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=
2
0
2
1
at t v x + = A
2
0 0
0
2
1
|
.
|
\
|
+
|
.
|
\
|
= A
a
v v
a
a
v v
v x
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 19
Equations of motion with
constant acceleration
2
2 2
2
1
2
2
at ut s
t
v u
t v s
as u v
at u v
ave
+ =
+
= =
+ =
+ =
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 20
A natural example is free fall in the
approximately uniform gravitational field
close to the surface of the Earth.
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 21
Free Fall
Gravitational acceleration is always downwards no matter which
direction the object is moving.
Whether it is positive or negative depends on the reference frame or
reference point. If we take upwards to be the positive direction, then
the gravitational acceleration is always negative, i.e. 9.81 m/s
2
.
The quantity that changes is the velocity. The velocity is positive
when the object is moving upwards, zero at the highest position
and negative when it is moving downwards.
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 22
Free Fall
Direction/position
of object
Velocity
Gravitational
acceleration
Description of
Motion
Upwards
Highest point
Downwards
positive negative Slowing down
zero
negative
negative negative
Changing direction
Speeding up
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 23
Equations of motion for free fall
(taking upwards to be positive direction)
2
2 2
2
1
2
gt ut s
gs u v
gt u v
=
=
=
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 24
Graphical analysis
Graphical representation of linear motion.
Constant velocity Constant velocity
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 25
Increasing velocity,
Constant acceleration
Constant acceleration
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Increasing velocity,
Non-constant (increasing) acceleration
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 27
From the graph you can obtain two very
important information for analysis
purposes.
gradient
area under the graph
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 28
Velocity - time graph
A v
A t
t
t A
A
=
v
Gradient
v
= acceleration
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 29
Area under graph =
= displacement
t
ut +
( ) t u v
2
1
( )
2
2
1
t
t
u v
ut
+ =
2
2
1
t a ut + =
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 30
gradient
area under the graph
displacement:
For velocity - time graph
acceleration
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 31
Vector quantity is a quantity that has both the
magnitude and direction.
Examples: Displacement, velocity, acceleration,
force.
Scalar quantity is a quantity with
magnitude only.
Examples: Distance, speed, mass, energy.
Vectors and Scalars
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 32
Distance is a scalar quantity which refers to "how
much ground an object has covered" during its motion.
Displacement is a vector quantity which refers to
"how far out of place an object is"; it is the object's
overall change in position.
taken time
distance total
Speed=
taken time
nt displaceme total
velocity=
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 33
Examples
A car starts from rest and accelerates at a constant rate in a straight line. In the
first second the car covers a distance of 2.0 m.
a) How fast will the car be moving at the end of 2 s?
b) How far does the car moves during the second s of its motion?
m 0 . 2 , s 1 , 0 = = = s t u
2
2
1
at ut s + =
( )
2
1
2
1
0 2 a + =
2
2
m/s 4
s 1
m 2 2
=
= a
at u v + = a)
( )( ) 2 4 0 + =
m/s 8 =
2
2
1
b) at ut s + =
( )( )
2
2 4
2
1
0+ = m 8 =
During second s, it moves 8 m 2 m = 6 m
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 34
Example
A ball is dropped from rest from a tower and strikes the ground 125 m
below. Approximately how many seconds does it take the ball to strike the
ground after being dropped? Neglect air resistance.
5.05 s
? m, 125 , 81 . 9 , 0 = = = = t s a u
2
2
1
at ut s + =
( )
2
81 . 9
2
1
0 125 t + =
( )
s 05 . 5
81 . 9
125 2
=
= t
( )
2
81 . 9
2
1
0 125 t + =
( )
s 05 . 5
81 . 9
125 2
= = t
14/01/2014 05:02 FAP0015 PHYSICS I 35
Example
A ball is shot straight up from the surface of the earth with an initial speed of
19.6 m/s. Neglect any effects due to air resistance.
(a) What is the magnitude of the balls displacement from the starting point after
1.00 second has elapsed?
(b) What maximum height will the ball reach?
(c) How much time elapses between the throwing of the ball and its return to
the original launch point?
Ans: 14.7 m, 19.6 m, 4.00 s