Chapter 2

Motion Along a Straight Line:

The motion of a particle along a straight line at a constant acceleration is called the "Uniformly Accelerated Motion".

In this chapter we need to first define velocity and acceleration as was done in Chapter 1.

Velocity:  Velocity is defined as the change in displacement per unit of time.  Note that both velocity and displacement are vector quantities.  Speed is defined as the change in distance per unit of time.  Here both speed and distance are scalar quantities.  The average speed ( v ) is mathematically shown as:

Example 1: A car travels a distance of 350 miles in 5.0 hours.  Find its average speed.

Acceleration:  Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity per unit of time.  Again, note that both acceleration and velocity are vector quantities.  The magnitude of acceleration is the change in speed per unit of time.  Both the magnitude of acceleration and speed are scalar quantities.

Example 2:  A car's speed changes from 15m/s to 25m/s in 5.0s.  Find the acceleration of the car during this period.

Motion: When the relative position of a particle with respect to a reference point changes with time, the object is said to be in motion.  The reference point may be chosen to be the origin O in a set of x-y coordinates system.

Equation of Motion:  Equation of motion is defined as the relation between space and time, or,  x and t.

The Equation of Motion of Uniformly Accelerated Motion:

For motion along a straight line and at constant acceleration, a, the equation of motion has the form:

The proof of the above equation will be given and discussed later.  Right now, let's just accept this equation..

Example 3: A car traveling along a straight road at 8.0m/s accelerates to a speed of 15.0m/s in 5.0s.   Determine (a) its acceleration, (b) the distance traveled during this period, (c) its equation of motion, (d) the interval of validity of this equation, and (e) the distance traveled in the first 2.0 seconds.

Solution: We have so far learned the following equations.  Rewrite them down, but with horizontal fraction bars.

            (1)  a = (v_f -v_i ) / t     ;     (2)  x = (1/2) a t²  +  v_i t    Don't forget to use horiz. fraction bars.

Using (1), yields:(a)        a =  (15.0m/s - 8.0 m/s) / 5.0s  =   1.4m/s²

Using (2), yields:(b)       x =   (1/2) ( 1.4m/s²) (5.0s)²  +  (8.0m/s)(5.0s)   =   57.5m

Any object that moves along a straight line and at constant acceleration, has an equation of motion in the form:

x = (1/2) a t² + v_it.   The equation of motion of this particular car in this example can be found by substituting for the constants of the equation.  The constants are:  v_i = 8.0m/s  and  a = 1.4m/s².  Therefore the equation of motion becomes:

(c)        x = (1/2)(1.4)t²  +  8.0t    or    x = 0.7t² + 8.0t

(d)         This equation is valid for 0 ≤ t  ≤ 5.0 sec. only.

(e)         x(2) = 0.7 (2.0)²  +  8.0 (2.0)  =  18.8m  ≈ 19m

Example 4:  A cyclist traveling at  30.0m/s comes to stop in 5.00s.  Determine the stopping acceleration, distance, and the equation of motion.  Try to solve this on your own before looking at the solution.  Use horizontal fraction bars and not slashes.

Solution:  a =  (v_f - v_i ) / t  =  ( 0 - 30.0m/s) / 5.00s  =  -6.00 m/s²

                x =  (1/2) a t²  +  v_i t  =  (1/2)(-6.00m/s²)(5.00s)²  +  (30.0m/s)(5.00s)  =  +75m

               x =  (1/2) (-6.00m/s²)t²  + (30.0m/s)t     or    x =  -3.00t²  + 30.0t  (a relation between x and t )

Example 5:  The equation of motion of a skier along a steep and straight ramp is x = 3.4t² + 2.1t   where x is in meters and t in seconds.  Determine (a) her distance from the starting point at the end of 1.0s, 2.0s, 3.0s, 4.0s, and 5.0s.  (b) Determine the distances she travels in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th seconds.  (c) are the answers in Part (b) equal?  If not why?  What should be the pace of motion for such distances to be equal?

Solution:  (a)    

(c) As can be seen from Part (b), the distances traveled in subsequent seconds become greater and greater.  What is this telling us?  Is it because the motion is an accelerated one?  Ans.:..... .  If your answer is "Yes", you are right.

An Equation With No Apparent Time Element

Sometimes, in solving problems, we may run into situations where time ( t ) is not given.  It is possible to combine the equations of distance and acceleration to find an equation that is explicitly independent of time.  Look at the following two equations that we already know:  a = (v_f -v_i) / t   and  x = (1/2)at² + v_it.   If ( t ) is solved for from the 1^st equation and substituted into the 2^nd equation, the following equation will be resulted:

v_f²  -  v_i² = 2ax        ( explicitly independent of time )

Students are encouraged to try the algebra and derive this equation as explained above.

