Introduction

Motion is among the first ever concept to be

observed and studied by mankind.

A sound grasp of key principles of mechanics

is essential.

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 Mechanics
Mechanics is the study of motion of
objects.

Mechanics can be divided into two parts,

kinematics and dynamics.

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 Kinematics is the description of the motion
of objects without looking at what is
causing it.
In Dynamics how the motion takes place
is explained using the concept of force and
energy.

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Ch2: Kinematics in One-Dimension
1. Reference frame and displacement

2. Velocity, average and instantaneous

3. Acceleration

4. Motion at constant acceleration

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 Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. define displacement, velocity (average &
instantaneous) and acceleration.
2. derive the equations of motion with constant
acceleration.
3. explain the motion of an object based on the
given s-t, v-t or a-t, graphs (do graphical analysis).
4. solve problems using equations of motions.

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 Reference Frames
Reference frame is important when we want to define
the relative change of position of an object.
A reference point is defined as a point relative to
which a position or changed of position is defined.
When describing the motion of an object, not only the
reference frame and reference point is significant, it is
also important to specify the direction of the motion
relative to the reference frame or point.

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 A simple example on Reference Frame

If we take Ipoh as a reference point, then Kuala

Lumpur is around 205 kilometers south, and
Johor Bahru is about 573 kilometers south.
KL
IPOH J.B.
205 km

573 km

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 IPOH J.B.
- 205 km KL 368 km

And, if we take Kuala Lumpur as your

reference point then, Johor Bahru is around 368
km south and Ipoh 205 km north.

Reference frames must be used when you

deal with vector quantities.

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 Kinematics Definitions
Displacement is defined as a change of position (∆ x).

∆ x = x2 - x1
x1 x2
x
Note: Displacement does not depend on the path taken by the object.
It only depends on its initial and final position.

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When an object is in motion, the rate of change
of its displacement is called the velocity (v).

∆x x2 − x1
v= =
∆t t

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 The average velocity, v , is the ratio of the
displacement ∆ x to the time taken ∆ t for the
displacement to occur is called.
∆x
v=
∆t
The limit of this ratio as ∆ t → 0 is
called the instantaneous velocity.

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 ∆x
v=
∆t
instantaneous
velocity, v
∆x
v= lim
∆t →0 ∆t

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 In a similar manner, the rate of change of
velocity is called acceleration.
∆v v f − vi
a= =
∆t t
We have corresponding definitions of
average acceleration and
instantaneous acceleration.

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 a

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 Motion with Constant Acceleration

A natural example is free fall in the

approximately uniform gravitational field
close to the surface of the Earth.

Let’s derive the equations of motion.

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 Symbols Descriptions
• v → final velocity (sometimes, vf)
• u → initial velocity (sometimes, v0 or vi)
• a → constant acceleration
• g → gravitational acceleration
• s → displacement
• t → time

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 Derivation of the equations of motion
Consider an object with constant acceleration a,
initial position x0, initial velocity v0.

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 (ii) Find the displacement after time t. The average
velocity is v +v
vave = 0
2

The displacement, ∆ x, is then

1
∆x = vave t = ( v0 + v ) t
2

1 2
∴ ∆x = v0 t + at
2

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 t=
( v − v0 )
(iii) From the definition of a, we have
a
1 2
Substitute into: ∆x = v0 t + at
2
2
 v − v 0  1  v − v0 
∆x = v0   + a 
 a  2  a 

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 Graphical analysis
Graphical representation of linear motion.

Constant velocity Constant velocity

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 Increasing velocity, Constant acceleration
Constant acceleration

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 Increasing velocity,
Non-constant (increasing) acceleration

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 From the graph you can obtain two very
important information for analysis
purposes.

area under the graph

gradient

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 Velocity - time graph

∆ v

∆ t

t
∆v
Gradient = = acceleration
∆t
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 Area under graph =
1
ut + ( v − u ) t
2
1 (v − u) 2
= ut + t
2 t
1 2
= ut + a t
t 2
= displacement

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 For velocity - time graph

area under the graph

gradient
displacement:
acceleration

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 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/s2. 
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. 
 

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 Free Fall
Direction/position  Velocity Gravitational  Description of 
of object acceleration Motion

Upwards
positive negative Slowing down

Highest point negative
zero Changing direction

Downwards
negative negative Speeding up

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 Vectors and Scalars
• 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.

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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.
total distance total displacement
Speed = velocity =
time taken time taken

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