Kinematics: One dimension Motion

Introduction:
In this chapter we will study the motion of bodies in one dimension. This means that we will
restrict ourselves in analyzing the motion of systems moving on straight lines.

Kinematics is the description of the motion in terms of knowing the location of the object, its
velocity and acceleration no matter what could cause the motion.

The description of the motion of an object is not always simple and depends on the system
that we study. However, it is sometimes possible to represent the system by a point, which is
much easier to analyze.

In the present chapter, we will be dealing only with systems that can be represented by a
point, and moving on straight line.

For example a sliding box on a surface (Figure 1) can be represented by the motion of a point;
any point on the box is representative of the whole box. However, the case of a rolling disc is
completely different, as it can be seen in Figure 2, the motion of the disc center, which
describes a straight path, is different from the motion a point on the rim of the disc, which
describes a curved path.

Figure 1 Figure 2
Note that the motion of systems that could change their shape during the motion, like for
example a moving paste, is out of the scope of this course.

Position and Displacement:

In our daily life, whenever we want to get to any location in where we have never been, we
use to locate it with respect to another known location, which means that we refer to a place
or location we know in order to define the new place or location. In kinematics, we need to
define a system of reference with respect to which we analyze the motion. The system of
reference in the case of a straight line motion consists of:

An origin of the system and a unit vector placed on an oriented straight line, on which the
path of the moving object has to occur, as shown in Figure 3.
i
X X
M’ O M
Figure 3
Any location of the moving object is located by an abscissa x (t), where t is the time at which
the object is at the location x. Mathematically, we represent the location of the object at the
point M by the Position vector OM given by:

OM x (t )i

where x(t) is the abscissa of the point at the time t.

The object could change its location with the time. If the new location of the object at later
time t’ is at the point M’, we say that the object moved from the point M to the point M’ or
that the object displaced from the point M to the pint M’, we can define the displacement
vector by:

MM ' OM ' OM ( x' (t ) x (t ))i xi

As we can see, the displacement vector is the change of the object’s position vector.

Speed:
The motion of the object can be quick or slow depending upon the time spent to travel a given
distance. To measure the quickness or the slowness of any motion, we have to estimate the
distance travelled by the object in a given time interval, this is what defines the speed. In fact,
we can define the average speed by:

l
s av
t

where l is the distance travelled during the time interval t.

The average speed, however doesn’t tell us if the object stopped during the trip, or if the
object changed its direction during the motion for any reason. The average speed gives us
only general information on how quick or slow is the overall object’s motion in the totality of
the trip.
i
X X X X
O M2 M0 M1 M3
Figure 4

For example, in Figure 4 we have successive positions M0, M1, M2 and M3 of an object
moving on a straight line. The average speed of the object during the time interval ( t = t3 –
l
t0). is given by sav , where the distance l is:
t

l = M0 M1 + M1 M2 + M2 M3

In contrast to the average speed which only gives us general information on the motion, more
details on how the motion is fast or slow, at every moment can be obtained from the
instantaneous speed, which can be defined as:
 dl
s
dt

One can notice that an object can have a high instantaneous speed but still, its average speed
very small.

As we can see, the speed or average speed is a scalar quantity.

Velocity:
Another quantity that sounds like a speed is named the average velocity, which gives the rate
of change of the displacement with respect to time:

x
vav i vav i
t

vav is the algebraic component of the velocity vector, while the sign indicates the direction of
the motion on the oriented axis. If vav is positive, the object is moving in the positive
direction, otherwise, the object is moving in the negative direction.

In the case of a motion in one dimension, we sometimes give the name of velocity to its
algebraic component vav.

For example, the average velocity in the previous example is:

x M 0M 3
vav i vav i
t t

The average velocity does not only inform us the overall slowness or quickness of the motion,
but it also gives us the overall direction of the motion.

