KINEMATICS/MOTION

PHS001

Dr. Adekola O. Adewale

Department of Physics
University of Lagos

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 Module 1
Outline
• Measurements, quantities and Units:
Physical quantities, basic and derived units,
vectors and scalars.
• Vectors: Addition of vectors using
graphical/geometrical method, resolution of
vectors. Addition of vectors using
component method. Scalar and vector
products of vectors.

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 Module 1
Outline (Contd)
• Kinematics/Motion: Types of motion –
translational, random, oscillatory,
rotational. Linear motion – distance,
displacement, uniform velocity motion,
uniform acceleration motion. Instantaneous
and average velocity and acceleration.
Motion in two or three dimensions. Relative
motion in one and two dimensions.

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 Module 1
Outline (Contd)
• Dynamics: Newton laws of motion, types of
force, equilibrium of forces, center of mass
and center of gravity, moment of a force,
linear momentum and its conservation laws,
elastic and inelastic collisions

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 3.0 Kinematics
• Mechanics, a branch of physics, is usually
divided into two parts: kinematics and
dynamics.
• Kinematics deals with the mathematical
description of the motion of objects without
consideration of what causes the motion.
• Motion is the action of changing location or
position.

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 3.0 Types of Motion

• Translational or linear motion

• Random motion
• Oscillatory motion
• Rotational motion.

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 3.1 Motion in One Dimension
• Motion in one dimension refers to the
movement of an object in a straight line along
the x, y or z axis.
• We make a distinction between distance and
displacement.
• Displacement (blue line) is how far the object is
from its starting point, regardless of how it got
there.
• Distance traveled
(dashed line) is measured
along the actual path.

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 3.1 Motion in One Dimension
The displacement is written: ∆x = x2 − x1

Left: Displacement is positive. Right: Displacement is negative.

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 3.1.2 Speed/Velocity
Speed can be defined as the rate of change of
distance with time.

Velocity is defined as the rate of change of

displacement with time.

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 3.1.2 Speed/Velocity
The instantaneous speed v(t)
x dxt 
vt   lim 
t 0 t dt

• These graphs show (a) constant velocity and

(b) varying velocity.

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 3.1.3 Acceleration
• Acceleration is defined as the time rate of
change of velocity.
v f  vi
a av 
change in velocity a av 
time taken t
• Instantaneous acceleration a(t)

• Displacement and velocity

tf tf

r t    vt dt  c v t    a t dt  c

ti ti

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 3.2 Motion with Constant
Acceleration in a Straight Line
The average velocity of an object during a
time interval t is

The acceleration, assumed constant, is

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 3.2 Motion with Constant
Acceleration in a Straight Line
In addition, as the velocity is increasing at a
constant rate, we know that

Combining these last three equations, we find:

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 3.2 Motion with Constant
Acceleration in a Straight Line
We can also combine these equations so as to
eliminate t:

We now have all the equations we need to

solve constant-acceleration problems.

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 Solving Problems
1. Read the whole problem and make sure you
understand it. Then read it again.
2. Decide on the objects under study and what
the time interval is.
3. Draw a diagram and choose coordinate axes.
4. Write down the known (given) quantities, and
then the unknown ones that you need to find.
5. What physics applies here? Plan an approach
to a solution.

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 Solving Problems
6. Which equations relate the known and
unknown quantities? Are they valid in this
situation? Solve algebraically for the unknown
quantities, and check that your result is
sensible (correct dimensions).
7. Calculate the solution and round it to the
appropriate number of significant figures.
8. Look at the result—is it reasonable? Does it
agree with a rough estimate?
9. Check the units again.
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 3.3 Freely Falling Bodies
Near the surface of the Earth, all objects
experience approximately the same
acceleration due to gravity.

This is one of the most common

examples of motion with constant
acceleration.

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3.3 Freely Falling Bodies
In the absence of
air resistance, all
objects fall with
the same
acceleration,
although this
may be hard to
tell by testing in
an environment
where there is
air resistance.
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 3.3 Freely Falling Bodies
• Suppose that a ball is The acceleration due
dropped from a height to gravity at the
of 30m above the
ground. The initial Earth’s surface is
velocity vo = 0, and the approximately 9.80
acceleration a = g = m/s2.
9.80m/s2. The time 1 2
taken to reach the y  v o t  at
2
ground is calculated as 1
follows: 30  0  t   9.8  t 2
2
t  2.47 s
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 3.4 Motion in Two or Three
Dimensions

• Position vector r  xi  yj  zk
• Change in position
  
 r  r2  r1   x 2  x1 i   y 2  y1 j   z 2  z1 k

  x2  x1 i   y2  y1 j  z 2  z1 k
• Average velocity v av 
t

v t  
dx dy dz
• Instantaneous velocity i  j k
dt dt dt
How will you write instantaneous acceleration vector?
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 3.4 Motion in Two or Three
Dimensions
• Equation of motion for two-dimensional
motion v v 
x  x ox
t
v x  v ox  a x t  2 
 v y  v oy 
v y  v oy  a y t y   t

 2 
1 v x2  v ox2  2 a x x
x  v ox t  a x t 2
2
1 v y2  voy2  2a y y
y  voy t  a y t 2
2
where vx, vox, ax and x represent x-component of velocity after time t, x-component
of initial velocity, x-component of acceleration and displacement along the x axis,
respectively
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 3.5 Projectile Motion
A projectile is an object moving in two
dimensions under the influence of Earth’s
gravity; its path is a parabola.

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3.5 Projectile Motion
Projectile
motion can be
understood by
analyzing the
horizontal and
vertical motions
separately.

