Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

Lesson 3.3
Uniform Acceleration
Contents
Introduction 1

Learning Objectives 2

Warm Up 2

Learn about It! 3

Acceleration 3
Instantaneous Acceleration 4
Constant Velocity vs. Constant Acceleration 4
Constant Acceleration Equations 5
Equation 1: Displacement-Independent Equation 5
Equation 2: Acceleration-Independent Equation 6
Equation 3: Final Velocity-Independent Equation 6
Equation 4: Time-Independent Equation 7
Converting Verbal Descriptions to Mathematical Equations 8

Key Points 11

Key Formulas 11

Check Your Understanding 12

Challenge Yourself 13

Bibliography 14
Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

Lesson 3.3
Uniform Acceleration

Introduction
Looking at the image above, we can say that the car is traveling fast as it is in a race
competition, and it covers a certain distance in a short exposure of the camera. When we
watch a race car competition or any other racing competition, all of the participants start
from rest. For them to move, they have to accelerate from rest. In this lesson, we will be
discussing how objects move at constant acceleration in one dimension. We will be
idealizing situations to describe how an object traveling at constant acceleration behaves.

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

Learning Objectives DepEd Competencies

In this lesson, you should be able to do the ● Convert a verbal description of a

following: physical situation involving
uniform acceleration in one
● Recognize whether or not a physical
dimension into a mathematical
situation involves constant velocity or description

constant acceleration. (STEM_GP12Kin-Ib-12).

● Recognize whether or not a
● Convert a verbal description of a physical situation involves
physical situation involving uniform constant velocity or constant

acceleration in one dimension into a acceleration

(STEM_GP12Kin-Ib-13).
mathematical description.

Warm Up
RC Cars! 10 minutes
In this activity, you will compare the behavior of an object that moves at constant velocity
and non-constant velocity.

Materials
● remote control cars
● chalk
● meter stick
● stopwatch

Procedure
1. Measure a five-meter distance.
2. Mark the starting line and the finish line using chalk.
3. Place the remote control cars at the starting line.
4. Assign timers for each RC car to measure the time it takes to reach the finish line.

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

5. The first RC to reach the finish line wins.

6. Answer the following guide questions.

Guide Questions
1. Did the cars move at a constant velocity?
2. Do you think the cars accelerated during their travel?
3. What modifications can you do to your car to lessen the time it takes for it to reach
the endpoint?

Learn about It!

How can we say that an object is accelerating?

Acceleration
Acceleration is defined as the rate of change in the velocity of an object. It can be
mathematically expressed as

Equation 3.3.1

such that is the average acceleration, is the change in the velocity of the object,
is the elapsed time. It can also be written as , since the initial time is often set to zero.

To accurately describe an accelerating object, we have to use the pieces of information from
Equation 3.3.1. pertains to the change in velocity of the object. From the previous
lesson, we knew that if an object does not move at a constant velocity, the object is
accelerating. We also noted that the instantaneous velocity could tell whether the object is
accelerating or not. If the velocity changes, acceleration takes place.

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

In general, we can say that an object is accelerating if any of the following conditions are
fulfilled:
1. The magnitude of velocity is changing.
2. The direction of the motion is changing.
3. Both the magnitude and direction of the velocity are changing.

Instantaneous Acceleration
It will also be helpful to define the quantity instantaneous acceleration in this lesson. Just
like instantaneous velocity, instantaneous acceleration is defined as the acceleration of an
object in an instant. We will explore it in detail when we discuss motion graphs. For the sake
of this lesson, we define instantaneous acceleration as

Equation 3.3.2
.

Constant Velocity vs. Constant Acceleration

There is a clear difference between velocity and acceleration. We know that velocity is the
rate of change in position relative to a fixed point. On the other hand, acceleration is the
rate of change in velocity.

When we say that an object travels at a constant velocity, we have to consider its magnitude
and direction. A constant velocity, foremost, has a constant magnitude. It means that for
every time interval, the object covers equal displacements. Also, when we say that an object
is traveling at a constant velocity, it means that the direction does not change at all. If the
direction of the object is changing, the object is not considered to be traveling at a constant
velocity, even if it has a constant magnitude. A good example of this is a car traveling around
a curve, with a constant reading in its speedometer. Even if the car travels at a constant
speed, its direction is changing at each specific time. This means that the object is not
moving at a constant velocity. Speed and velocity can be used interchangeably in this lesson
since the motion is occuring in one dimension.

