KINEMATICS 1

Kinematics is the study of motion

(regardless of the cause of the motion or the north
B 4 m s-1
mass of the object). 30 m s-1 8m
The following types of motion occur A B
frequently:
(a) linear motion, A C
(b) parabolic motion, 20 m s-1
4 m s -1
(c) circular motion,
(d) simple harmonic motion (SHM). In each example calculate,
(a) the distance travelled,
Circular motion and SHM is studied at A2 (b) the displacement,
level. (c) the average speed,
(d) the average velocity?
1. Definitions (e) the change in velocity?
1. Displacement is the change in position of
an object or distance moved in a particular Answer
direction from a fixed reference point. It is a 1. (a) 21 000 m
vector quantity. (b) 15 000 m at 36.9° north of east
2. Speed is the rate of change of distance or (c) 23.3 m/s
the distance travelled per unit time. Speed is (d) 16.7 m/s, in a direction 37° north of east.
a scalar quantity. (e) 36 m/s, at 34° west of north.
distance travelled
speed=
time taken 2. (a) 4 π m = 12.6 m
(b) 8 m east
3. Velocity is the rate of change of (c) 4 m/s
displacement. Velocity is a vector quantity. (d) 8/ π m/s to the right
(e) 8 m/s south.
change ∈displacement (f) Note that the average velocity for the child
velocity=
timetaken moving round the complete circle from A to A
is zero because the displacement is zero.
Constant or uniform velocity occurs when a
body covers equal displacements in equal 2. Graphical representation
time intervals. The motion must be in a straight line, i.e.
4. Acceleration is the rate of change of forwards and backwards because more than
velocity. It is a vector. two directions cannot be shown on a graph.
change of velocity
acceleration=
timetaken 1. Displacement-time graphs
The gradient represents the velocity. The
Acceleration occurs when there is area under the graph does not represent
 a change in speed, anything useful.
 a change in direction, e.g. an object
moving in a circular path, 2. Velocity-time graphs
 both a change in speed and direction. The gradient is the acceleration. The area
Uniform or constant acceleration occurs when under the graph is the displacement.
the velocity increases by the same amount in
equal time intervals. 3. Acceleration-time graphs
The area under the graph is the change in
Example velocity. The gradient is not often useful.
1. A car travels at a velocity of 20 m/s in an see
easterly direction for 10 minutes and then http://www.absorblearning.com distance time graph
http://www.absorblearning.com distance time graph
turning north, travels at 30 m/s for 5 minutes. with a sound detector
2. A child on a roundabout of diameter 8 m
moving at a constant speed of 4 m s-1 from A Example
to B.
 KINEMATICS 2
Use the displacement-time graph below to v=u+at (1)
plot v+u
(a) a velocity-time graph 2. average velocity=
2
(b) an acceleration time graph of the motion and
of a body, and describe the motion of the s
body between A and I. average velocity=
t
s v +u
Answer = (2)
t 2
s/m c d i Note
10 average velocity is half the final velocity.
b h
5 3. Substitute for v from equation (1), in
a e g
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 t/s
equation (2), to get
2
s=ut +½ at (3)
-5
f 4. Substitute for t from equation (1), into
-10
equation (2), to get
2 2
AB constant velocity of 5 m s-1 v =u +2 a s (4)
BC gradient decreasing, velocity decreasing
CD gradient is zero, velocity is zero, object is 5. distance = area under graph
stationary = area of rectangle + area of triangle
DE constant negative gradient, constant s=ut+½ ( v−u ) t
velocity of - 5 m s-1 (moving backwards) s=ut+½ ( a t ) t
2
EF still moving backwards with a constant s=ut +½ at
velocity of -5 m s-1
FG constant gradient, constant velocity of
7.5 m s-1
GH constant velocity of 7.5 m s-1 4. Falling objects
HI constant velocity of 2.5 m s-1 1. An object is in free fall if the only force
acting on it is the gravitational pull of the
earth. It then accelerates downwards at
3. Equations of uniformly accelerated approximately 10 m s-2. This acceleration is
motion called the acceleration of free fall or the
These can only be used when the acceleration due to gravity (symbol g).
acceleration is constant. 2. Measurements show that g = 9.81 m s-2
but this value varies from place to place.
u = initial velocity at time t = 0 (g is also the gravitational field strength,
v = final velocity at time t = 9.81 N kg-1 ).
a = constant acceleration
s = distance travelled from the starting point
velocity

0 time

v−u
1. a=
t
 KINEMATICS 3
Measuring g using a trap door, electromagnet (a) What does the gradient of the
and steel ball. displacement time graph give?
(b) What does the gradient of the velocity
electromagnet time graph give? What does the area under
the velocity time graph represent?
(c) What is the acceleration of the ball
throughout the motion?

