Kinematic Equations and Free Fall

1-D Kinematics - Lesson 6 - Describing Motion with Equations
Kinematic Equations and Free Fall

 Kinematic Equations
 Kinematic Equations and Problem-Solving
 Kinematic Equations and Free Fall
 Sample Problems and Solutions
 Kinematic Equations and Graphs
As mentioned in Lesson 5, a free-falling object is an object that is falling under the sole
influence of gravity. That is to say that any object that is moving and being acted upon only be
the force of gravity is said to be "in a state of free fall." Such an object will experience a
downward acceleration of 9.8 m/s/s. Whether the object is falling downward or rising upward
towards its peak, if it is under the sole influence of gravity, then its acceleration value is 9.8
m/s/s.
Like any moving object, the motion of an object in free fall can be described by four kinematic
equations. The kinematic equations that describe any object's motion are:
The symbols in the above equation have a specific meaning: the symbol d stands for
the displacement; the symbol t stands for the time; the symbol a stands for
the acceleration of the object; the symbol vi stands for the initial velocity value; and the
symbol vf stands for the final velocity.
Applying Free Fall Concepts to Problem-Solving

There are a few conceptual characteristics of free fall motion that will be of value when using
the equations to analyze free fall motion. These concepts are described as follows:
 An object in free fall experiences an acceleration of -9.8 m/s/s. (The - sign indicates a
downward acceleration.) Whether explicitly stated or not, the value of the acceleration in
the kinematic equations is -9.8 m/s/s for any freely falling object.
 If an object is merely dropped (as opposed to being thrown) from an elevated height, then
the initial velocity of the object is 0 m/s.
 If an object is projected upwards in a perfectly vertical direction, then it will slow down as it
rises upward. The instant at which it reaches the peak of its trajectory, its velocity is 0 m/s.
This value can be used as one of the motion parameters in the kinematic equations; for
example, the final velocity (vf) after traveling to the peak would be assigned a value of 0
m/s.
 If an object is projected upwards in a perfectly vertical direction, then the velocity at which
it is projected is equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the velocity that it has when it
returns to the same height. That is, a ball projected vertically with an upward velocity of
+30 m/s will have a downward velocity of -30 m/s when it returns to the same height.
These four principles and the four kinematic equations can be combined to solve problems
involving the motion of free falling objects. The two examples below illustrate application of
free fall principles to kinematic problem-solving. In each example, the problem solving
strategy that was introduced earlier in this lesson will be utilized.
Example Problem A
Luke Autbeloe drops a pile of roof shingles from the top of a roof located 8.52 meters above
the ground. Determine the time required for the shingles to reach the ground.
The solution to this problem begins by the construction of an informative diagram of the
physical situation. This is shown below. The second step involves the identification and listing
of known information in variable form. You might note that in the statement of the problem,
there is only one piece of numerical information explicitly stated: 8.52 meters. The
displacement (d) of the shingles is -8.52 m. (The - sign indicates that the displacement is
downward). The remaining information must be extracted from the problem statement based
upon your understanding of the above principles. For example, the vi value can be inferred to
be 0 m/s since the shingles are dropped (released from rest; see note above). And the
acceleration (a) of the shingles can be inferred to be -9.8 m/s2 since the shingles are free-
falling (see note above). (Always pay careful attention to the + and - signs for the given
quantities.) The next step of the solution involves the listing of the unknown (or desired)
information in variable form. In this case, the problem requests information about the time of
fall. So t is the unknown quantity. The results of the first three steps are shown in the table
below.
Diagram: Given: Find:
vi = 0.0 m/s
d = -8.52 m
t = ??
a = - 9.8 m/s2
The next step involves identifying a kinematic equation that allows you to determine the
unknown quantity. There are four kinematic equations to choose from. In general, you will
always choose the equation that contains the three known and the one unknown variable. In
this specific case, the three known variables and the one unknown variable are d, vi, a, and t.
Thus, you will look for an equation that has these four variables listed in it. An inspection of
the four equations above reveals that the equation on the top left contains all four variables.
d = vi • t + ½ • a • t 2
Once the equation is identified and written down, the next step involves substituting known
values into the equation and using proper algebraic steps to solve for the unknown information.
This step is shown below.
-8.52 m = (0 m/s) • (t) + ½ • (-9.8 m/s2) • (t)2
-8.52 m = (0 m) *(t) + (-4.9 m/s2) • (t)2
-8.52 m = (-4.9 m/s2) • (t)2
(-8.52 m)/(-4.9 m/s2) = t2
1.739 s2 = t2
t = 1.32 s
The solution above reveals that the shingles will fall for a time of 1.32 seconds before hitting
the ground. (Note that this value is rounded to the third digit.)
The last step of the problem-solving strategy involves checking the answer to assure that it is
both reasonable and accurate. The value seems reasonable enough. The shingles are falling a
distance of approximately 10 yards (1 meter is pretty close to 1 yard); it seems that an answer
between 1 and 2 seconds would be highly reasonable. The calculated time easily falls within
