Unit 1 Kinematics - 1 Dimension Notes
Unit 1 Kinematics - 1 Dimension Notes
Kinematics - 1 Dimension
1. Scalar vs. Vector
Scalar = a quantity represented by a magnitude ( a value)
- usually is written as a normal letter x, d
- examples: time, position, distance, speed, temperature
Vector = a quantity represented by the magnitude and a direction
- usually it's written in bold italics or with an arrow above the letter ⃗x , x
- examples: displacement velocity acceleration force
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2. POSITION, DISPLACEMENT, DISTANCE
Position = describes where an object is relative to the origin (vector)
Displacement = the change in position of an object (vector connecting the
initial and the final position, d or ∆x)
⃗ x f −⃗
∆ x=⃗ xi =⃗x −⃗
x0
Distance = the lenght of a path (scalar d or x [m]). If the path is a straight line
the distance equals displacement.
Example 1
A runner jogs from corner to corner around a square park of side lenght 100 m.
Calculate the distance jogged and the displacement.
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3. SPEED and VELOCITY
d
Speed = the rate at which distance is traveled (scalar v [m/s]) v=
t
v = speed [m/s]
d = distance [m]
t = time [s]
If the speed is not constant, this equation gives the average speed.
⃗d
Velocity = the rate of change of position (vector ⃗v [m/s]) ⃗v =
t
⃗v = velocity [m/s]
d⃗ = displacement [m]
t = time [s]
If the velocity is not constant, this equation gives the average velocity
Example 2
It takes 8 and 1/3 minutes for the sunlight to reach Earth. If light travels at 3 x 10 8
m/s how far away is the Sun?
4. ACCELERATION
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Acceleration is the rate of CHANGE of the velocity. Since velocity is the rate of
change in position (displacement), this means that acceleration is the rate of change
∆v v −v 0 change ∈velocity
of another rate. a= = =
∆t t time
Example 4
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Allyson Felix ran 100 meters in 10.89 s in London 2012 Olympics. As she starts from
rest, we can find out that she accelerates that a rate of 1.69 m/s2. What is her
velocity?
Steps Knows Unknown
1. Identify/list knowns and d =100 m v=?
unknowns. Draw a picture t = 10.89 s
with a reference frame v0 = 0 m/s
a = 1.69
m/s2
2. Choose the equation that
has the three knowns.
3. Simplify.
4. Algebraically manipulate
the equation for the
unknown.
Example 5
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Newton rolls a ball on the floor with an acceleration of 1.5 m/s2. If the ball starts from
rest and rolls for 8.0 s as how far does the ball travel?
Example 6
A Formula 1 car can increase its speed from 65 km/h to 95 km/h in 0.807s. What is
the acceleration of an F1 car?
5. Free Fall
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Free fall = when an object really moves only due to the acceleration of the gravity ag
or g. Acceleration due to the gravity (free fall acceleration) on Earth g = 9.8 m/s2.
Remember that down can be positive or negative depending on the reference frame.
2. If you have a hard time finding your knowns, remember that some things are
not stated explicitly:
free fall ag = 9.8 m/s2
start from rest v0 = 0 m/s
the object is dropped from a stationary position v0 = 0 m/s
the object reaches its peak vf = 0 m/s
the object in freefall initially moving upwards but returns to its
original position (height) v = - v0 and height = 0
3. If asked for the speed at which an object hits the ground, you are being asked
for the speed right before stopping.
Example 7
How far will a hammer fall after 3 s if it is dropped from rest?
Example 8
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A bullet is fired upwards from a rifle at 280 m/s. What is the maximum height that it
will reach?
Example 9
Mark throws the ball upwards at the speed of 23 m/s. How long does the ball take to
return to his hand?
6. Graphing Motion
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Position (displacement) vs. Time (p vs. t) graphs
Example 10
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Calculate the velocity for each part of the graph below and then fill in the velocity
time graph.
Example 11
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Estimate the instantaneous velocity at t = 5.0 s and the average velocity from 0 s to
10.0 s
The total area under the graph velocity vs. time equals the displacement (or
change in position), and the total area considering the absolute value (positive)
for the portion below the horizontal axis is the distance traveled.
Example 12
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Use the graph below to calculate the following:
a) The acceleration at t = 2.0 s a= -2.5 m/s2
b) The acceleration at t = 4.0 s a= -1.5 m/s2
c) The average acceleration from 0 s to 16 s (-0.56)
d) The total displacement d = - 55.5m
e) The total distance traveled d = 88.5
f) The average velocity from 0 s to 16.0 s vave = - 3.47 m/s
g) The average speed from 0 s to 16.0 s ave speed = 5.53 m/s
h) Complete the acceleration vs. time graph below
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