Example
A tennis ball is dropped from a height of 2 m
steel ball above a hard floor, and falls to the floor in
bearing timer 0.63 s. It rebounds to a height of 1.5 m,
(±0.01 s) rising to a maximum height 1.18 s after it was
h released. Draw
(a) a velocity time graph and
(b) an acceleration time graph of the motion,
hinge indicating the speed and time at key points of
X the motion.

Answer
metal plate held against the contact at X
v

5.45

1. Starting the timer automatically cuts off the

current to the electromagnet and releases the 0 0.63 1.18 t/s
ball bearing. The bearing falls freely, strikes
the hinged metal plate, breaks the electrical 6.35
contact at x and stops the timer.

2. h is measured with a metre rule average speed = distance/time

From = 2 m / 0.63 s = 3.17 m s-1
2
s=ut +½ at speed on hitting floor = twice this
h=½ g t
2 = 6.35 m s-1
Plot h against t2 average speed on rebound = 2.73 m s-1
The gradient = ½ g maximum speed = 5.45 m s-1

Example time 1.18 – 0.63 = 0.55 s

An ball is thrown upwards with a velocity of
40 m s-1. Neglecting air resistance and
assuming
g = 10 m s-1 , plot
(a) a displacement time graph of the motion,
(b) a velocity time graph, and
(c) an acceleration time graph of the motion.

Take downward velocity as +ve.

Use s = u t + ½ a t2 to find s
and v = u + at to find v

t/ s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
s/ m
v/ m s-1
 KINEMATICS 4
5. Effect of air resistance see
1. When a skydiver falls from a plane, he http://www.absorblearning.com/media/
search.action#search firing a cannon ball
accelerates at about 10 m/s2 due to the pull of http://www.absorblearning.com/media/
gravity. As his speed increases, so does air search.action#search motor cycle jump
resistance and eventually air resistance
equals his weight. The two forces balance,
so he falls with a constant velocity called the Equations of parabolic motion
terminal velocity (about 50 m/s).
v / m s-1 u sinθ u

50

s
θ

10 u cosθ

0 t/s R
a/ m s-2
1. The horizontal velocity stays constant
assuming there is no air resistance. The
0 t/s
vertical component of the velocity changes
due to g. The horizontal and vertical
motions are independent.
2. Consider the vertical motion.
The maximum height s is found from
2 2
v =u +2 a s
2. When he opens the parachute, air 2 2
0=u sin θ – 2 g s
resistance increases due to the large surface 2 2
area of the parachute. There is a resultant u sin θ
s=
upward force on him and his velocity 2g
decreases. Eventually air resistance 3. The time to reach the maximum height is
balances his weight, and he now falls with a found from
new terminal velocity (about 10 m/s). v=u+at
0=u sinθ−¿
u sinθ
t=
6. Motion in two dimensions g
1. A projectile is an object which is initially The total time of flight is twice this
2u sinθ
projected by a force, but which then total time=
continues to move freely under the influence g
of gravity. Examples are missiles and 4. Consider the horizontal motion.
cannon balls. The range R is
2. The path that the projectile follows is R=u cos θ x total time
parabolic. The only forces that are acting on 2u sinθ
R=u cos θ x
the projectile during the motion are gravity, g
2
and air resistance which can be neglected in 2 u cos θ sinθ
R=
many situations. g
3. The horizontal and vertical components of but
the velocity are independent of one another, sin 2 θ=2 sinθcosθ
2
since gravity affects only the vertical u sin 2θ
R=
component of the velocity. g
The range is a maximum when sin 2 θ=1,
2
u
i.e. when θ=45 ° and has the value
g
 KINEMATICS 5
Example
A cricket ball is thrown with a velocity of
30 m s-1 at an angle of 42° to the horizontal.
Find
(a) the time it takes to reach its maximum
height;
(b) the total time taken to return to its original
level;
(c) the maximum height reached;
(d) the horizontal distance travelled.
g = 9.8 m s-2

Answer
(a) 2.05 s (b) 4.1 s (c) 21 m (d) 91 m