this range of reasonability. Checking for accuracy involves substituting the calculated value
back into the equation for time and insuring that the left side of the equation is equal to the
right side of the equation. Indeed it is!
Example Problem B
Rex Things throws his mother's crystal vase vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 26.2
m/s. Determine the height to which the vase will rise above its initial height.
Once more, the solution to this problem begins by the construction of an informative diagram
of the physical situation. This is shown below. The second step involves the identification and
listing of known information in variable form. You might note that in the statement of the
problem, there is only one piece of numerical information explicitly stated: 26.2 m/s. The initial
velocity (vi) of the vase is +26.2 m/s. (The + sign indicates that the initial velocity is an
upwards velocity). The remaining information must be extracted from the problem statement
based upon your understanding of the above principles. Note that the vf value can be inferred
to be 0 m/s since the final state of the vase is the peak of its trajectory (see note above). The
acceleration (a) of the vase is -9.8 m/s2 (see note above). The next step involves the listing of
the unknown (or desired) information in variable form. In this case, the problem requests
information about the displacement of the vase (the height to which it rises above its starting
height). So d is the unknown information. The results of the first three steps are shown in the
table below.
Diagram: Given: Find:
vi = 26.2 m/s
vf = 0 m/s
d = ??
a = -9.8 m/s2
The next step involves identifying a kinematic equation that would allow you to determine the
unknown quantity. There are four kinematic equations to choose from. Again, you will always
search for an equation that contains the three known variables and the one unknown variable.
In this specific case, the three known variables and the one unknown variable are vi, vf, a,
and d. An inspection of the four equations above reveals that the equation on the top right
contains all four variables.
vf2 = vi2 + 2 • a • d
Once the equation is identified and written down, the next step involves substituting known
values into the equation and using proper algebraic steps to solve for the unknown information.
This step is shown below.
(0 m/s)2 = (26.2 m/s)2 + 2 •(-9.8m/s2) •d
0 m2/s2 = 686.44 m2/s2 + (-19.6 m/s2) •d
(-19.6 m/s2) • d = 0 m2/s2 -686.44 m2/s2
(-19.6 m/s2) • d = -686.44 m2/s2
d = (-686.44 m2/s2)/ (-19.6 m/s2)
d = 35.0 m
The solution above reveals that the vase will travel upwards for a displacement of 35.0 meters
before reaching its peak. (Note that this value is rounded to the third digit.)
The last step of the problem-solving strategy involves checking the answer to assure that it is
both reasonable and accurate. The value seems reasonable enough. The vase is thrown with a
speed of approximately 50 mi/hr (merely approximate 1 m/s to be equivalent to 2 mi/hr). Such
a throw will never make it further than one football field in height (approximately 100 m), yet
will surely make it past the 10-yard line (approximately 10 meters). The calculated answer
certainly falls within this range of reasonability. Checking for accuracy involves substituting the
calculated value back into the equation for displacement and insuring that the left side of the
equation is equal to the right side of the equation. Indeed it is!
Kinematic equations provide a useful means of determining the value of an unknown motion
parameter if three motion parameters are known. In the case of a free-fall motion, the
acceleration is often known. And in many cases, another motion parameter can be inferred
through a solid knowledge of some basic kinematic principles. The next part of Lesson 6
provides a wealth of practice problems with answers and solutions.
Check Your Understanding
1. An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s2 for 32.8 s until is finally lifts off the
ground. Determine the distance traveled before takeoff.
See
A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly over a time of 5.21 seconds for a distance
of 110 m. Determine the acceleration of the car.
Upton Chuck is riding the Giant Drop at Great America. If Upton free falls for 2.60 seconds,
what will be his final velocity and how far will he fall?
2. A race car accelerates uniformly from 18.5 m/s to 46.1 m/s in 2.47 seconds. Determine the
acceleration of the car and the distance traveled.
3. A feather is dropped on the moon from a height of 1.40 meters. The acceleration of gravity
on the moon is 1.67 m/s2. Determine the time for the feather to fall to the surface of the
moon.
4. Rocket-powered sleds are used to test the human response to acceleration. If a rocket-
powered sled is accelerated to a speed of 444 m/s in 1.83 seconds, then what is the
acceleration and what is the distance that the sled travels?
See Answer
5. A bike accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 7.10 m/s over a distance of 35.4 m.
Determine the acceleration of the bike.
See Answer
6. An engineer is designing the runway for an airport. Of the planes that will use the airport,
the lowest acceleration rate is likely to be 3 m/s2. The takeoff speed for this plane will be 65
m/s. Assuming this minimum acceleration, what is the minimum allowed length for the
runway?
See Answer
A car traveling at 22.4 m/s skids to a stop in 2.55 s. Determine the skidding distance of the
car (assume uniform acceleration).
See A kangaroo is capable of jumping to a height of 2.62 m. Determine the takeoff speed
of the kangaroo.
See Answer
7. A bullet leaves a rifle with a muzzle velocity of 521 m/s. While accelerating through the
barrel of the rifle, the bullet moves a distance of 0.840 m. Determine the acceleration of the
bullet (assume a uniform acceleration).
