Lecture two

Motion in One Dimension

In this lecture we discuss motion in one dimension. We introduce definitions for
displacement, velocity and acceleration, and derive equations of motion for bodies
moving in one dimension with constant acceleration. We apply these equations to
the situation of a body moving under the influence of gravity alone.
Displacement
 Average Velocity
 Instantaneous Velocity
 Acceleration
 One Dimensional Motion with Constant Acceleration
o Derivation of Kinematic Equations of Motion
o Freely Falling Bodies
 Problems

Displacement

Definition: Displacement is change in position, = - (2-1)

where is the final position and is the initial position. The arrow indicates
that displacement is a vector quantity: it has direction and magnitude. In 1
dimension, there are only two possible directions which can be specified
with either a plus or a minus sign. Other examples of vectors are velocity,
acceleration and force. In contrast, scalar quantities have only magnitude.
Some examples of scalars are speed, mass, temperature and energy.
Average Velocity
Definition: Average Velocity is displacement over total time. Mathematically:

= (2-2)
Note:
 the over bar is frequently used to denote an average quantity
 t is always > 0 so the sign of depends only on the sign of x.
Graphical interpretation of velocity: Consider 1-d motion from point P (with
coordinates xi , ti ) to point Q (at xf , tf ). We can plot the trajectory on a graph
(see Figure 2.1).
Figure 2.1: Graphical interpretation of velocity

Then from Eq.(2.2) is just the slope of the line joining P and Q.
Instantaneous Velocity
Definition: Instantaneous velocity is defined mathematically:

v (2-3)
Example: Table 2.1 gives data on the position of a runner on a track at various
times.
Table 2.1: Position and time for a runner.
t(s) x(m)
1.00 1.00
1.01 1.02
1.10 1.21
1.20 1.44
1.50 2.25
2.00 4.00
3.00 9.00
Find the runner's instantaneous velocity at t = 1.00 s. As a first estimate, find the
average velocity for the total observed part of the run. We have,

= = = 4 m/s.
From the definition of instantaneous velocity Eq.(2.3), we can get a better
approximation by taking a shorter time interval. The best approximation we can get
from this data gives,

= = = 2 m/s.
We can interpret the instantaneous velocity graphically as follows. Recall that the
average velocity is the slope of the line joining P and Q (from Figure 2.1). To get
the instantaneous velocity we need to take t 0, or P Q. When P Q, the line
joining P and Q approaches the tangent to the curve at P (or Q). Thus the slope of
the tangent at P is the instantaneous velocity at P. Note that if the trajectory were a
straight line, we would get v = , the same for all t .
Note:
 Instantaneous velocity gives more information than average velocity.
 The magnitude of the velocity (either average or instantaneous) is referred to
as the speed.
Acceleration
Definition: Average acceleration is the change in velocity over the change
in time:

(2-4)
=
Definition: Instantaneous acceleration is calculated by taking shorter and
shorter time intervals, i.e. taking t 0:

(2-5)
a
Note:
 Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
 When velocity and acceleration are in the same direction, speed
increases with time. When velocity and acceleration are in opposite
directions, speed decreases with time.
 Graphical interpretation of acceleration: On a graph of v versus t , the
average acceleration between P and Q is the slope of the line between
P and Q, and the instantaneous acceleration at P is the tangent to the
curve at P.
 From now on ``velocity'' and ``acceleration'' will refer to the
instantaneous quantities.

One Dimensional Motion with Constant Acceleration

Constant acceleration means velocity increases or decreases at the same rate
throughout the motion. Example: an object falling near the earth's surface
(neglecting air resistance).
 Derivation of Kinematic Equations of Motion
 Freely Falling Bodies
Derivation of Kinematic Equations of Motion
Choose ti 0, xi 0, vi v0 , and write xf x , vf v and tf t.

a = constant a = . Then Eq.(2.4) a= or

v = v0 + at (2-6)
a = constant v changes uniformly = (v0 + v). From Eq.(2.2)
= x/t . Combining: x = t = (v0 + v)t . Using Eq.(2.6) we get:

(2-7)
2
x = v0t + at
Eq.(2.6) t = (v - v0)/a . Substitute into Eq.(2.7) x = (v + v0)(v - v0)/(2a)
or,

v 2 = v02 + 2ax (2-8)

