THEORY

The velocity v of the particle is equal to the time derivative of the position coordinate x,

and the acceleration a is obtained by differentiating v with respect to t,

we can also express a as

The velocity v and acceleration a are represented by algebraic numbers which can be
positive or negative. A positive value for v indicates that the particle moves in the
positive direction, and a negative value that it moves in the negative direction. A
positive value for a, however, may mean that the particle is truly accelerated (i.e., moves
faster) in the positive direction, or that it is decelerated (i.e., moves more slowly) in the
negative direction. A negative value for a is subject to a similar interpretation.

Two types of motion are frequently encountered: uniform rectilinear motion, in which
the velocity v of the particle is constant and uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion, in
which the acceleration a of the particle is constant
SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1. Acceleration of a particle moving on an axis is the rate of change of its velocity
with time.
2. In a graph of position versus time, the slope of the curve is the velocity of the
particle.
3. In a graph of velocity versus time, the area under the curve between times t1 and
t2 is the displacement x2 - x1.
4. In a graph of acceleration versus time, the area under the curve between times t1
and t2 is the change in velocity v2-v1.
5. Constant acceleration is a special case of kinematics. The acceleration of gravity
is often regarded as constant from motion on earth.
6. In general, motion of a body occurs in three dimensions.
7. The velocity vector is the time derivative of the position vector. The velocity
vector is tangent to the path of the particle.
8. The acceleration vector is the time derivative of the velocity vector. The
acceleration vector is directed toward the concave side of the path of the particle.
9. The kinematic relations for rotation of a line in a plane are directly analogous to
those for motion on a particle on a straight line.

18. The angular velocity of a rotating line is the rate of change of the angular
position of the line with time.
19. The angular acceleration of a rotating line is the rate of change of the angular
velocity of the line with time.
20. Kinematic constraints are equations that relate the motion of two or more
particles.
21. The motion of many simple mechanisms and natural phenomena is closely
approximated as simple harmonic motion.
22. Uniform circular motion projected onto an axis produces simple harmonic
motion.
23. A Fourier series is a combination of simple harmonic motions that can be used to
approximate a cyclic motion.
24. The curvature of a plane curve at a point P is defined as dq/ds, where q is the
angular position of the tangent to the curve at P and s is the arc length along the
curve.
25. The acceleration of a particle is conveniently expressed in terms of components
that are tangent and normal to the path of the particle.
26. A vector and its time derivative, which is also a vector, are not generally parallel.
27. The acceleration of a particle that follows any curve in space can be written in
terms of just two components, those tangent and normal to the curve.
28. The normal and tangential components of a particles acceleration at a point
define the osculating plane at that point.
29. Polar coordinates coincide with normal and tangential coordinates only when the
path followed by a particle is circular.
Q7. (a) A particle moves on a vertical line with acceleration a=2v1/2 At t=3 , S = 9m
and v = 9m/s . Determine S, v and a for t=4 sec.
Q7(b) A particle moves along a horizontal straight line with an acceleration a= 6 S1/3
where a is in m/s2 and S is in m. When t =2 sec, S=27 m and V=27 m/s. Calculate the
velocity and acceleration of the point when t=4 sec.

At t=3 ; s=9m , v=9m/s

We have to find s and v at t=4 sec.

Substituting value of v in A, we get

Integrating both sides,

Q8. A rod AB of length L is placed with its upper end touching a. vertical wall and the
lower end A resting on horizontal ground . The end A is made to move along the floor
with constant velocity vo while the rod AB remains in the vertical plane perpendicular
to the wall. Express YB , B and B as function of XA.

Q9. A Flywheel 2m in diameter accelerates uniformly from rest to 2000 rpm in 20 sec.
Determine its angular acceleration. How many revolutions does it take to attain its full
speed? Determine the velocity and acceleration of a point P on the rim of the flywheel
at t = 0.6 sec, if P was at =0 at t = 0 .
N = 2000 rpm , t = 20 sec
Diameter = 2 m , = ?
Point P,

at t = 0,

We have to find where it is at 0.6 sec,

N = 200 rpm

Since it starts from rest ,

No. of revolutions it takes to attain full speed,

No. Of revolutions =
Now at t = 0.6 sec,

Q10. A particle moves along the path r = 2 where r is in meters and in radians. If =
t2, where t is in sec, determine the velocity and acceleration of the particle for =600.

=
at t2=/3

=
=
=21.49
=21.4917.22 m/sec2
Q11. A point moves on a circular path with its position from rest defined by s = t 3 + 5,
where s and t are measured in meter and sec respectively. The magnitude of
acceleration is 7.5 m/s2, when t=1 sec. Determine the radius of the path.

v= 3t2 = 3 m/sec

at t=1 sec

Now,

b) A particle P moves on a circular path of radius 5m. At the instant when =450 the
acceleration is 25 m/s2 at 30 degrees to the radius OP. Determine its angular velocity
and angular acceleration at the instant.

Q12. A particle describes the path y = 4x2 with a constant speed V, whose X and Y are
in M. Determine the normal component of acceleration at any point on its path.