See Answer
8. A baseball is popped straight up into the air and has a hang-time of 6.25 s. Determine the
height to which the ball rises before it reaches its peak. (Hint: the time to rise to the peak is
one-half the total hang-time.)
See Answer
9. The observation deck of tall skyscraper 370 m above the street. Determine the time
required for a penny to free fall from the deck to the street below.
See Answer
10. A bullet is moving at a speed of 367 m/s when it embeds into a lump of moist clay. The
bullet penetrates for a distance of 0.0621 m. Determine the acceleration of the bullet while
moving into the clay. (Assume a uniform acceleration.)
See Answer
11. A stone is dropped into a deep well and is heard to hit the water 3.41 s after being
dropped. Determine the depth of the well.
See Answer
12. It was once recorded that a Jaguar left skid marks that were 290 m in length. Assuming
that the Jaguar skidded to a stop with a constant acceleration of -3.90 m/s2, determine the
speed of the Jaguar before it began to skid.
See Answer
A plane has a takeoff speed of 88.3 m/s and requires 1365 m to reach that speed.
Determine the acceleration of the plane and the time required to reach this speed.
See Answer
13. A dragster accelerates to a speed of 112 m/s over a distance of 398 m. Determine the
acceleration (assume uniform) of the dragster.
See Answer
14. With what speed in miles/hr (1 m/s = 2.23 mi/hr) must an object be thrown to reach a
height of 91.5 m (equivalent to one football field)? Assume negligible air resistance.
Solutions to Above Problems
1.
Given: Find:
a = +3.2 m/s2 t = 32.8 s vi = 0 m/s d = ??
2. d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
3. d = (0 m/s)*(32.8 s)+ 0.5*(3.20 m/s2)*(32.8 s)2
4. d = 1720 m
5. Return to Problem 1
6.
7.
Given: Find:
d = 110 m t = 5.21 s vi = 0 m/s a = ??
8. d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
9. 110 m = (0 m/s)*(5.21 s)+ 0.5*(a)*(5.21 s)2
10. 110 m = (13.57 s2)*a
11. a = (110 m)/(13.57 s2)
12. a = 8.10 m/ s2
14.
15.
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 m t = 2.6 s vi = 0 m/s d = ??
vf = ??
16. d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
17. d = (0 m/s)*(2.60 s)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(2.60 s)2
18. d = -33.1 m (- indicates direction)
19. vf = vi + a*t
20. vf = 0 + (-9.8 m/s2)*(2.60 s)
21. vf = -25.5 m/s (- indicates direction)
23.
24.
Given: Find:
vi = 18.5 m/s vf = 46.1 m/s t = 2.47 s d = ??
a = ??
25. a = (Delta v)/t
26. a = (46.1 m/s - 18.5 m/s)/(2.47 s)
27. a = 11.2 m/s2
28. d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
29. d = (18.5 m/s)*(2.47 s)+ 0.5*(11.2 m/s2)*(2.47 s)2
30. d = 45.7 m + 34.1 m
31. d = 79.8 m
32. (Note: the d can also be calculated using the equation vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d)
34.
35.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 m/s d = -1.40 m a = -1.67 m/s2 t = ??
36. d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
37. -1.40 m = (0 m/s)*(t)+ 0.5*(-1.67 m/s2)*(t)2
38. -1.40 m = 0+ (-0.835 m/s2)*(t)2
39. (-1.40 m)/(-0.835 m/s2) = t2
40. 1.68 s2 = t2
41. t = 1.29 s
43.
44.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 m/s vf = 444 m/s t = 1.83 s a = ??
d = ??
45. a = (Delta v)/t
46. a = (444 m/s - 0 m/s)/(1.83 s)
47. a = 243 m/s2
48. d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
49. d = (0 m/s)*(1.83 s)+ 0.5*(243 m/s2)*(1.83 s)2
50. d = 0 m + 406 m
51. d = 406 m
52. (Note: the d can also be calculated using the equation vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d)
54.
55.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 m/s vf = 7.10 m/s d = 35.4 m a = ??
56. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
57. (7.10 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(35.4 m)
58. 50.4 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (70.8 m)*a
59. (50.4 m2/s2)/(70.8 m) = a
60. a = 0.712 m/s2
62.
63.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 m/s vf = 65 m/s a = 3 m/s2 d = ??
64. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
65. (65 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(3 m/s2)*d
66. 4225 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (6 m/s2)*d
67. (4225 m2/s2)/(6 m/s2) = d
68. d = 704 m
70.
71.
Given: Find:
vi = 22.4 m/s vf = 0 m/s t = 2.55 s d = ??
72. d = (vi + vf)/2 *t
73. d = (22.4 m/s + 0 m/s)/2 *2.55 s
74. d = (11.2 m/s)*2.55 s
75. d = 28.6 m
77.
78.
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 m/s2 vf = 0 m/s d = 2.62 m vi = ??
79. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
80. (0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(2.62 m)
81. 0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 51.35 m2/s2
82. 51.35 m2/s2 = vi2
83. vi = 7.17 m/s
85.
86.
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 m/s2 vf = 0 m/s d = 1.29 m vi = ??
t = ??
87. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
88. (0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(1.29 m)
89. 0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 25.28 m2/s2
90. 25.28 m2/s2 = vi2
91. vi = 5.03 m/s
92. To find hang time, find the time to the peak and then double it.
93. vf = vi + a*t
94. 0 m/s = 5.03 m/s + (-9.8 m/s2)*tup
95. -5.03 m/s = (-9.8 m/s2)*tup
96. (-5.03 m/s)/(-9.8 m/s2) = tup
97. tup = 0.513 s
98. hang time = 1.03 s
100.
101.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 m/s vf = 521 m/s d = 0.840 m a = ??
102. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
103. (521 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(0.840 m)
104. 271441 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (1.68 m)*a
105. (271441 m2/s2)/(1.68 m) = a
106. a = 1.62*105 m /s2
108.
109.
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 m/s2 vf = 0 m/s t = 3.13 s d = ??
a. (NOTE: the time required to move to the peak of the trajectory is one-half the total
hang time - 3.125 s.)
First use: vf = vi + a*t

