LESSON 3

KINEMATICS

Objective:

1. Differentiate the following quantities-distance, displacement, speed and velocity.

2. Justify the importance of a reference point in describing a motion of a body.
3. Analyze straight line motion of a body in terms of time, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration
with calculus as a tool.
4. Analyze the motion of objects in free fall motion in terms of displacement or position, speed, velocity
and acceleration.
5. Solve position function given the velocity or the acceleration.

3.1. DEFINITION
Mechanics is the study of motion of material objects. Everywhere in the universe we see objects in
motion. Movement is a characteristic of all forms of matter. Motion is defined as a continuous change of
position.

3.2. BRANCHES OF MECHANICS

The three branches of mechanics are as follows:
1. Kinematics = the description of motion
2. Dynamics = the study of the relationship between motion to the forces associated with it and to
the properties of the moving objects.
3. Statics = study of systems that are in equilibrium

3.3. KINEMATICS
Kinematics describes motion using the concepts of distance, time, speed and acceleration. The
concepts are usually applied to worded problems.

In solving worded problems, it is advisable to follow the following steps:

1. List all given variables in the problem like v, t, s or x
2. Determine the unknown variable
3. Choose the equation to be used to determine the unknown
4. Simplify the equation to come up with an equation of the unknown variable as a function of other
variables
5. Substitute the given variables to the derived equation
6. Solve for the unknown variable

3.3.1. CONCEPTS OF KINEMATICS

a. Time (t)
Time is defined as the duration or interval between two events. The units measuring time are seconds
(MKS), minute, hour, day, week, months, year, etc…

b. Displacement (s) and distance (s)

Distance is defined as the length traveled or the length from a reference point to an object. It is the
change in the position of the body during a certain length of time.
s = ∆x = x2 - x1
where x1 = position at some time t1

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 1

 x2 = position at some time t2

x1 ∆x
x2
Displacement is distance with direction. Distance is a scalar quantity while displacement is a
vector quantity pointing from an object’s initial position to its final position and whose magnitude equals
the distance separating the points. The units measuring distance and displacement are units of length
such as meter (MKS), centimeter (CGS), foot (FPS), kilometer, mile, yard, etc…

c. Speed (v) and Velocity (v)

Speed is the rate at which the object’s position changes with time. It indicates how fast or how
slow an object moves. Velocity is speed with direction. Speed is the distance traveled per unit time
while velocity is the displacement per unit time.

The average speed is the total distance traveled at certain time interval ∆t.
The average velocity vave is the displacement at certain time interval ∆t
vave = ∆x/∆t
= x2 – x1
t2 – t1
at t = 0, s = x2 – x1
then vave = s/t

Example Problem 1:
A runner runs 2 km in 5 minutes and then takes 10 minutes to walk back to the starting point.
a. What is the average velocity for the first 5 minutes?
b. What is the average speed for the total trip?
c. What is the average velocity for the total trip?
d. What is the average velocity for the time spent walking?

Solution:
Following the recommended steps in problem solving, we can summarize these steps through the
following steps:
1. determine the given variables in the problem
Given: ∆x1 = 2km assuming due east at ∆t1 =5 minutes
∆x2 = 2km due west at ∆t2 =10 minutes

2. determine the unknown variable

Required:
a) vave velocity for first 5 minutes
b) vave velocity for total trip
c) vave speed for total trip
d) vave velocity for walking

3. we choose the equation involving the unknown, in this problem we use

Computation:
vave = ∆x/∆t

4. Since the equation is in the form where the unknown variable vave is already written as a function of other
variables (x and t), we can skip step 4 and proceed to step 5. We substitute in the given variables, and
proceed to step 6 where we solve the unknown vave.
a) The average velocity for the first 5 minutes
vave = ∆x/∆t
= displacement = 2km (1000m/1km) = 6.66m/s due east
Running time 5min(60s/1m)

