcycle moves
through this displacement.)

Since we don't know the time t and we weren't asked to find the time, we will
use the fourth kinematic formula for the horizontal direction v2​x = v2​0x + 2a​x Δx,
which is missing t.

v2​x = v2​0x + 2a​x Δx (Start with the fourth kinematic formula.)

v​x = ±√​v​ 2​0x + 2a​x Δx (Algebraically solve for the final velocity.)

Note that in taking a square root, you get two possible answers: positive or
negative. Since our motorcyclist will still be going in the direction of motion it
started with and we assumed that direction was positive, we'll choose the
positive answer vx​ = +√​v​ 2​0x + 2ax​ Δx .

Now we can plug in values to get

 m
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v​x = √​​(23.4 m/s)2​ + 2(−3.20 ​ 2 )(50.2 m) (Plug in known values.)

 s​

vx​ = 15.0 m/s (Calculate and celebrate!)

Kinematic formulas and projectile motion

Average velocity for constant acceleration

Acceleration of aircraft carrier take-off

Airbus A380 take-off distance

Deriving displacement as a function of time, acceleration, and

initial velocity

Plotting projectile displacement, acceleration, and velocity

Projectile height given time

Deriving max projectile displacement given time

Impact velocity from given height

Viewing g as the value of Earth's gravitational field near the

surface

What are the kinematic formulas?

Choosing kinematic equations

Practice: Setting up problems with constant acceleration

Practice: Kinematic formulas in one-dimension

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Next tutorial
Old videos on projectile motion

Questions Top
Recent
Tips & Thanks

I don't know why but I find it weird that in the projectile version of the kinetic formulas we
always take the acceleration to be the acceleration due gravity, and not the acceleration at
which the body itself is undergoing. I mean the acceleration that the body has and not just
what it undergoes. When some one throws a ball into the air the ball has an initial
acceleration caused by the throw, so what I'm trying to understand is why that part is left
out .
Would really appreciate it if someone… (more)


•
28 votes


•
1 comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

Akhil Pamburayam

Once you let it go, there's nothing pushing it anymore.

Let's say you're throwing a rock using your hand.
The acceleration starts and is greater when you first move the rock in your hand,
because it's when the velocity changes the most, but just before you let it go, the
speed is greater than before, but the acceleration is already very small. So when you
finally let it go, there's nothing pushing it upwards anymore, just the gravity pulling
down.



•
52 votes


•
1 comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

Otávio Pascutti

Show all 4 answers •

Answer this question

the a = -9.81 m/s^2 always gets me. I am unsure when to change it to negative and when
to keep it positive. Can someone clear that up in more detail for me please? For instance, if
I dropped a package from a helicopter, my acceleration would be free falling due to gravity
so it would be 9.81 m/s^2. However, if I throw a rock up, my acceleration would be -9.81 or
positive 9.81? Thanks in advance.

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7 votes


•
Comment •
Flag 12 months ago
by

ronniesokha

Good question: its important to keep things clear.

The answer is maybe not what you expect: it could be either - or + because it
depends...

it only depends on which direction has been defined as positive in the situation (or
question) you are considering.

Usually up is positive, thats why acceleration due to gravity is usually negative.

but if you start a question like the one you describe where the acceleration is given as
+9.81, then treat ALL downward vectors as positive. and all upward… (more)
9 votes


•
2 comments •
Flag 12 months ago
by

Teacher Mackenzie (UK)

Show all 2 answers •

Answer this question

I understand that these equations are only for acceleration being constant. I looked ahead
and I noticed that acceleration being constant is a lot of the content ahead. Will there be
any equations where we can find the other variables (time, distance, etc) where the
acceleration is not constant? And if so, what are those equations and how can we get
them?
6 votes


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Comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

lolchessru

You will work with variable acceleration in calculus. You will learn how to do this when
you do differential calculus. You will learn this when you apply derivatives.
3 votes


•
Comment •
Flag about a year ago
by

Arjun Kavungal

Show all 2 answers •

Answer this question

How to derive equations of motion by using calculus ?