0 m/s = vi + (-9.8 m/s2)*(3.13 s)
0 m/s = vi - 30.7 m/s
vi = 30.7 m/s (30.674 m/s)
Now use: vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = (30.7 m/s)2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(d)
0 m2/s2 = (940 m2/s2) + (-19.6 m/s2)*d
-940 m2/s2 = (-19.6 m/s2)*d
(-940 m2/s2)/(-19.6 m/s2) = d
d = 48.0 m
Return to Problem 13
110.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 m/s d = -370 m a = -9.8 m/s2 t = ??
111. d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
112. -370 m = (0 m/s)*(t)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(t)2
113. -370 m = 0+ (-4.9 m/s2)*(t)2
114. (-370 m)/(-4.9 m/s2) = t2
115. 75.5 s2 = t2
116. t = 8.69 s
118.
119.
Given: Find:
vi = 367 m/s vf = 0 m/s d = 0.0621 m a = ??
120. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
121. (0 m/s)2 = (367 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(0.0621 m)
122. 0 m2/s2 = (134689 m2/s2) + (0.1242 m)*a
123. -134689 m2/s2 = (0.1242 m)*a
124. (-134689 m2/s2)/(0.1242 m) = a
125. a = -1.08*106 m /s2
126. (The - sign indicates that the bullet slowed down.)
128.
129.
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 m/s2 t = 3.41 s vi = 0 m/s d = ??
130. d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
131. d = (0 m/s)*(3.41 s)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(3.41 s)2
132. d = 0 m+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(11.63 s2)
133. d = -57.0 m
134. (NOTE: the - sign indicates direction)
136.
137.
Given: Find:
a = -3.90 m/s2 vf = 0 m/s d = 290 m vi = ??
138. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
139. (0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-3.90 m/s2)*(290 m)
140. 0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 2262 m2/s2
141. 2262 m2/s2 = vi2
142. vi = 47.6 m /s
144.
145.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 m/s vf = 88.3 m/s d = 1365 m a = ??
t = ??
146. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
147. (88.3 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(1365 m)
148. 7797 m2/s2 = (0 m2/s2) + (2730 m)*a
149. 7797 m2/s2 = (2730 m)*a
150. (7797 m2/s2)/(2730 m) = a
151. a = 2.86 m/s2
152. vf = vi + a*t
153. 88.3 m/s = 0 m/s + (2.86 m/s2)*t
154. (88.3 m/s)/(2.86 m/s2) = t
155. t = 30. 8 s
157.
158.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 m/s vf = 112 m/s d = 398 m a = ??
159. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
160. (112 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(398 m)
161. 12544 m2/s2 = 0 m2/s2 + (796 m)*a
162. 12544 m2/s2 = (796 m)*a
163. (12544 m2/s2)/(796 m) = a
164. a = 15.8 m/s2
166.
167.
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 m/s2 vf = 0 m/s d = 91.5 m vi = ??
t = ??
168. First, find speed in units of m/s:
169. vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
170. (0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(91.5 m)
171. 0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 1793 m2/s2
172. 1793 m2/s2 = vi2
173. vi = 42.3 m/s
174. Now convert from m/s to mi/hr:
175. vi = 42.3 m/s * (2.23 mi/hr)/(1 m/s)
176. vi = 94.4 mi/hr
Kinematic Equations and Graphs