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 2

 b) vave = ∆x/∆t
= total distance = 2000m+2000m = 4.44 m/s
Total time (5+10)60
c) vave = ∆x/∆t
= total displacement = 2000m-2000m = 0
Total time (5+10)60
d) vave = ∆x/∆t
= displacement = -2000 = 3.33m/s due west
Walking time 10(60)

The instantaneous velocity (V) is the limit of ∆x/∆t as ∆t approaches zero or the derivative of x with
respect to t.
v = Lim ∆x/t = dx/dt
∆ 0
•P2:(x2,y2)

•P

• P1:(x1,y1)

x1
x2
Average velocity = slope of the line segment P1P2
Instantaneous velocity = the line tangent at point P

Instantaneous speed refers to the speed at an instant of time. It is the speed registered by the
speedometer of a car. Average speed refers to the characteristic speed during a longer period of time.
The unit measuring speed and velocity are meter per second (MKS), centimeter per second (CGS),
foot per second (FPS), kph, mph, mi/h, etc…

Example Problem 3:
The position of a stone dropped from rest from a cliff is given by x = 5t2, where x is in meters measured
downward from the original position at t=0 and t is in seconds. Find the velocity at any time.

Solution:
Given: x = 5t2
t0 =0
Required:
v= f(t)
Computation: from the definition of instantaneous speed, we have
v=dx/dt
substituting x = 5t2 to the equation gives us
v = d(5t2) / dt
integrating further gives us
= 5(2)t
v =10t

d. Acceleration (a)
Acceleration is the time rate at which the velocity changes. The change could be in
magnitude/speed or in direction. An increasing velocity corresponds to a positive acceleration while
decreasing speed corresponds to a negative acceleration also called deceleration. Accelerations are
measured in m/s2 (MKS), cm/s2 (CGS), ft/s2 (FPS), m/s/s, km/hr/s, cm/s/s, etc…

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 3

 The average acceleration (aave) is the change in velocity for time interval ∆t = t2 – t1 .
aave = ∆v/∆t
= (v2 – v1) (t2 – t1)

v1 v2

Example Problem 4:
A rabbit starts from rest and at the end of 15 seconds has a running speed of 10 km/hr. What is its
average acceleration?

Solution:
Given: Vi = 0
Vf = 10 km/hr
t = 15 s

Required: a

Computation:
Since a = (vf – vi )/ t then
a = (10 km/hr–0 ) (1000m/1km)(1hr/3600s)
15s
= 0.185 m/s2

The instantaneous acceleration a is the rate of change of velocity or the second derivative of position (x)
with respect to time t.
a = Lim ∆v/∆t = dv/dt
∆t 0
2 2
= d x/ dt

Example Problem 5:
Suppose the velocity of a car is given by the equation v = m + nt2 where m = 10 m/s and n = 2 m/s2.
a. Find the change in the velocity of the car in the time interval between t1 = 2s and t2 = 5 sec.
b. Find the average acceleration in this time interval.
c. Derive an expression for the instantaneous acceleration at any time, and use it to find the acceleration
at t = 2 sec and t = 5 sec.

Solution:
a) change in the velocity of the car in the time interval between t1 = 2s and t2 = 5 sec
Δv = v2 - v1
To determine Δv, we have to solve v2 and v1 first.
at t1 = 2s
v1 = m+nt12
= 10+2(2)2
= 18/ms
t2 =5s
v2 = m+nt22
= 10+2(5)2
=60 m/s
Substituting v2 = 60 m/s and v1 = 18 m/s gives us
Δv = 60-18
Δv = 42m/s

b) the average acceleration is defined by the equation

aave = Δv/Δt
where Δv = 42 m/s at time interval t1 = 2s and t2 = 5 sec

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 4

 aave = 42/5-2
aave =14 m/s

c) expression for the instantaneous acceleration at any time, and use it to find the acceleration at t = 2
sec and t = 5 sec
from the definition of instantaneous acceleration
a=dv/dt
since v = m + nt2 where where m = 10 m/s and n = 2 m/s2.
Substitute the values of m and n to the equation of v gives us
v = 10+2t2
substituting v = 10+2t2 to the equation of a gives us
a = d(10+2t2) / dt
=0+4t
a =4t
We now use the derived equation a = 4t to determine the acceleration at t = 2s and at t = 5 seconds
at t = 2s
a = 4t
= 4(2)
a = 8m/s2
at t = 5s
a = 4t
= 4(5)
a = 10m/s2