As depicted in Figure 5, the average velocity is equal

to the slope of the line that joins the initial and final
x (L) A2
points, and is expressed as: x2 X

x x2 x1 A1
vav
t t2 t1 x1 X

An instantaneous velocity can also be defined and

is given by:
O
x dx t1 t2 t (T)
v lim
t dt Figure 5
t 0

From the graph of x(t), the instantaneous velocity at a given time t is given by the slope of the
tangent at that time.
Note that while the magnitude of the average velocity can be different from the average
speed, the magnitude of the instantaneous velocity is equal to the instantaneous speed,
namely: v = s.

L
The dimension for the speed and velocity is Length/Time: , and the international unit of it
T
is m s-1.

Acceleration:
In many cases, the velocity can change in magnitude or/and direction with respect to the time.
It is useful to define in such cases the rate of the velocity change, which defines the
acceleration.

Let’s consider that the velocity of the object is v1x at the instant t1 and v2x at later time t2, the
average acceleration is then given by:

vx
aav i
t

Again, in the case of a motion in one dimension, we sometimes give the name of acceleration
to its algebraic component aav.

The average acceleration can be directly calculated from the graph of vx(t), as depicted in
Figure 6:
v(L/T)
vx v x2 v x1 v2 X
aav
t t2 t1

An instantaneous acceleration can also be defined, v1 X

and is given by:

vx dv x d 2x
ax lim
t dt dt 2
t 0 O
t1 t2 t (T)
Figure 6
Example:
Below at the top side of Figure 7, are given four different schematics (a), (b), (c) and (d) of
the motion of an object along a straight line. The position of the object and its instantaneous
velocity are represented for each scheme. At the bottom side, possible graphs (1), (2), (3) and
(4) of the position versus time x(t) are represented . You are asked to match every scheme
with every graph. Explain.
 i
O
(a)

i
O
(b)

i
O
(c)

i
O
(d)

x (L) x (L) x (L) x (L)

O O O O
t (T) t (T) t (T) t (T)
(1) (3) (4)
(2)

Figure 7

Special case: Motion on straight line at constant acceleration.

Figure 8 shows the case of motion with constant acceleration; acceleration has same
magnitude and direction: keeps same magnitude and same direction all the time.

Since ax is considered constant, we have:

dv x vx vx2 v x1 dv x vx v v0 x
ax , taking t1 = 0 and t2 = t, we get a x
dt t t2 t1 dt t t

From the equation above, we can find the equation

that relates velocity to time, which is given by:

v a x t v0 x
 ax (L/T2)

ax = const.
where v0x is the velocity of the object at t = 0 (T).

The value of the acceleration can be derived from

O
the slope of the curve vx(t) which is a straight line. t (T)
Figure 8
The time dependence of the position x(t), can be found using the following arguments:

x x x0 v v0 x axt 2v0 x
vav
t t 2 2

The last equality is valid for constant acceleration, where the time dependence of the velocity
is linear.

From the above equations, we get the time dependence of the position which is given by the
following equation:

1 2
x axt v0 x t x0
2

In the other hand, we can eliminate the time from the above equation to obtain a specific
equation that relates velocity and acceleration, which is:

v2 v02 2a x ( x x0 )
vx (L/T) x (L)
A2
vx2 X

A1
vx1 X

O O t1 t2
t1 t2 t (T) t (T)
Figure 9 Figure 10

Free fall:
The free fall is an interesting case where the acceleration is taken to be constant. We have to
assume however, that:

i. The motion of the objects occurs near the earth surface, so that there is no practical
variation of the gravitation,

ii. All kinds of frictions are negligible.

In such an environment, a feather and a metal ball will reach the earth surface

at the same time when left falling freely from the same level at the same time.
 y(L)

g
The motion in this case occurs along a vertical line; usually the positive direction for

the motion is chosen to be upward, so that the gravitation acceleration is negative

in this configuration, namely: ay = -g = -9.80 m s-2.