 Kinematic Equations
 Kinematic Equations and Problem-Solving
 Kinematic Equations and Free Fall
 Sample Problems and Solutions
 Kinematic Equations and Graphs
Lesson 4 of this unit at The Physics Classroom focused on the use of velocity-time graphs to
describe the motion of objects. In that Lesson, it was emphasized that the slope of the line on
a velocity-time graph is equal to the acceleration of the object and the area between the line
and the time axis is equal to the displacement of the object. Thus, velocity-time graphs can be
used to determine numerical values and relationships between the quantities displacement (d),
velocity (v), acceleration (a) and time (t). In Lesson 6, the focus has been upon the use of four
kinematic equations to describe the motion of objects and to predict the numerical values of
one of the four motion parameters - displacement (d), velocity (v), acceleration (a) and time
(t). Thus, there are now two methods available to solve problems involving the numerical
relationships between displacement, velocity, acceleration and time. In this part of Lesson 6,
we will investigate the relationships between these two methods.
Example Problem - Graphical Solution

Consider an object that moves with a constant velocity of +5 m/s for a time period of 5
seconds and then accelerates to a final velocity of +15 m/s over the next 5 seconds. Such
a verbal description of motion can be represented by a velocity-time graph. The graph is shown
below.
The horizontal section of the graph depicts a constant velocity motion, consistent with the
verbal description. The positively sloped (i.e., upward sloped) section of the graph depicts a
positive acceleration, consistent with the verbal description of an object moving in the positive
direction and speeding up from 5 m/s to 15 m/s. The slope of the line can be computed using
the rise over run ratio. Between 5 and 10 seconds, the line rises from 5 m/s to 15 m/s and runs
from 5 s to 10 s. This is a total rise of +10 m/s and a total run of 5 s. Thus, the slope (rise/run
ratio) is (10 m/s)/(5 s) = 2 m/s2. Using the velocity-time graph, the acceleration of the object is
determined to be 2 m/s2 during the last five seconds of the object's motion. The displacement
of the object can also be determined using the velocity-time graph. The area between the line
on the graph and the time-axis is representative of the displacement; this area assumes the
shape of a trapezoid. As discussed in Lesson 4, the area of a trapezoid can be equated to the
area of a triangle lying on top of the area of a rectangle. This is illustrated in the diagram
below.
The total area is then the area of the rectangle plus the area of the triangle. The calculation of
these areas is shown below.
Rectangle Triangle
Area = base * height Area = 0.5 * base * height
Area = (10 s) * (5 m/s) Area = 0.5 * (5 s) * (10 m/s)
Area = 50 m Area = 25 m
The total area (rectangle plus triangle) is equal to 75 m. Thus the displacement of the object is
75 meters during the 10 seconds of motion.
The above discussion illustrates how a graphical representation of an object's motion can be
used to extract numerical information about the object's acceleration and displacement. Once
constructed, the velocity-time graph can be used to determine the velocity of the object at any
given instant during the 10 seconds of motion. For example, the velocity of the object at 7
seconds can be determined by reading the y-coordinate value at the x-coordinate of 7 s. Thus,
velocity-time graphs can be used to reveal (or determine) numerical values and relationships
between the quantities displacement (d), velocity (v), acceleration (a) and time (t) for any
given motion.
Example Problem - Solution Using Kinematic Equation