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 5

NAME:__________________________________________________ DATE:________________
SCHEDULE:_____________________________________________

Lecture Activity No. 3.1

Kinematics

Solve the following problems:

1. A mouse moves along a straight line, its distance from the origin at any point instant is given by the
equation x = at + bt2, where a = 8 cm/s and b = -3 cm/s2. Find the average velocity of the mouse in
the interval from t = 0 to t = 1 sec, and in the interval from t = 0 to t = 4 sec.

2. The position of a stone dropped from rest from a cliff is given by x = 5t2, where x is in meters measured
downward from the original position at t = 0 and t is in seconds. Find the velocity at any time.

3. An automobile has a velocity as a function of time given by v(t) = α + βt2 where α = 5 m/s and β = 0.30
m/s3. Calculate
a. Average acceleration for the time interval t = 0 to t = 5 s;
b. instantaneous acceleration for
i. t=0
ii. t = 5 sec.

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 6

 LESSON 3.2
UNIFORM MOTION AND UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION

Objective:
1. Differentiate the different kind of uniform motion.
2. Analyze the motion of objects in free fall motion in terms of displacement or position, speed, velocity
and acceleration.
3. Solve position function given the velocity or the acceleration.

UNIFORM MOTION
Uniform motion is movement wherein velocity is constant. The equation applicable for this type of
motion is
v = s/t
Example Problem:
A bus is running along a highway at a rate of 45 mi/hr for 10 min, how far did it travel during that time?

Solution:
Given: v = 45 mi/hr
t = 10 min
Required:
s

Computation: Since no statement indicates a change is velocity, then we can assume that the motion is
uniform motion.
From v = s/t, we derived the equation of the unknown s by cross multiplication. This gives us
s = vt
Substituting the values of v and t with the conversion of units to come up with one system of measurement.
This is done by converting the unit of the speed v from mi/hr to ft/s and the time t from minute to seconds.
s = [45 mi/hr(5280 ft/1mi)(1hr/3600s)][(10min)(60 s/ 1 min)]
= 39,600 ft

UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION

Uniformly accelerated motion is motion with constant acceleration or motion with constant change in
velocity. For motion with constant acceleration, the velocity changes linearly with time. To simplify the
equations used for analyzing motion with constant acceleration, it will be assumed that at time t = 0 the
position x = 0. The following equations are then as follows
v = vi + at
vave = vi + ½ a t2
x = xi + vi t + ½ at2 or since s = xi
vave = ½ ( vi +vV )
v2 = 2as + vi2

Example Problem 1:
A car running at 40 kph slows down at a rate of 4 m/s2. How far did it travel before coming to a stop?

Solution:
Given: vi = 40 kph
vf = 0
a = 4 m/s2

Required: s

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 7

Computation:
From 2as = vf2 – vi2, derive the equation to solve s. This is done by dividing both sides of the equation by
2a and give us:
s = (vf2 – vi2)/2a

where vf = 0
vi = 40 km (1000m/1km) = 11.11 m/s
hr(3600 s/1hr)
a = - 4 m/s2, negative since the car deccelerates
then
s = (0 – 11.112) = 15.43 m
2(-4)

FREE FALL MOTION

An example of uniformly accelerated motion is that of a freely falling body. If air resistance is ignored,
a falling body picks up a speed at the rate of about 9.8 m/s each second (980 cm/s2 or 32ft/s2). This is called
the acceleration due to gravity (g). The vertical movement of a body thrown into the air or falling through the
air is called free fall motion. The only force that acts on an object in free fall is the force of gravity. The object
decelerates going upwards while accelerates when moving downwards.