Example:
A stone is thrown vertically from a point that is 1.00 meter above the ground,
j
the highest point it reached is 6.00 meters higher.
O
a. Find the initial speed of the stone.
Figure 11
b. At what speed it reaches the ground when it returns.

c. What is the time spent from the time it was thrown up to the time it finally reached the

ground.

d. What is the average velocity of the stone from the time it was thrown to the time it
reached the ground.

e. What is the average speed of the stone from the time it was thrown to the time it
reached the ground.

f. Plot the graphs v(t) and y(t).

To find the initial speed of the stone, we can use the relationship:

v2 v02 2g ( y y0 ) 2g y

At the highest point, the speed v = 0.00 m s-1, so the initial speed is given by:

v0 2g y 2 9.80 6.0 10.8 s-1.

The stone reaches the ground at y = 0.00 m so y = -1.00 m, the same equation can be used:

v2 v02 2g ( y y0 ) 2g y v v02 2g y 10.82 2 9.80 1.0 11.7 s-1.

To find the time spent from the time it was thrown up to the time it finally reached the ground
we solve the equation:

v0 v
v gt v0 t 2.29 s.
g

We could have solved the following equation to get the time, namely:

1 2
0 gt v0 t y0 4.90t 2 10.8t 1.00 . By solving the equation for t will give us t = 2.29 s
2
(the second solution to the equation is not acceptable).

The average velocity from t = 0.00s to t = 2.29s:

 y y y0 0 1 1
By definition vav 0.437 m s
t t 2.29

The average speed from t = 0.00s to t = 2.29s:

if l is the distance travelled during the time interval t, then:

l
sav , the total distance travelled is l = 6.00+7.00 = 13.0 m, so:
t

l 13.0
s av 5.68 ms-1.
t 2.29

Plots of v(t) and y(t) are given in figures 12 and 13 respectively.

10
6
5
v(m /s)

4
y(m)

-5 2

-10 0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

t(s) t(s)

Figure 12 Figure 13

Motion analysis:
Sometimes, it is preferable to find the speed and the displacement of an object from the record
of time dependence of its acceleration. We go from the acceleration to the velocity by time
integration of the acceleration, namely:
t2
dv x
ax vx 2 v x1 a x dt
dt t1

if the mathematical form of ax(t) is not simple to be derived , it would be possible to

graphically compute the velocity change from the graph ax(t). It is given by the area
comprised between the curve of ax(t), the time axis and the instants t1 and t2, as shown in
Figure 14.
Similarly, it is possible to compute the displacement of an object if the velocity as a function
of time:
t2
dx
vx x2 x1 v x dt
dt t1
 Figure 15 below illustrates how to compute the displacement of an object between the
instances t1 and t2.

ax (L/T2) vx (L/T)
A2 B2
ax2 X vx2 X

A1 B1
ax1 X X
vx1
vx = Dashed area x = Dashed area

O O
t1 t2 t (T) t1 t2 t (T)
Figure 14 Figure 15

Relative motion:
In all what we have seen above, we assumed that the reference frame is not moving with
respect to any other reference frame.

Suppose you are in a train T that is moving along a straight line at a constant speed with
respect to the rail station RS. Any passenger that is at rest in the train will have the same
speed as the train with respect to the train station. However, a passenger P that is moving in
the same direction of the train motion (to change the compartment for example) is moving
faster than the train with respect to the train station.

If we attach to the train at a certain point O’ a reference frame (O’x’), in which the train is at
rest, and we attach another reference frame (Ox) to the rail station at a certain point O, in
which the rail station is at rest, it is easy to show that:

vT/RS
vP/RS
O’ i
xO’ vP/T
xP’

Rail Station xP
i
O
Figure 16
 x' P xP xO ' vP / T v P / RS vT / RS

If the velocity of the train with respect to the rail station is constant, both frames will have
rectilinear uniform motions with respect to each other, the above relations can be rewritten in
the following forms:

x' P xP vT / RS t .