Example 6:  During take off, an airplane travels 960m along a straight runway and reaches a speed of 65m/s before its tires leave the ground.  If the motion is uniformly accelerated, determine its (a) acceleration, (b) elapsed time, (c) equation of motion, and (d) its midway speed.

Solution:  (a) v_f² - v_i² = 2ax ;   (65m/s)² - (0m/s)² = 2a(960m) ;        4225 = 1920a    ;     a =  2.2 m/s²

               (b)  a = (v_f -v_i) / t  ;   solving for ( t )  ;   t = (v_f -v_i) / a ;     t = (65m/s - 0m/s) / ( 2.2m/s²)  =  30. sec.

              (c)  x = (1/2)( 2.2m/s²) t²  + (0) t      ;        x =  1.1 t²

              (d) v_f² - v_i² = 2ax ;   v_f² - (0m/s)² = 2( 2.2 m/s²)[(960/2)m] ;      v_f² = 2113    ;    v_f = 46 m/s.

Freely Falling of Objects:

All objects in the vicinity of the Earth are under a gravitational pull toward the center of the Earth whether falling or not.  This gravitational pull imposes an acceleration of  9.8m/s² on all objects nearby the Earth and the acceleration vector is always toward the Earth's center.  Since falling objects move along straight lines and accelerate as they move, the following equations apply:  Note that these equations are valid if air resistance can be neglected.  This is true for objects that are tiny, solid, and dense.

(1)     g = (v_f -v_i ) / t     ;     (2)  y = (1/2) g t²  +  v_i t    Don't forget to use horiz. fraction bars.

(3)    v_f²  -  v_i² = 2 g y

You already know these equations.  "g", the acceleration of gravity, has replaced "a".

In the following example, it is easy to show that the climbing time and the returning time for an object thrown straight upward are the same.  Also, the throwing speed and the striking speed are the same.  Note:  Assume +y to be upward as usual.  This way, since g acts downward, it is then negative compared to the upward +y.  Draw a figure for the upward motion and a figure for the downward motion.

Chapter 2 Test Yourself 1

1) Motion is (a) the velocity change of an object, (b) the acceleration change of an object, (c) the relative change of the position of an object with respect to a reference point.  To check your answer click here.

2) Equation of motion is a relation between the (a) constants, (b) the variables distance and time, (c) space and time, (d) both b and c.

3) The equation for acceleration is (a)  a = v_f - v_i / t     (b)  a = (v_f - v_i ) / t     (c) a = ( v_f + v_i ) / t

4) The equation for speed is (a)  v = x · t     (b)  v = Δx /Δ t     (c)  v = (x + t ) / 2    click here.

5) Uniformly accelerated motion means that the acceleration is (a) constant,  (b) zero,  (c) varying uniformly.

6) In constant velocity motion, the acceleration is (a) zero,  (b) constant,  (c)  distance over time.

7) An object moving at a constant velocity travels (a) different distances in equal intervals of time, (b) equal distances in equal intervals of time, (c) at a constant nonzero acceleration as well.    click here.

8) Change in velocity is (a)   V_f + V_i    (b)    V_f - V_i     (c)     (V_f + V_i ) / 2    (d)    V_i - V_f

9) Average velocity is  (a)   V_f + V_i / 2    (b)    V_f - V_i     (c)     (V_f + V_i ) / 2

10) A car accelerates from rest (V_i = 0) to 18m/s in 6.0 seconds.  Its acceleration is (a) 108m/s²  (b) 12m/s²  (c) 3.0m/s²

11) A car accelerates from rest (V_i = 0) to 18m/s in 6.0 seconds.  Its average speed during this period is (a) 9.0m/s  (b) 9.0m/s²  (c) 3.0m/s    click here.

12) The equation x =  (1/2) a t²  +  v_i t  is valid for motion along a straight line if the acceleration is (a) varying  (b) zero  (c) constant   (d)    both b and c.

13) Equation x =  (1/2) a t²  +  v_i t   simplifies to  x =  v_i t  if     (a)  V is constant   (b)  a = 0    (c)  both a and b

14) When an object is falling freely under the influence of gravity with negligible air resistance, (a) the acceleration remains constant near the Earth's surface, (b) the acceleration is 9.8 m/s²   (c)  the force of gravity on it remains constant because the acceleration is constant,  (d) all of the above.    click here.