 Note that only two of these equations are independent.
Freely Falling Bodies
A freely falling object is an object that moves under the influence of gravity only.
Neglecting air resistance, all objects in free fall in the earth's gravitational field
have a constant acceleration that is directed towards the earth's center, or
perpendicular to the earth's surface, and of magnitude | | g = 9.8 m/s 2. If motion
is straight up and down and we choose a coordinate system with the positive y-axis
pointing up and perpendicular to the earth's surface, we describe the motion with
Eq.(2.6), Eq.(2.7), Eq.(2.8) with a - g , x y .
Equations of Motion for the 1-d vertical motion of an object in free fall:
 v = v0 - gt

 y = v0t - gt 2
2 2
 v = v0 - 2gy
Note: Since the acceleration due to gravity is the same for any object, a heavy
object does not fall faster than a light object.

Problems
Problem 2.1
A car travelling at a constant speed of 30 m/s passes a police car at rest. The
policeman starts to move at the moment the speeder passes his car and accelerates
at a constant rate of 3.0 m/ s 2 until he pulls even with the speeding car. Find a) the
time required for the policeman to catch the speeder and b) the distance travelled
during the chase.
Solution:
We are given, for the speeder:
v0s = 30 m/s = v s
as = 0
and for the policeman:
v0p =
a p = 3.0 m/s 2.
a)
Distance travelled by the speeder x s = v st = (30)t . Distance travelled
by policeman x p = v0p + a pt 2 = (3.0)t 2. When the policeman catches
the speeder x s = x p or,

30t = (3.0)t 2.
Solving for t we have t = 0 or t = (30) = 20 s . The first solution tells
us that the speeder and the policeman started at the same point at t = 0,
and the second one tells us that it takes 20 s for the policeman to catch
up to the speeder.

b)
Substituting back in above we find,

x s = 30(20) = 600 m
and,

x p = (3.0)(20)2 = 600 m = x s.
Problem 2.2
A car decelerates at 2.0 m/s 2 and comes to a stop after travelling 25 m. Find a) the
speed of the car at the start of the deceleration and b) the time required to come to
a stop.
Solution:
We are given:
a = - 2.0 m/s 2
v =
x = 25 m
a)
From v 2 = v02 + 2ax we have v02 = v 2 - 2ax = - 2(- 2.0)(25) = 100 m 2/s
2
or v0 = 10 m/s.
b)
From v = v0 + at we have t = (v - v0) = (- 10) = 5 s.
Problem 2.3
A stone is thrown vertically upward from the edge of a building 19.6 m high with
initial velocity 14.7 m/s. The stone just misses the building on the way down. Find
a) the time of flight and b) the velocity of the stone just before it hits the ground.

Solution:
We are given,

v0 = 14.7 m/s
a = - 9.8 m/s 2
At the time the stone hits the ground,

x = - 19.6 m
a)
From x = v0t + at 2 we have,

t=

=
(- 14.7 24.5).
The two solutions are t = 4 s and t = - 1 s. The second (negative)
solution gives the time the stone would have left the ground, and is
unphysical in this case. The solution we want is the first one.
b)
We substitute to find v = v0 + at = 14.7 - 9.8(4) = - 24.5 m/s. Note that
the negative velocity correctly shows that the stone is moving down.
Problem 2.4
A rocket moves upward, starting from rest with an acceleration of 29.4 m/s 2 for
4 s. At this time, it runs out of fuel and continues to move upward. How high does
it go?

Solution:
For the first stage of the flight we are given:

v0 = ?
a = 29.4 m/s 2
t = 4 s
This gives, for the velocity and position at the end of the first stage of the
flight: v1 = v0 + at = 29.4 m/s 2(4 s ) = 117.6 m/s and x1 = v0t + at 2 =
(29.4)(4)2 = 235.2 m.

For the second stage of the flight we start with,

v1 = 117.6 m/s
a = - 9.8 m/s 2
and end up with v2 = 0. We want to find the distance travelled in the second
stage (x2 - x1). We have,

v22 - v12 = 2a(x2 - x1)

(x2 - x1) =
(v22 - v 21)
=
(- (117.6)2)
= 705.6 m.
Therefore x2 = x1 + 705.6 = 235.2 + 705.6 = 940.8 m.