Now let's consider the same verbal description and the corresponding analysis using kinematic
equations. The verbal description of the motion was:
An object that moves with a constant velocity of +5 m/s for a time period of 5 seconds and
then accelerates to a final velocity of +15 m/s over the next 5 seconds
Kinematic equations can be applied to any motion for which the acceleration is constant. Since
this motion has two separate acceleration stages, any kinematic analysis requires that the
motion parameters for the first 5 seconds not be mixed with the motion parameters for the last
5 seconds. The table below lists the given motion parameters.
t=0s-5s t = 5 s - 10 s
vi = 5 m/s vi = 5 m/s
vf = 5 m/s vf = 15 m/s
t=5s t=5s
a = 0 m/s2
Note that the acceleration during the first 5 seconds is listed as 0 m/s2 despite the fact that it is
not explicitly stated. The phrase constant velocity indicates a motion with a 0 acceleration. The
acceleration of the object during the last 5 seconds can be calculated using the following
kinematic equation.
vf = vi + a*t
The substitution and algebra are shown here.
15 m/s = 5 m/s + a*(5 s)
15 m/s - 5 m/s = a*(5 s)
10 m/s = a*(5 s)
(10 m/s)/(5 s) = a
a = 2 m/s2
This value for the acceleration of the object during the time from 5 s to 10 s is consistent
with the value determined from the slope of the line on the velocity-time graph.
The displacement of the object during the entire 10 seconds can also be calculated using
kinematic equations. Since these 10 seconds include two distinctly different acceleration
intervals, the calculations for each interval must be done separately. This is shown below.
t=0s-5s t = 5 s - 10 s
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2 d = ((vi + vf)/2)*t
d = (5 m/s)*(5 s) +0.5*(0 m/s2)*(5 s)2 d = ((5 m/s + 15 m/s)/2)*(5 s)
d = 25 m + 0 m d = (10 m/s)*(5 s)
d = 25 m d = 50 m
The total displacement during the first 10 seconds of motion is 75 meters, consistent with the
value determined from the area under the line on the velocity-time graph.
The analysis of this simple motion illustrates the value of these two representations of motion -
velocity-time graph and kinematic equations. Each representation can be utilized to extract
numerical information about unknown motion quantities for any given motion. The examples
below provide useful opportunity for those requiring additional practice.
Check Your Understanding

1. Rennata Gas is driving through town at 25.0 m/s and begins to accelerate at a constant rate
of -1.0 m/s2. Eventually Rennata comes to a complete stop.
a. Represent Rennata's accelerated motion by sketching a velocity-time graph. Use the velocity-
time graph to determine this distance.
b. Use kinematic equations to calculate the distance that Rennata travels while decelerating.
See Graph and Answer
2. Otto Emissions is driving his car at 25.0 m/s. Otto accelerates at 2.0 m/s2 for 5 seconds. Otto
then maintains a constant velocity for 10.0 more seconds.
a. Represent the 15 seconds of Otto Emission's motion by sketching a velocity-time graph. Use
the graph to determine the distance that Otto traveled during the entire 15 seconds.
b. Finally, break the motion into its two segments and use kinematic equations to calculate the
total distance traveled during the entire 15 seconds.
3. Luke Autbeloe, a human cannonball artist, is shot off the edge of a cliff with an initial
upward velocity of +40.0 m/s. Luke accelerates with a constant downward acceleration of -10.0
m/s2 (an approximate value of the acceleration of gravity).
a. Sketch a velocity-time graph for the first 8 seconds of Luke's motion.
b. Use kinematic equations to determine the time required for Luke Autbeloe to drop back to
the original height of the cliff. Indicate this time on the graph.
4. Chuck Wagon travels with a constant velocity of 0.5 mile/minute for 10 minutes. Chuck then
decelerates at -.25 mile/min2 for 2 minutes.
a. Sketch a velocity-time graph for Chuck Wagon's motion. Use the velocity-time graph to
determine the total distance traveled by Chuck Wagon during the 12 minutes of motion.
b. Finally, break the motion into its two segments and use kinematic equations to determine
the total distance traveled by Chuck Wagon.
5. Vera Side is speeding down the interstate at 45.0 m/s. Vera looks ahead and observes an
accident that results in a pileup in the middle of the road. By the time Vera slams on the
breaks, she is 50.0 m from the pileup. She slows down at a rate of -10.0 m/s2.
a. Construct a velocity-time plot for Vera Side's motion. Use the plot to determine the distance
that Vera would travel prior to reaching a complete stop (if she did not collide with the pileup).
b. Use kinematic equations to determine the distance that Vera Side would travel prior to
reaching a complete stop (if she did not collide with the pileup). Will Vera hit the cars in the
pileup? That is, will Vera travel more than 50.0 meters?
6. Earl E. Bird travels 30.0 m/s for 10.0 seconds. He then accelerates at 3.00 m/s2 for 5.00
seconds.
a.Construct a velocity-time graph for Earl E. Bird's motion. Use the plot to determine the total
distance traveled.
b. Divide the motion of the Earl E. Bird into the two time segments and use kinematic
equations to calculate the total displacement.
Solutions to Above Questions
Solution to Question 1
a. The velocity-time graph for the motion is:
The distance traveled can be found by a calculation of the area between the line on the graph
and the time axis.
Area = 0.5*b*h = 0.5*(25.0 s)*(25.0 m/s)
Area = 313 m
b. The distance traveled can be calculated using a kinematic equation. The solution is shown
here.
Given: Find:
vi = 25.0 m/s vf = 0.0 m/s a = -1.0 m/s2 d = ??
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(0 m/s)2 = (25.0 m/s)2 + 2 * (-1.0 m/s2)*d
0.0 m2/s2 = 625.0 m2/s2 + (-2.0 m/s2)*d
0.0 m2/s2 - 625.0 m2/s2 = (-2.0 m/s2)*d
(-625.0 m2/s2)/(-2.0 m/s2) = d
313 m = d
Return to Question 1
and the time axis. This area would be the area of the triangle plus the area of rectangle 1 plus
the area of rectangle 2.
Area = 0.5*btri*htri + brect1*hrect1 + brect2*hrect2
Area = 0.5*(5.0 s)*(10.0 m/s) + (5.0 s)*(25.0 m/s) + (10.0 s)*(35.0 m/s)
Area = 25 m + 125 m + 350 m
Area = 500 m
here.
First find the d for the first 5 seconds:
Given: Find:
vi = 25.0 m/s t = 5.0 s a = 2.0 m/s2 d = ??
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (25.0 m/s)*(5.0 s) + 0.5*(2.0 m/s2)*(5.0 s)2
d = 125 m + 25.0 m
d = 150 m
Now find the d for the last 10 seconds:
Given: Find:
vi = 35.0 m/s t = 10.0 s a = 0.0 m/s2 d = ??
(Note: the velocity at the 5 second mark can be found from knowing that the car accelerates
from 25.0 m/s at +2.0 m/s2 for 5 seconds. This results in a velocity change of a*t = 10 m/s,
and thus a velocity of 35.0 m/s.)
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (35.0 m/s)*(10.0 s) + 0.5*(0.0 m/s2)*(10.0 s)2
d = 350 m + 0 m
d =350 m
The total distance for the 15 seconds of motion is the sum of these two distance
calculations (150 m + 350 m):
distance = 500 m