Exercises:

1. A particle moves along the x-axis. The time dependence of its position is given by the
equation: x t = 2.00 3.00t 4.00t 2 with x in meters and t in seconds. Determine:
a. Its position at the instant it changes direction
b. Its velocity when it returns to the position it had at t = 0.

2. A particle moves along the x-axis. The time dependence of its position is given by the
equation: x(t) 1.0t 3 -3.0t 2 -9.0t 5.0 with x in meters and t in seconds.
a. Plot the graphs of x(t), v(t) and a(t).
b. Determine the positions, the velocities and the accelerations of the particle at the
instants: 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 s.
c. What is the displacement of the particle between 0.0 s and 5.0 s?
d. What is the distance travelled by the particle between 0.0 s and 5.0 s?
e. What is the average speed of the particle between 0.0 s and 5.0 s?
f. What is the average velocity of the particle between 0.0 s and 5.0 s?

3. Let’s consider a rabbit which is a distance of 1000 m behind a tortoise. They both start
running at the same time and we assume that their motions are uniform. Knowing that the
rabbit runs 200 times faster than the tortoise.

a. What is the distance d1 between the tortoise and the rabbit when it has run the first
1000 m?
b. What is the distance d2 between the tortoise and the Rabbit when it has run the
distance d1 computed in the question a?
c. By keeping following the steps above, do you think that the Rabbit is going to
reach the tortoise? If so, at what distance is it going to reach it? If not so, say why?

4. Using the equations of the motion of the Rabbit and the tortoise in the previous exercise,
find the distance and the time at which the Rabbit reaches the tortoise.

5. A car and a train move together along parallel paths at 25.0 m/s, with the front of the car
adjacent to the rear of the train (Figure 17). Then, because of the red light, the car
undergoes a uniform acceleration of -2.5 m/s2 and comes to rest. It remains at rest for
50.0 s and then accelerates back to a speed of 25.0 m/s at rate of 2.5 m/s2. During all this
time, the train kept the same speed.
a- Plot on the same graph the velocity versus time of the train and the car (take the instant at
which the car begins decelerating as origin of time).

b- How far behind the rear of the train is the front of the car when it reaches the speed 25.0
m/s?

Figure 17

6. Let’s consider two blocks A and B, as shown in Figure 18. Initially A and B were distant
by a distance d = 20.0 m. At t = 0.00 s, A starts moving at a constant acceleration a =
2.00 m/s2 to the positive direction, two seconds later, at t1 = 2.00 s, B starts moving in the
same direction and with the same acceleration.

a. Assuming that the blocks A and B keep their motions unchanged, plot the velocities vA
(t) and vB (t) on the same graph,

Let t = t2 > t1, the time at which A and B are side by side.

b. Using only the graph you plotted, express t2 in terms of d, t1 and a. Calculate t2

Figure 18

At that moment t = t2, the motion of A becomes uniform while B keeps its motion unchanged.

c. Using other colors, plot vA (t) and vB (t) of A and B respectively on the same graph.
d. Find again the time t3 at which A and B are side by side again.
e. What are the velocities of A and B at that time?
f. Find the distance travelled by each block at that time.

7. Let’s consider a car driver A undertaking a curved path going from right to left at speed
of vA = 10 m/s on a one way road, as soon as he gets into the straight path he noticed
another car B moving to the opposite direction at a speed of vB = 20 m/s . The initial
distance separating the two cars is 90 m. Suppose that both drivers start braking after
their reaction times tR = 0.45 s has elapsed.

a. What is the separation distance between the two drivers at the time they started
braking?
 b. What should be their respective accelerations if they have to come to rest at the same
time at the same location? (Consider the cars as point like objects).
c. What is the distance travelled by every one of the two cars from the time they started
braking to the time they came to stop?

8. A boy wants to know how far above a window a ball is dropped with no initial speed. The
time needed for the ball to fall from the top side to the bottom side of the window 1.0 m
high, is t = 0.100 s.
a (m/s2)
How far above the ball was dropped?

