kinematics, branch of physics and a subdivision of classical mechanics concerned with the geometrically possible motion of a body or system of

bodies without consideration of the forces involved 𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚𝑠 −2

Kinematics
Tutorial 3

s u a v t
Classical mechanics is the study of the motion of bodies under the action of physical forces. A force is any influence that can
cause an object to change its velocity. The object can be anything from an elementary particle to a galaxy.
Zameer Ahmed
1. Convert a speed of 54 km h−1 to m s−1.

1000𝑚
54 𝑘𝑚 ℎ−1 = 54 ×
3600𝑠

54 𝑘𝑚 ℎ−1 = 15 𝑚𝑠 −1
2. A ball is falling in a direction at 35° to the horizontal with a speed of 12 m s−1.
Calculate the vertical and horizontal components of its velocity. 𝑉𝑣

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑦 𝑉𝑣 = 𝑉𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

𝑉𝑣 = 𝑉𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑉ℎ
𝑉𝑣 = 12 𝑠𝑖𝑛35°
𝑉𝑣 = 6.9 𝑚𝑠 −1

𝑇ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑦 𝑉ℎ = 𝑉𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝑉ℎ = 𝑉𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑉ℎ = 12𝑐𝑜𝑠35°
𝑉ℎ = 9.8 𝑚𝑠 −1
1. A car initially at rest, accelerates at 1.5 m s-2 for 20 s, then travels at constant speed for
90 s, then decelerates to rest in a further 40 s. Its direction does not change.
a) Calculate its maximum speed.
Where:
v = final velocity (maximum speed)
u = initial velocity (0 m/s, as it starts from rest)
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡 a = acceleration (1.5 m/s²)
t = time (20 s)
𝑣 = 0 + 1.5 × 20

𝑣 = 30 𝑚/𝑠

𝑆𝑜, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟′𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑠 30 𝑚/𝑠.

 1. A car initially at rest, accelerates at 1.5 m s-2 for 20 s, then travels at constant speed for
90 s, then decelerates to rest in a further 40 s. Its direction does not change.
b) Sketch a graph to show how its speed changes from its initial position to where it stops
again.
30 m/s
Speed (m/s)

20 s 110 s 150 s
Time (s)
1. A car initially at rest, accelerates at 1.5 m s-2 for 20 s, then travels at constant speed for
90 s, then decelerates to rest in a further 40 s. Its direction does not change.
c) Calculate its deceleration.
(110 ,30)
𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = gradient
∆𝑦
𝑚=
∆𝑥 (150 ,00)
(30 − 0)
𝑚=
(110 − 150)
30
𝑚=
−40
𝑚 = −0.75 𝑚𝑠 −2
1. A car initially at rest, accelerates at 1.5 m s-2 for 20 s, then travels at constant speed for
90 s, then decelerates to rest in a further 40 s. Its direction does not change.
d) Calculate
i. the distance moved in each of the three parts of its journey,
ii. its average speed for the whole journey.

1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑎+𝑏 ℎ
2

A B C 1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 150 + 90 30
2
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 3600 𝑚2

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 3600 𝑚

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

3600
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 = = 24 ms −1
150
A cyclist accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 6.5 m s-1 in 30 s, then brakes to
rest in a distance of 80 m.
a) Calculate the acceleration and distance moved in the first 30 s.
𝑎 =?
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 1 𝑢 = 0 𝑚𝑠 −1
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 𝑣 = 6.5 𝑚𝑠 −1
𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 2
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 1 𝑡 = 30𝑠
𝑠 = 0 30 + × 0.22 × 302
2 𝑠 =?
𝑣−𝑢 𝑠 = 99𝑚
𝑎=
𝑡
6.5 − 0
𝑎=
30
𝑎 = 0.22 𝑚𝑠 −2
A cyclist accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 6.5 m s-1 in 30 s, then brakes to
rest in a distance of 80 m.
b) Calculate the deceleration and how long the brakes are applied before the cyclist
stops.
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡
𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠 𝑣=0
𝑣−𝑢
−1 𝑡=
𝑢 = 6.5𝑚𝑠
𝑣 2 − 𝑢2 𝑎
𝑎=
2𝑠 𝑠 =?
0 − 6.5
𝑡=
0 − 6.52 −0.26
𝑎=
2 × 80
𝑡 = 25𝑠
0 − 6.52
𝑎=
2 × 80