b. The time to rise up and fall back down to the original height is twice the time to rise up to
the peak. So the solution involves finding the time to rise up to the peak and then doubling it.
Given: Find:
vi = 40.0 m/s vf = 0.0 m/s a = -10.0 m/s2 tup = ??
2*tup = ??
vf = vi + a*tup
0 m/s = 40 m/s + (-10 m/s2)*tup
(10 m/s2)*tup = 40 m/s
tup = (40 m/s)/(10 m/s2)
tup = 4.0 s
2*tup = 8.0 s
and the time axis. This area would be the area of the rectangle plus the area of the triangle.
Area = brect*hrect + 0.5*btri*htri
Area = (10.0 min)*(0.50 mi/min) + 0.5*(2.0 min)*(0.50 mi/min)
Area = 5 mi + 0.5 mi
Area = 5.5 mi
here.
First find the d for the first 10 minutes:
Given: Find:
vi = 0.50 mi/min t = 10.0 min a = 0.0 mi/min2 d = ??
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0.50 mi/min)*(10.0 min) + 0.5*(0.0 mi/min2)*(10.0 min)2
d = 5.0 mi + 0 mi
d = 5.0 mi
Now find the d for the last 2 minutes:
Given: Find:
vi = 0.50 mi/min t = 2.0 min a = -0.25 mi/min2 d = ??
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0.50 mi/min)*(2.0 min) + 0.5*(-0.25 m/s2)*(2.0 min)2
d = 1.0 mi + (-0.5 mi)
d = 0.5 mi
The total distance for the 12 minutes of motion is the sum of these two distance calculations
(5.0 mi + 0.5 mi):
distance = 5.5 mi

and the time axis.
Area = 0.5*b*h = 0.5*(4.5 s)*(45.0 m/s)
Area = 101 m
b.
Given: Find:
vi = 45.0 m/s vf = 0.0 m/s a = -10.0 m/s2 d = ??
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s) = (45.0 m/s)2 + 2 * (-10.0 m/s2)*d
2
0.0 m2/s2 = 2025.0 m2/s2 + (-20.0 m/s2)*d

0.0 m2/s2 - 2025.0 m2/s2 = (-20.0 m/s2)*d
(-2025.0 m2/s2)/(-20.0 m/s2) =d
101 m =d
Since the accident pileup is less than 101 m from Vera, she will indeed hit the pileup before
completely stopping (unless she veers aside).