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

As we have mentioned, when the object is not traveling at a constant velocity, the object is
accelerating. However, it does not necessarily mean that the object is traveling at constant
acceleration. Constant acceleration takes place only if the rate of change in the velocity of
the object is the same throughout the travel. Nonconstant acceleration will be discussed
further during the discussion of acceleration-time graphs.

How can we mathematically describe a uniformly

accelerated motion?

Constant Acceleration Equations

Equations are essential in describing the motion of an object. In this lesson, we will be
looking into how we can describe the motion of an object which is not moving at a constant
velocity. To simplify this, we will be assuming that the object is traveling at constant
acceleration.

In this section, we will be deriving the four constant acceleration equations or usually
known as the four kinematic equations. These equations are important because each of
them is independent of a motion descriptor.

We will start our derivation with two assumptions:

1. The object is traveling at constant acceleration.
2. The initial time starts at 0, or t0 = 0. We also note that is velocity and the vector
quantities will not be written as symbols with arrows above them. We denote the
initial velocity as .

Equation 1: Displacement-Independent Equation

Using the definition of instantaneous acceleration, we have

(we just omitted the subscript “ins”)

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

, since we have assumed that t0 is 0, we will have

.
Rearranging the equation, we will have our first kinematic equation:

Equation 3.3.3

Equation 2: Acceleration-Independent Equation

For the second equation, we will just use the idea of average velocity. Given you have vo and
v, you can just divide it by 2 to get the average velocity. This can be shown below:

Further rearranging the expression above, we will have the second kinematic equation:

Equation 3.3.4

Equation 3: Final Velocity-Independent Equation

We will start from the definition of instantaneous velocity:

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

From Equation 3.3.3 we will have,

Since t0 = 0, we can cancel the second term. We also note that is just the
displacement or we can express it as . Finally, we will have the third kinematic equation
in the series:

Equation 3.3.5

Equation 4: Time-Independent Equation

We start with the definition of instantaneous acceleration:

Let us multiply the right side of the equation to , which is just equal to 1. We will then
have:

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

We note that is just instantaneous velocity which we will note to be . Rearranging the
equation, we will have:

We integrate the left side of the equation from x0 to x and the right side from v0 to v:

Further rearranging, we will have the fourth kinematics equation:

Equation 3.3.4

Converting Verbal Descriptions to Mathematical Equations

As we go further with the discussion of motion, you will be exposed to different uniform
acceleration problems that will require you to find several missing quantities using the
kinematics equation. In order for you to do this efficiently, you must learn how to convert
verbal descriptions of the motion into mathematical equations. A possible way to do this is
to follow the following steps:
1. Read the problem carefully.
2. Write the given values or information.
3. Write what is being asked.
4. Refer to the four kinematics equations.
5. Choose the most applicable and easiest to use.

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

Some examples can be seen below:

1. A car in a highway uniformly accelerates from rest to reach a maximum velocity of 60

km/h in 10 s. Calculate for the acceleration of the bus.
The given pieces of information are:
v0 = 0
v = 60 km/h = 16.67 m/s
t = 10 s
We are asked to solve for the acceleration.
We can use the first kinematics equation.

2. A fruit rolls on the floor at a rate of 9.8 m/s2. How much time will it take to reach a
displacement of 5 m?
The given pieces of information are:
v0 = 0
Δx = 5 m (vertical displacement)
a = 9.8 m/s2
We are asked to solve for the time.
We can use the third kinematics equation.

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

3. It was found out that a car accelerates uniformly at a rate of 2 km/h2 when it is
initially traveling at 10 km/h. What is its final velocity if it has already traveled 100 m?
The given pieces of information are:
v0 = 10 km/h = 2.78 m/s
Δx = 100 m
a = 2 km/h2 = 1.54 ✕ 10-4 m/s2
We are asked to solve for the final velocity
We can use the fourth kinematics equation.