𝑎 = −0.26 𝑚𝑠 −2
A cyclist accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 6.5 m s-1 in 30 s, then brakes to
rest in a distance of 80 m.
a) c) i. Sketch a speed versus time graph.
ii. Calculate the average speed of the cyclist.
1. A tennis ball is thrown vertically upwards at an initial speed of 15 𝑚𝑠 −1 .
a) Calculate its maximum height and the time it takes to reach this height.
𝑢 = 15 𝑚𝑠 −1
𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠 𝑣 = 0 𝑚𝑠 −1
𝑎 = −9.81 𝑚𝑠 −2
v 2 − u2
𝑠= 𝑡 =?
2𝑎
𝑠 =?
0 − 152
𝑠=
2 × −9.81

−225
𝑠=
−19.62

𝑠 = 11.5 𝑚

𝑣−𝑢
𝑡=
𝑎

0 − 15
𝑡=
−9.81
𝑡 = 1.53 𝑠
1. A tennis ball is thrown vertically upwards at an initial speed of 15 𝑚𝑠 −1 .
a) Calculate its maximum height and the time it takes to reach this height.
b)
i. Calculate its velocity when it is 5.0 m above the ground moving downwards.

𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠 𝑣 =?
𝑣 2 = 2𝑎𝑠 𝑢=0
𝑎 = 9.81
𝑣 = 2 × 9.81 × 5
𝑠 = 6.47
𝑣 = 2 × 9.81 × 6.47

𝑣 = 11.27 𝑚𝑠 −1
 1. A tennis ball is thrown vertically upwards at an initial speed of 15 𝑚𝑠 −1 .
a) Calculate its maximum height and the time it takes to reach this height.
b)
i. Calculate its velocity when it is 5.0 m above the ground moving downwards.

𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠 𝑣 =?
𝑣 2 = 2𝑎𝑠 𝑢=0
𝑎 = 9.81
𝑣 = 2 × 9.81 × 5
𝑠 = 5.0
𝑣 = 2 × 9.81 × 5
𝑣 = 9.9 𝑚𝑠 −1
i. How long does it take to reach this position?

𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡
 1. A parachutist is descending vertically at a steady speed of 3.2 𝑚𝑠 −1 when she releases an object from a height of 100 m above
the ground.
a) Calculate the speed of the object just before impact.
b) How long does it take the object to fall freely to the ground?
c) How far is the parachutist above the ground when the object strikes the ground?

b) How long does it take the object to fall freely to the ground?
1 𝑠 = 100 𝑚
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
𝑢=0
1 2
𝑠= 𝑎𝑡 𝑣 =?
2
𝑡 =?
1
100 = × 9.81 × 𝑡 2 𝑎 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2
2
4.905𝑡 2 = 100
𝑡 2 = 100/4.905
𝑡= 100/4.905
𝑡 = 4.52 𝑠
 1. A parachutist is descending vertically at a steady speed of 3.2 𝑚𝑠 −1 when she releases an object from a height of 100 m above
the ground.
a) Calculate the speed of the object just before impact.
b) How long does it take the object to fall freely to the ground?
c) How far is the parachutist above the ground when the object strikes the ground?

a) Calculate the speed of the object just before impact.

𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡 𝑠 = 100 𝑚
𝑣 = 0 + 9.81 × 4.52 𝑢=0

𝑣 = 44.34 𝑠 𝑣 =?
𝑡 = 4.52 𝑠
𝑎 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2
1. A parachutist is descending vertically at a steady speed of 3.2 𝑚𝑠 −1 when she releases an object from a height of 100 m above
the ground.
How far is the parachutist above the ground when the object strikes the ground?

1 2 𝑠 = 100 𝑚
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡
2
𝑢 = 3.2 𝑚𝑠 −1
1
100 = 3.2𝑡 + 9.81𝑡 2 𝑣 =?
2
This is a quadratic equation in t. We can solve it using the quadratic formula:
𝑡 =?
−𝑏 ± 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 𝑎 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2
𝑡=
2𝑎
In the equation, a =1/2 ⋅9.81=4.905, b =3.2, and c =−100.
−3.2 ± 3.22 − 4(4.905)(−100)
𝑡=
2(4.905)
𝑡 = 4.2 𝑠
1
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
1 2
𝑠 = 3.2(4.2) + 9.81 4.2
2
𝑠 = 14.4 𝑚
A rocket is launched vertically and accelerates uniformly at 8.0 𝑚𝑠 −2 for 40 s. Its engine then cuts out and it eventually returns to the
ground.
Calculate
its speed and height when the engine cuts out,

𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡
𝑣 = 0 + 8 ×40
𝑣 = 320 𝑚𝑠 −1

1
𝑠 = ut + at 2 𝑎 = 8.0 𝑚𝑠 −2
2
𝑡 = 40𝑠
1
𝑠 = (0 × 40) + × 8 × 402 𝑢=0
2 𝑣 =?
1 𝑠 =?
𝑠 = 0 + × 8 × 1600
2
𝑠 = 0 + 6400
𝑠 = 6400 𝑚
height when the engine cuts out is 6400m
A rocket is launched vertically and accelerates uniformly at 8.0 𝑚𝑠 −2 for 40 s. Its engine then cuts out and it eventually returns to the
ground.
Calculate
its maximum height,

1
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
1 2
𝑠 = 𝑎𝑡
2
1
𝑠 = × 8 × 402 𝑎 = 8.0 𝑚𝑠 −2
2
𝑡 = 40𝑠
𝑠 = 6400 𝑚
𝑢=0
its velocity just before impact,
𝑣 = 320 ms −1
𝑠 = 6400𝑚
1 2
𝑠= 𝑎𝑡
2
2𝑠 = 𝑎𝑡 2

𝑡= 2𝑠/𝑎

𝑡= 2 × 6400/9.81 𝑡 = 36.10 𝑠
A rocket is launched vertically and accelerates uniformly at 8.0 𝑚𝑠 −2 for 40 s. Its
engine then cuts out and it eventually returns to the ground.
Calculate
its speed and height when the engine cuts out,
its maximum height,
its velocity just before impact,
its time of flight.
b) Sketch a velocity versus time graph for the whole flight of the rocket.
1. A plane accelerates from rest along a runway at a constant rate of 1.8 m s−2. The plane takes off after 40 s.
a. Calculate the velocity of the plane at take off.
b. Calculate the minimum length of runway required for the plane to take off.

∆𝑣 𝑣 =?
𝑎= 𝑎 = 1.8 𝑚𝑠 −2
𝑡
𝑣−𝑢 𝑡 = 40 𝑠
𝑎= 𝑢=0
𝑡
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡
𝑣 = 1.8 × 40
𝑣 = 72 𝑚𝑠 −1
1. A plane accelerates from rest along a runway at a constant rate of 1.8 m s−2. The plane takes off after 40 s.
a. Calculate the minimum length of runway required for the plane to take off.

1 2 𝑠 =?
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 𝑎 = 1.8 𝑚𝑠 −2
2 𝑡 = 40 𝑠
1 𝑢=0
𝑠 = 0 × 40 + × 1.8 × 402 𝑣 = 72 𝑚𝑠 −1
2

𝑠 = 1440 𝑚
1. A car slows down from a speed of 30 m s−1 to 22 m s−1 over a distance of 120 m.
Calculate the
deceleration of the car.

𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠
𝑣 2 − 𝑢2
𝑎=
2𝑠

222 − 302
𝑎=
2 × 120

−8
𝑎=
240

𝑎 = 0.033 𝑚𝑠 −1
1. A Formula 1 car accelerates off the grid reaching a speed of 55 m s−1 in 3.6 s.
a. Calculate the acceleration of the car over this time.
b. Calculate the distance travelled by the car in this time.

∆𝑣
𝑎=
𝑡
𝑣−𝑢
𝑎=
𝑡
55 − 0
𝑎=
3.6
𝑎 = 15.28 𝑚𝑠 −2
1. A Formula 1 car accelerates off the grid reaching a speed of 55 m s−1 in 3.6 s.
a. Calculate the acceleration of the car over this time.
b. Calculate the distance travelled by the car in this time.

1 2
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡
2
1
𝑠 = 0 + × 15.28 × 3.62
2

𝑠 = 94.41 𝑚
1. An express train travelling at 50 m s−1 applies its brakes for 3 minutes before
reaching a station, which it passes at 30 m s−1. How far from the station was the
train when the brakes were first applied?

𝑣−𝑢 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠
𝑎=
𝑡
𝑣 2 − 𝑢2
30 − 50 𝑠=
2𝑎
𝑎=
180 302 − 502
𝑠=
2 × 0.11
−20
𝑎= 302 − 502
180 𝑠=
2 × −0.11

𝑎 = −0.11 𝑚𝑠 −2 𝑠 = 7272 𝑚
1. An express train travelling at 50 m s−1 applies its brakes for 3 minutes before
reaching a station, which it passes at 30 m s−1. How far from the station was the
train when the brakes were first applied?
1. A car starts from rest with a uniform acceleration of 2 m s−2 along a long straight track. At the
moment the car starts, a second car passes it on a parallel track travelling at a constant speed of 20 m s−1. Calculate:
a. the time at which the cars are level
b. the velocity of the first car at that time
c. the distance travelled by the first car when it catches the second car.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙

𝑖. 𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛
1
𝑠1 = 𝑎1 𝑡 2 𝑠2 = 𝑢2 𝑡
2

1
𝑎1 𝑡 2 = 𝑢2 𝑡
2
1
𝑎 𝑡 = 𝑢2
2 1
1
2𝑡 = 20
2
𝑡 = 20 s
1. A car starts from rest with a uniform acceleration of 2 m s−2 along a long straight track. At the
moment the car starts, a second car passes it on a parallel track travelling at a constant speed of 20 m s−1. Calculate:
a. the time at which the cars are level
b. the velocity of the first car at that time
c. the distance travelled by the first car when it catches the second car.

𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡
𝑣 = 0 + 2 × 20
𝑣 = 40 𝑚𝑠 −1
1. A car starts from rest with a uniform acceleration of 2 m s−2 along a long straight track. At the
moment the car starts, a second car passes it on a parallel track travelling at a constant speed of 20 m s−1. Calculate:
a. the time at which the cars are level
b. the velocity of the first car at that time
c. the distance travelled by the first car when it catches the second car.

1 2
𝑠 = 𝑎𝑡
2
1
𝑠 = × 2 × 202
2
𝑠 = 400𝑚
1. A ball is launched upwards from ground level with a speed of 20 m s−1. At
what times is the ball
at a height of 10 m above the ground?

1
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
1
−10 = −20𝑡 + (9.8)𝑡 2
2

4.9𝑡 2 − 20𝑡 + 10 = 0
20 ± 202 − 4 × 4.9 × 10
𝑡=
2 × 4.9

20 ± 14.3
𝑡=
9.8

𝑡 = 0.6 𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑡 = 3.5 𝑠