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 3.5 Projectile Motion
The speed in the x-direction is
constant; in the y-direction the
object moves with constant
acceleration g.
This photograph shows two balls
that start to fall at the same time.
The one on the right has an initial
speed in the x-direction. It can be
seen that vertical positions of the
two balls are identical at identical
times, while the horizontal
position of the yellow ball
increases linearly.
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 3.5 Projectile Motion
If an object is launched at an initial angle of θ0
with the horizontal, the analysis is similar
except that the initial velocity has a vertical
component.

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 3.5 Projectile Motion
The x-component of acceleration due to gravity
g is zero since g is acting vertically downward;
the y-component is constant and equal to -g.

Projectile motion is motion with constant acceleration in two dimensions, where the
acceleration is g and is down.
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 3.5 Projectile Motion
• Time to reach maximum height t
v o sin  o
g

• Maximum height reached H

v o2 sin 2  o
2g

• Range 2vo2 sin  o cos o vo2 sin 2 o

R 
g g

• Define the ff: Time of flight, maximum height

reached, and range.
Derive all the equations above.
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 Solving Projectile Motion Problems
1. Read the problem carefully, and choose the
object(s) you are going to analyze.
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Choose an origin and a coordinate system.
4. Decide on the time interval; this is the same in
both directions, and includes only the time the
object is moving with constant acceleration g.
5. Examine the x and y motions separately.

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Solving Projectile Motion Problems

6. List known and unknown quantities.

Remember that vx never changes, and that
vy = 0 at the highest point.
7. Plan how you will proceed. Use the
appropriate equations; you may have to
combine some of them.

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 3.7 Distance-Time Graph
• A distance-time
(x-t) graph is a
plot of distance uniform
moved by an velocity
object versus the
time taken.

Non-uniform velocity
Velocity at a point is the
slope of the tangent at
the point.
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 3.8 Velocity-Time Graph
• A velocity-time (v-t) graph is a plot of velocity
of an object versus the time taken.
Explain the
various parts.

i. Total distance covered

ii. Acceleration
iii. Deceleration

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.

3.9 Relative Motion

• In this case, the
relationship
between the
three velocities
is:
Since the velocities form a right triangle, any velocity
can be found using the Pythagoras theorem if the other v BE  v BW
2
 vWE
2

two are known:

and the angle below the direction of the boat is v 

given by the angle   tan 1  WE 
 v BW 
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 Practice Questions
• 3.1. A train changes its position (x) as a
function of time (t) as follows: x = 20 + 5.0 t2, with
x in meters. (a) Find the displacement of the train
between t1 = 1.0s and t2 = 2.0s. (b) Find the
average velocity during the same interval. (c) Find
the instantaneous velocity at time t1 = 3.0s.
• 3.2. The acceleration with which a particle
moves is given as a t    3  2t m / s .Find its velocity
2 2

at time t = 3s, given that the velocity at t = 0 is

zero.
• A. 15m/s B. -3m/s C. 9m/s D. 5m/s

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 Practice Questions
• 3.13. A car decelerates with 10m/s2 from
50m/s to 20m/s. Calculate the distance travelled
by the car.
• A. 150 m B. 105 m C. 10 m D. 75 m
• 3.15. A stone is thrown vertically upwards
with an initial velocity of 20m/s. Find the time
taken for the stone to reach its highest point and
the distance travelled.
• A. 5s, 50m B. 4s, 40mC. 3s, 30m D. 2s, 20m
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 Practice Questions
• 3.20. A stone is thrown horizontally with an initial
velocity of 20m/s from the top of a building 90m high.
Find the horizontal range of the stone. Calculate also
the velocity with which the stone strikes the ground.
• 3.21. A missile is launched with a speed of 50m/s
at an angle 40° above the surface of a warship. Ignoring
the effects of air resistance, determine the maximum
height achieved by the missile.
• A. 51.6m B. 250.94m C. 0.50m D. 50.00m

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.

Practice Questions
• 3.31. The displacement x(t) of a particle as a function
of time t is given as . Find the
displacement, velocity and acceleration at t = 0, t = 2s,
t = 4s and t = 6s. Sketch your results.
• 3.48. A fire-fighter 50.0m away from a burning building
directs a stream of water from a fire hose at an angle
of 30.0° above the horizontal. If the velocity of the
stream is 40.0m/s, at what height will the stream of
water strike the building? (Take g = 9.8m/s2).
• A. 8.45m B. 21.8m C. 18.6m D. 55.9m

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 ASSIGNMENT – Week 2
• For the ASSIGNMENT See Pages & Files in
www.diplomaphysics.pbworks.com. Download PHS002
Assignment for Week2.pdf
• VISIT www.diplomaphysics.pbworks.com
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• Click on the link in the email and follow the procedure.

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 References
• Adewale, A.O. (2016). Physics for University Beginners Vol. 1 (2nd Edition). Lagos: LAJOM
Consulting.
• Bueche, F.J., & Hecht, E. (1997). Schaum's Outline of Theory and Problems of College Physics.
New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Eywaraye, A. O., Mgbenu, E.N., & Okeke, P.N. (2002). Electromagnetism and Modern Physics.
Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd.
• Giancoli, D. C. (1984). Physics for Scientists and Engineers. New Jersey: Pearson Education,
Inc.
• Maduemezia, A. and Chike-Obi, B. (1996). Mechanics and Properties of Matter (A First
Course). Lagos: Longman Nigeria Plc.
• Meade, R. L. (1999). Foundations of Electronics Circuits and Devices.New York: Delmar
Publishers.
• Nelkon, M., & Parker, P. (1995). Advanced Level Physics.New Delhi, India: CBS Publishers &
Distributors.
• Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2006). Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern
Physics.New York: Pearson Addison-Wesley.

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