Tips
In converting verbal descriptions to mathematical equations, it will
be helpful to write the given mathematical values before starting to
solve the problem. Also, watch out for ‘implicit’ givens. This might
include statements such as ‘the object starts from rest’. This means
that the v0 = 0 m/s. Lastly, make sure that the units are the same
throughout your solution.

What are the assumptions of the four kinematics

equations?

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

Key Points
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● An object under constant velocity means that it has a constant magnitude of the
rate of change of position and a constant direction.
● If the object is not in a constant velocity, it is accelerating.
● A uniform acceleration means that the rate of change in velocity of an object is
constant or does not change.
● Converting a verbal description of a motion to a mathematical equation is the
elementary step in solving problems involving uniformly accelerated motion.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Key Formulas
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Concept Formula Description

Uniform Use any of the equations in

Acceleration solving problems about
uniformly accelerated
motion in one dimension.
These equations work hand
in hand to solve for missing
variables. You can notice
that each equation is
where: independent of a motion
● is the final velocity descriptor.
● is the initial velocity
● is the value of the
uniform acceleration
● is time elapsed
● is displacement

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

Check Your Understanding

A. Write T if the statement is correct and F if not.

_____________ 1. It is possible for an object to travel at a constant velocity and

constant acceleration at the same time.
_____________ 2. Nonconstant velocity means constant acceleration.
_____________ 3. Zero acceleration means constant velocity.
_____________ 4. An object traveling around a circle will never be in constant velocity.
_____________ 5. If the speed is constant, the velocity is constant.
_____________ 6. Zero velocity means zero acceleration.
_____________ 7. Acceleration is always constant if you have a nonzero velocity.
_____________ 8. An object can only either move at a constant velocity or constant
acceleration.
_____________ 9. The derivative of velocity with respect to time is the instantaneous
velocity.
_____________ 10. Nonzero acceleration means the acceleration is not constant.

B. Write CV if the situation describes a constant velocity, CA

if constant acceleration, and N if it is neither.

________________ 1. A car moves at a constant rate of 50 km/h along a curve on a

________________ highway
________________ 2. A fruit rolling at a constant rate of 5 km/h
________________ 3. A driver in a speeding up car immediately steps on the break
________________ 4. A bird slows down at a constant rate to perch along a branch
5. A runner running along a straight track at a constant pace

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

C. Convert the following word problems into a mathematical equation.

1. A bus, initially at rest, uniformly accelerated from the toll plaza to 60 km/h in 20 s.
Calculate the rate it changes its velocity.
2. What is the distance traveled by a ball which was rolled at a speed of 20 m/s and
changed its speed to 3 m/s in 8 s?
3. Compute for the time elapsed if an object changed its velocity from 2 m/s to 12 m/s
in 8 s.
4. How long is a table if a ball which was rolled from its edge reaches the other end in
8 s?
5. How can you compute for the final velocity of an object traveling at a constant
acceleration of 8 m/s2 which was already initially moving at 3 m/s? The object
traveled a total distance of 9 m.

Challenge Yourself

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. How can you differentiate constant velocity and constant acceleration?

2. Explain why a nonzero acceleration can never mean a constant velocity.
3. In deriving the kinematics equations, why do we have to assume that acceleration is
constant?
4. Discuss briefly how you can convert a verbal description of motion to a mathematical
equation.
5. Explain the statement ‘the four kinematics equations work hand in hand in solving
missing variables’.

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Unit 3: Motion in One Dimension

Bibliography
Faughn, Jerry S., and Raymond A. Serway. Serway’s College Physics (7th ed). Singapore:
Brooks/Cole, 2006.

Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics (11th ed). New York: Pearson Education. 2010.

Homer, David, and Michael Bowen-Jones. Physics Oxford IB Diploma Programme. UK: Oxford
University Press, 2014.

Sang, David, Graham Jones, Gurinder Chadha, and Richard Woodside. Cambridge
International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook. UK: University Printing House. 2014.

Serway, Raymond A., and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern
Physics (9th ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014.

Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky’s University
Physics with Modern Physics (14th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012.

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