4 votes


•
Comment •
Flag 12 months ago
by

AYUSH RAI

For projectile motion, start with acceleration being constant g.

a(t) = g

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion/kinematic-formulas/a/what-are-the-kinematic-formulas[9/21/2017 5:11:44 PM]

What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

Integrate a(t) to get v(t)

v(t) = ∫ g dt = gt + vₒ (vₒ is initial velocity when t=0)
Integrate v(t) to get s(t)
s(t) = ∫(gt + vₒ) dt = 1/2gt² + vₒt + sₒ (sₒ is initial position when t=0)
This is for vertical motion. For horizontal motion do the same thing except make a(t) =
0.
This works for any general case of acceleration a(t), doesn't have to be constant.
6 votes


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2 comments •
Flag 12 months ago
by

Mark Zwald

Is quadratic formula necessary as used in the example with the third formula? I completed
the problem without using the quadratic formula and I was wondering if this was an inferior
strategy.
4 votes


•
1 comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

GJulianna2000

If you completed the problem without the quadratic formula, then you proved it is not
necessary. But you may find other problems where you need it.
5 votes


•
1 comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

Andrew M

How do you derive these equations using calculus?

2 votes


•
Comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

ksunny

You start with an equation for acceleration and then you integrate it once wrt time to
get velocity, and again to get displacement.
Or start with an equation for displacement and take the derivative wrt time once to get
velocity and again to get acceleration. I'll do this here:

s = 1/2at^2 + ut
v = ds/dt = at + u
a = dv/dt = a

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion/kinematic-formulas/a/what-are-the-kinematic-formulas[9/21/2017 5:11:44 PM]

What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

7 votes


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Comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

Andrew M

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Answer this question

I've seen a different list of five kinetic variables with position as one of them. Is there one
standard list of "the" five kinetic variables that I should know? Or is it more subjective and
situational?
1 vote


•
Comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

Kyle Delaney

I don't think you should look for such a list, try and understand the most important
concepts like position, velocity (how position changes over time) and acceleration
(how velocity changes over time). We can visually understand these three simply, you
probably already have an accurate intuition of how each should look like. Position is
merely an object's location in space; its also easy to notice when something has some
sort of velocity; About acceleration, its noticeable whenever the object's… (more)
5 votes


•
1 comment •
Flag 2 years ago
by

Rodrigo Campos

Could someone please explain in a step by step fashion; how to solve for Vf in the first
kinematic equation:
a=vf-v0/delta t.
I cannot seem to be able to wrap my mind around the manipulation.

Thank you.
1 vote


•
1 comment •
Flag 7 months ago
by

mazzapants140894

Easy. Multiply both sides by delta t. You have a(t) = v-vo. Then use algebra. Add vo to
both sides of the equation to end up with vo + a(t) = vf.
5 votes


•
Comment •
Flag 5 months ago
by

Thyatira.Thompson

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion/kinematic-formulas/a/what-are-the-kinematic-formulas[9/21/2017 5:11:44 PM]

What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

the gravity magnitude for the free fall is always -9.81 ?

1 vote


•
2 comments •
Flag about a year ago
by

RAQ2016

Near the surface of the Earth, yes. Not other places. Pretty much all high school
physics problems will assume the Earth's gravity will be constant near the surface of
the Earth. In reality, the acceleration will get weaker the further from the surface you
get, but accounting for this change makes the problems considerably more difficult.
But the approximation of g as a constant 9.81 m/s² is a very good one as long as your
distance from the Earth's surface is very small compared to the… (more)
4 votes


•
Comment •
Flag about a year ago
by

Mark Zwald

In example 3, where the pencil is being thrown upward, should g = +9.8 m/s^2 or -9.8
m/s^2 ? I thought it should be positive (upward), but here it is negative. Could someone
explain this to me.
2 votes


•
Comment •
Flag 4 months ago
by

Arunabh Bhattacharya

For this situation (any most situations), any vector that point UP or to the RIGHT is
taken as positive.

Whilst the initial vertical VELOCITY vector is upwards and therefore positive, the force
of graviy is always downwards, and therefore (F=ma) the acceleration is always
downward and negative.

(Note: when the velocity vector and acceleration vectors are in opposite direct this
means that the object is slowing down. When the pencil starts to fall, the velocity and
acceleration are in the same… (more)
2 votes


•
2 comments •
Flag 4 months ago
by

Teacher Mackenzie (UK)

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Answer this question

Show more comments

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What are the kinematic formulas? (article) | Khan Academy

Viewing g as the value of Earth's gravitational field near the surface

Choosing kinematic equations

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https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion/kinematic-formulas/a/what-are-the-kinematic-formulas[9/21/2017 5:11:44 PM]