2.0
9. Figure 19 gives the time dependence
of the acceleration of an object moving on a straight line. 1.0
We assume that initially at t = 0.0 s, the velocity
v0 = 0.0 m s-1 and the position x0 = 0.0 m. 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0
t(s)
a. Find the velocity of the object at Figure 19
t = 1.0 s, t = 4.0 s and t = 5.0 s.

b. Find the time dependence of the velocity in the interval: 0.0 s t 4.0 s.

c. In the interval 4.0 s t 6.0 s, the velocity has the form: v = t2 + t + . Determine
the constants , , and .

d. Plot the graph: v (t).

e. Find the average velocity in the time intervals: [2.0 s, 4.0 s] and [4.0 s, 6.0s].
f. Find the distance travelled by the object between t = 0.0 s and t = 8.0 s.

10. Here is given in Figure 20 the graph of the velocity versus the time v(t) of a particle
moving along a straight line starting from the origin x = 0.0 m.

a. Find the equation of the motion x(t) of the particle for each time interval.
b. Using the equation of the motion x(t), compute the positions of the particle: x5 at t = 5.0 s
and x6 at t = 6.0 s.
c. Check the values you found in question 4.0
(b) graphically from the plot v(t).
v (m/s)

d. Using two different methods, find 2.0

the average
velocity between the instants t = 1.0 s and
t = 4.0 s.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t (s)

Figure 20
11. The acceleration of a ball in a certain fluid moving along a straight line is proportional to
the square of its speed v and is given by a = -k v2 (m/s2) for v > 0, k is a positive constant.
a. What are the units of the constant k? Take k = 3.00 in its units.
b. If the ball enters the fluid with an initial speed of v0 = 1.50 m/s, how long will it take
before the ball’s speed is reduced to the half of its initial value?

12. The time dependence of the speed of a falling parachutist is given by:
kt
v v (v v )e m
l l 0

k and m being a constant and the mass of the parachutist respectively, and t is the time.
a. Plot the graph of the speed as a function of time v(t).
b. What is the unit of the constant k? What is the meaning of v0 and vl?
c. Calculate the acceleration of the parachutist a(t) and plot its graph.

d. Assuming that the parachutist starts falling with no initial speed, give the expression
of vl with respect to m, k and g.

13. A swimmer, who can swim at a speed of 1.2 m /s on still water, swims a distance of 1.0
km along a river then swims back to his starting point.

a. How long does the trip take if the river’s water were still?
b. How long does the trip take if the river has a steady speed of 0.50 m/s?

A B

Figure 21

14. In this exercise we consider the motion of a tramway of a length L = 45 m, with respect to
a car that is moving at a constant speed vc along a straight line. Both the tramway and the
car are moving in the same direction. We take two systems of reference: (S1) attached to
the ground at the point O, and (S2) attached to the front of the car at the point O’. At t =
0.0 s, both origins O an O’ coincide (Figure 21 a), at this moment the tramway initially at
rest and which rear R coincides with the front of the car O’, starts accelerating at a
constant acceleration a. Figure 22 b gives the position of the tramway at a time t 0.0 s.

Let x and x’ the positions of the rear R of the tramway with respect to O and O’ respectively
and xc the position of the car front O’ with respect to O (Figure 22 b).
a. Give the relationship that relates x to x’ and xc, then deduce the time dependence of
x’(t).
 b. Knowing that at t1 = 10 s the front of the car O’ coincides with the front F of the
tramway and later at t2 = 16 s the front of the car coincides with the rear R of the
tramway again.
Show that the car speed and the tramway acceleration are given by:

Lt 2 2L
vc a
t1 (t 2 t1 ) t1 ( t 2 t1 )

c. Compute the values of vc and a.

Direction of motion
motion
tramway
R F

t = 0.0 s
car
i
O
O’ Figure 22 a

R F
x
t 0.0 s
x’
xc

i i
O O’
Figure 22 b