If dropped from a height, then vi = 0 Vif = 0 at the highest point reached

a = -g = - 9.8 m/s2
2
a = g = 9.8 m/s

The equations applicable for free fall motion are those under uniformly accelerated motion with the
following variable changes to indicate vertical movement
a→g vf → vfy vi → viy s→y

The equations then become

vfy = viy + gt
2gY = vfy2 – viy2
Y = viyt + ½ gt2
v = (vfy + viy) / 2
= Y/t

Example Problem1:
How high will a body rise that is projected vertically upward with a speed of 61m/s? How long will it
take for the body to reach its maximum height?

Solution:
Given: Vfy =0 at maximum height

Viy = 61 m/s

Required: a. y
b. t
Computation:
a. From 2 g y = Vfy2 – Viy2, we derived the equation to determine y
y =Vfy2 – Viy2
2g
= 0 – (61m/s)2
2(-9.8 m/s2)
= 189.85m

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 8

 b. from the equation Vfy = Viy + gt , we derive the equation to determine t
t =(Vfy – Viy)/ g
=(0-61mt/s)/(-9.8m/s2)
= 6.22 s

THE INITIAL VALUE - PROBLEM AND INTEGRATION

The position function x given the velocity v or the acceleration a can be determined by integration. It
is the inverse procedure of obtaining the velocity and acceleration functions from a given position function by
differentiation.

Example: from dx = v dt
Integrating the euqation gives us
x =vt
substituting at time range of to to t with corresponding positions xo to x gives us
x - xo = v ( t - to )
assuming at to = 0, xo =0, then
x=vt

Example Problem 1:
The velocity of a particle is given by v = 6 m/s for all time t. Find the most general position function x as
a function of t (x=f(t)). Find the position at t = 2 seconds.

Solution:
Given : v = 6m/s

Required : a. x = f(t)
b. x at t = 2 sec

Computation :
a.- From the definition of v= dx/dt
v = dx/dt
- Re-arranging the equation to come up with an equation of x as a function of time, we first do cross
multiplication
dx =vdt
Substituting v = 6 m/s to the derived equation gives us
dx = 6dt
- Integrating the equation gives us
x = 6t

b. x at t = 2 seconds
to determine x at t = 2 seconds, we simply substitute t = 2 seconds to the derived equation ;
x = 6t
at t = 2 seconds
x = 6(2)
x = 12 meters.

Example Problem 2:
An automobile travels along a straight highway. Its acceleration is given as a function of time
by a = (2 m/s2) - (0.1 m/s3) t. (a) Derive expressions for the velocity and position as functions of time.

Solution;
Given:
a = (2 m/s2) - (0.1 m/s3) t

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 9

 Required:
a. v = f(t)
b. x = f(t)

Computation:
a. From the definition
a = dv/dt
dv = adt
substituting the given a = 2t - 0.1 t2
dv = (2 - 0.1 t2)dt
integrating will give us
v = 2t – 0.10t2/2
v = 2t – 0.05t2

b. from the definition of v = dx/dt, we derive the equation for x

dx = vdt
substituting the derived equation of v from part a
dx = (2t – 0.05t2) dt
integrating the equation gives us
x = 2t2/2 - 0.05t3/3
x = t2 – 0.0167t3

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 10

NAME:__________________________________________________ DATE:________________
SCHEDULE:_____________________________________________

Lecture Activity No. 3.2

Uniform Motion and Uniformly Accelerated Motion

Solve the following problem:

1. An automobile’s speed increases uniformly from 8 m/s to 30 m/s while covering 50 m. What
is its acceleration and the time taken?

2. The acceleration due to gravity at the surface of Mars is 3.7 m/s2. A stone thrown upward on Mars
reaches a height of 20 m.
a. Find its initial velocity,
b. What is the total time of flight?

2.The acceleration of a certain rocket is given by a = 7 t3 -2t, where C is a constant. (a) Find the most general
position function x (t). (b) Find the position and velocity at t = 5 s if x = 0 and v = 0 at t = 0, and C = 3 m/s 3.

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 11