KINEMATICS

Lesson 3 Linear Motion

Learning Outcomes
In this lesson, you are expected to have:

a. Learned the concept and background of kinematics;

b. described the characteristics of linear motion including distance,
displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, instantaneous and average
speed, velocity and acceleration, and calculate these quantities from a
given set of experimental data;
c. Identified and explain the kinds of motion; and
d. Understand the steps in solving problems in kinematics.

Time Frame: 3 hours

Let’s begin
Motion is a fundamental observable phenomenon. The study of kinetics involves
describing, measuring analysing motion without considering the forces and masses
involved in that motion. Uniformly accelerated motion is described in terms of
relationship between measurable vector and scalar quantities, including displacement,
speed, velocity, acceleration and time.

Fuel the Thrill

Let’s discuss

Linear Motion

Linear motion refers to motion in a straight line. The motion of an object has been
described using the different quantities. You have studied the connections between
position, displacement, velocity, speed, acceleration and time. If we use the symbols to
represent the size of each quantity, you would come up with mathematical links
between these quantities.
Equations of motion are used to study the motion of an object travelling with a
constant acceleration in a straight line. In this section, you will look at how these
quantities are related to each other. Each of the four equations for motion with constant
acceleration connects four of the five variables, s, u, v, a and t. Problems can be solved
by selecting the suitable equation or combination of an equation that involves those
variables that are known and those that are not.

Equations of Linear Motion

There are four equations that link together the important factors required to
define any particular motion. The quantities with their symbols and the units are given in
the table below.

Quantity Quantity symbol Unit Unit symbol

Displacement s meters m
Initial velocity u meters per second m/s or ms-1
Final velocity v meters per second m/s or ms-1
Acceleration a meters per second per second m/s/s or ms-2
Time t second s
Table of quantities and symbols

You may use different equations to solve word problems when dealing with
motion in straight line. The four equations, which can easily be rearranged into different
forms, are given below.

First equation
If a body is moving with a uniform acceleration a and its velocity increases from u
to v in time t then;
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒗−𝒖
a= =
𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒕

at = v – u

v = u + at

Note that the initial velocity u and the final velocity v refer to the start and finish of the
timing and do not necessarily mean the start and finish of the motion.

Second equation
The velocity of the body moving with uniform acceleration increases steadily. Its
average velocity therefore, equals the sum of its initial and final velocities, that is;
𝒖+𝒗
Average velocity =
𝟐

If s is the distance moved in time t, since average velocity = distance /time =

s/t, then
𝒔 𝒖+𝒗
=
𝒕 𝟐

𝒖+𝒗
s = t
𝟐
Third equation

If you substitute equation (1) into equation (2)

𝒖+𝒗
s = t
𝟐

(𝒖+𝒖+𝒂𝒕)𝒕
s = 𝟐

𝟐𝒖𝒕+𝒂𝒕²
s = 𝟐

𝟏
This gives: s = ut + at²
𝟐

Fourth equation

From equation (1) we have:

v = u + at
𝒗−𝒖
t= 𝒂

Substitute the above into equation (2) by replacing (t) and cross multiply.
𝒖+𝒗
s= t
𝟐

𝒖+𝒗 𝒗−𝒖
s= x
𝟐 𝒂

𝒗²−𝒖²
s= 𝟐𝒂

2as = v² - u²

Therefore v² = u² + 2as

Steps in solving word problems

1. Read the problem very carefully and make sure you understand it.
2. List the quantities given.
3. Identify the unknown quantity that is to be determined.
4. Choose the appropriate formulae to solve the problem. In choosing the formula you
must ensure that all the quantities are given except one.
5. Make the unknown become the subject of the formula.
6. Substitute the known quantities and simplify.
7. Write down the correct answer with the units.
 It is necessary to know how to derive the equations of motion shown. The text
does give you some idea of how to derive the equation. It is also necessary to learn the
equations by heart. The important thing is to be able to solve problems using these
equations. If you know any of the three of suvat, then you can work out the other two
easily.

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS TO REMEMBER

• Note: These formulae apply when the acceleration is constant and the motion is
in a straight line. Velocity, acceleration and displacement are vector quantities
and therefore may be positive or negative.

Example 1
A car starting from rest reaches a velocity of 20ms-1 in 10 seconds. Assuming that the
acceleration is constant, calculate the:
(a) acceleration and
(b) distance travelled in this time interval.

Solution

u = 0 (at rest), v = 20ms-1, t= 10s, a =?

v = u + at
𝑣−𝑢
a= 𝑡

20−0
a= 10

a = 2 m/s²

Example 2
“A car starts from rest, and accelerates steadily at 3m/s2. How far must it travel before
it is moving at 30m/s?”
In this example, u = 0m/s; v = 30m/s, and a = 3m/s2, so the fourth equation is suitable.

Substituting the correct values into the equation again:

v² = u²+2as

30² = 0 + 2 × 3 × s

Therefore s = 30²/6 = 150m, so the car must travel a distance of 150 meters before it is
moving at 30m/s.
Example 3

A motorbike starting from rest reaches a velocity of 20m/s in 10 seconds. Assuming that
acceleration is constant, calculate the

a) acceleration and

b) distance travelled in this time interval.

Solution

u = 0 (starting from rest), v = 20m/s ,t = 10 s ,a = ?, s = ?

𝑣−𝑢 20−0 20
a) a = = = = 2 m/s²
𝑡 10 10

1 1
b) s = ut + 2 at² = 0 + 2 2 x 10 x 10 = 100 m

Untwist the loop

(Copy and answer in a long bondpaper. Submit it via Google classroom.)

1. A body starts from rest and reaches a velocity of 5m/s after travelling with uniform
acceleration for 2s. Calculate its acceleration.

2. A body starts rest and moves with a uniform acceleration of 2m/s² in straight line.
a) What is its velocity after 5s?
b) How far has it travelled in this time?
c) When will it be 100m from the starting point?

3. A car accelerates from 4m/s² to 20m/s² in 8s. How far does it travel in time?

4. A motor cyclist travelling at 12m/s decelerates at 3m/s².

a) How long does it take?
b) How far does he travel in coming to rest?

5. A sports car accelerates from rest at 4m/s² for 10s. Calculate;

a) its final velocity.
 b) the distance travelled.

6. A girl on a bicycle accelerates uniformly from rest to 10m/s in a distance of 50m.

Find:
a) her acceleration.
b) the time taken

7. A fighter plane lands on the deck of an aircraft carrier at a velocity of 60m/s and is
brought to rest in 2 seconds by an arrester wire.
a) What is the acceleration?
b) How far does it travel in this time?

8. A train increases speed steadily from 10m/s to 20m/s in 1 minute.

a) What is its average speed during this time in m/s?
b) How far does it travel while increasing its speed?

9. A boat starts from rest and has a uniform acceleration of 2m/s². Calculate the time
taken and the distance travelled to attain a velocity of 20m/s.

10. A car with a velocity of 12m/s takes 6s to come to rest when the brakes are applied.
Find its:
a) its acceleration.
b) its deceleration.
c) the distance it covers in coming to rest.

Speak your mind

Extend your horizon

Further Readings

Gibilisco, S. (2002). Physics Demystified, New York, McGraw Hill

OpenStax College (2012). College Physics.OpenStax College, Rice Univesity.
http://cnx.org/content/co.l11406/latest/

References

Cutnell, J.D. and Johnson K.W. (2010). Introduction to Physics, 8th Edition, International
Student Version. John Wiley & Sons, Inc