15) The way to calculate an average speed when the motion is at constant acceleration is (a)    (V_f + V_i ) / 2    (b)  Δx / Δt   (c) both a and b

16) For a uniformly accelerated motion, the object travels (a) equal distances in equal intervals of time  (b) different distances in equal intervals of time  (c) at increased acceleration.

17) An object is released from a height of 490m above the ground.  Assuming origin to be at the ground level and  +y axis to be the usual upward direction,  the equation of motion of the object is  (a)  y =  4.9t²   (b)    y = 490 - 4.9t²      (c)  y = - 4.9t² + 490t    click here.

18) An object is released from a height of 122.5m above the ground.  Assuming  +y axis to be downward and setting the origin at where the object is released, the y of the point at which the object strikes the ground is  (a) 0    (b) 122.5m   (c) -122.5m.

19) The time it takes for the object in question 18 to strike the ground is (a)  5.0s    (b)  10.0s    (c)  1.0s

20) The velocity at which the object in question 18 strikes the ground can be calculated from  the equation (a)  g=(V_f -V_i)/t   (b)  v_f²-v_i²=2gy    (c) both a and b        click here.

21) When a small rock (negligible air resistance) is thrown straight upward from the ground level, it takes 10.0s to arrive at the same ground level.  How high does it reach?  (a)  49m    (b) 490m    (c) 122.5m

22) A rock is released from a height of 500m.  The distance it travels in the 3^rd second is  (a) 24.5m    (a) 44.1m   (c) 167m

If you are comfortable with answering the above questions, attempt the assigned problems in your text book now; otherwise, repeat the chapter until you are comfortable with these questions.

Problems:

1) A driver is to stop his car that is moving at a constant velocity of 24m/s eastward in 4.0 seconds.  If his reaction time is 1.0s, (a) how much time does he have to stop the car and (b) at what minimum acceleration should that happen?   Also, (c) write the equation of motion, and (d) calculate the stopping distance.  

2) A train traveling on a straight track at 26.0m/s slows down to 12.0m/s in a distance of 532m.  Find (a) its acceleration, (b) equation of motion, and (c) the elapsed time for this change.  If the point at which slowing down starts is taken to be the origin for this study, find (d) the train distance from the origin at the following instances: 1.0s, 2.0s, 3.0s, 26.0s, 27.0s, and 28.0s.  Name these distance x(1), x(2), x(3), x(26), x(27), and x(28).  (e) Find the distance traveled in each of the 2nd second, the 26th second,  and the 27th second.

3) A motorcycle is moving along a straight eastward road at a constant speed of 12.0m/s.  Find (a) its acceleration.  (b) if the cyclist keeps this speed for 5.00 minutes, what distance will be traveled during this time.  If the cyclist changes speed to 30.0 m/s in 189m,  find (c) the average speed, (d) the elapsed time, and (e) the acceleration for this phase of motion.

4) Neglecting air resistance and from an initial height of 1.0m above the ground, (a) at what initial speed should a rock be thrown straight upward to come to stop at an elevation of 43m?  (b) Write the equation of motion for the rock assuming that the origin is placed at 1.0m above the ground.  (c) Calculate the climbing time, and (d) find the falling time to the ground as well as the rock's speed just before striking the ground.   Hint: On its way back, place the origin at the new starting point (43.0m elevation) with the (+y) axis upward.  Let g = - 9.81 m/s².

5) A tiny rock is thrown straight downward from a height of 325m.  If it takes 6.00s to hit the ground, find (a) its initial speed, (b) its final speed before striking the ground, (c) its equation of motion , and (d) the distance traveled during the last second.  Place the origin at the starting point of the rock with the (+y) axis upward. Neglect air resistance, and let g = -9.81 m/s².

Answers:

1) (a) 3.0s    (b) -8.0m/s²    (c) x = - 4.0 t²  +  24 t    (d) 36m

2) (a) 0.500 m/s²    (b) x = - 0.250 t²  +  26.0 t      (c) 28s   

    (d) x(1) = 25.8m;  x(2) = 51.0m;  x(3) = 76.0m;   x(26) = 507m,   x(27) = 520.m,  x(28) = 532m,

    (e) 26.0m , 13.0m, and 12.0m.

3) (a) 0    (b) 3600m    (c) 21m/s    (d) 9.0s    (e) 2.0m/s².

4) (a) 28.7m/s    (b) y = - 4.91 t²  +  28.7 t     (c) 2.93s     (d) 2.96s and 29.0m/s

5) (a) 24.7m/s    (b) 83.6m/s    (c) y = - 4.91 t²  - 24.7 t     (d) 78.8m