and the time axis. This area would be the area of the triangle plus the area of rectangle 1 plus
the area of rectangle 2.
Area = 0.5*btri*htri + b1*h1 + b2*h2
Area = 0.5*(5.0 s)*(15.0 m/s) + (10.0 s)*(30.0 m/s) + (5.0 s)*(30.0 m/s)
Area = 37.5 m + 300 m + 150 m
Area = 488 m
here.
First find the d for the first 10 seconds:
Given: Find:
vi = 30.0 m/s t = 10.0 s a = 0.0 m/s2 d = ??
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (30.0 m/s)*(10.0 s) + 0.5*(0.0 m/s2)*(10.0 s)2
d = 300 m + 0 m
d =300 m
Now find the d for the last 5 seconds:
Given: Find:
vi = 30.0 m/s t = 5.0 s a = 3.0 m/s2 d = ??
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (30.0 m/s)*(5.0 s) + 0.5*(3.0 m/s2)*(5.0 s)2
d = 150 m + 37.5 m
d = 187.5 m
The total distance for the 15 seconds of motion is the sum of these two distance calculations
(300 m + 187.5 m):
distance = 488 m
Q:
what is the formula for the speed of a falling object?
- dennis
canada
A:
Dennis -
As an object falls, its speed increases because it’s being pulled on by gravity. The
acceleration of gravity near the earth is g = -9.81 m/s^2. To find out something’s
speed (or velocity) after a certain amount of time, you just multiply the acceleration of
gravity by the amount of time since it was let go of. So you get: velocity = -9.81
m/s^2 * time, or V = gt. The negative sign just means that the object is moving
downwards. If it were positive, then it would be moving up. For speed rather than
velocity, you just drop the negative sign.
If you have an initial velocity (if you threw the ball up or down instead of just letting
go of it), then you have to include this in the equation, too, giving you: V = Vo + gt,
where Vo is the initial velocity of the object. This equation will still work if you threw
the ball to the side, instead of straight up or down, except that it will only give you the
up-down velocity, not the total velocity. (And the number you should use for Vo is still
just the up-down velocity that the object starts with.)
-Tamara
(published on 10/22/2007)
Follow-Up #1: Time of fall?
Q:
How does one determine the time and velocity of a fall if you only have the distance
of the fall?
- Ned
Bothell, WA, USA
A:
Well you need one more fact, the acceleration. If you are at the surface of the earth
the acceleration is g = 32.2 feet/sec2 or 9.8 meter/sec2. Integrating the acceleration
once gives V = Vo + g T where Vo is the initial velocity, presumably zero, and T is the
time of fall. Integrating once more gives d = Vo T + gT2/2. So taking Vo = 0 you get
T = sqrt(2d/g) and V=sqrt(2dg).
LeeH
That V Lee gives is the final V. In case you want the average V over the fall, it's half
that. Mike W.
▲
Calculating free fall problems notes
Free Fall
The velocity of a body falling to the earth in
a vertical direction. (air resistance is not
considered) are described by the equations:
(1a)
v t = v0 + g t (1b)
vt2 = v02 + 2 g h (1c)
Direction Variable signs
Upward motion −g +t +h +v0 +vt
Downward motion −g +t −h −v0 −vt

Always use the negative sign of g = −
9.806 55 [m / s2]
Always use positive values of the time t .
Values given v0 = vt = h= t=
v0 vt − −
h t − −
v0 h − −
vt h − −
t v0 − v0 + g t −
t vt vt − g t − −
Initial velocity [v0]: [m/s]
Final velocity [vt]: [m/s]
Height [h]: [m]
Falling time [t]: [s]
▲
Vertical free fall - example 1
A body is thrown upward with an initial

velocity of 20 [m/s] . Find a) the highest
point that it will reach and b) the time to
reach this altitude and c) the time it
reached half the height h.
a We know that the initial velocity v0 =

) 20 [m/s] and final velocity is
vt = 0 and we can find the maximum
height according to the equation:
vt2 = v02 + 2 g h
b The time to reach the height is from

) eq. vt = v0 + g t:
c In order to find the time to reach

) height h/2 we could solve the
quadratic equation (1a) or to find the
velocity at h/2 by eq. (1c) and then use
eq. (1b)
▲
Ball A has dropped from a tower which is 200 m above ground level from rest
,at the same time a second ball is thrown from the ground upward at an initial
velocity of 80 [m ⁄ s]. Find the time and altitude of the bodies when they are
passing each other, and find the minimum initial velocity upward of ball B in
order to enable such a meeting.
We acknowledge that at the meeting point the altitude h and the travel time of
both balls are the same.
For ball A: (1)
For ball B: (2)
Comparing both equations (1) and (2) we get the time to encounter t:
Figure 1
The meeting point altitude is from eq. (2):
Total falling time of ball A to the ground calculated by eq. (1a) is:
The minimum upward velocity is when the two balls will meet at the ground level
(see figure 3), it means that the maximum height of ball B will be reached after
half the full falling time: t = 6.4 / 2 = 3.2 [s]
Figure 2 v0B = vt − g t = 0 + 9.8 * 3.2 = 31.4 [m / s]
Another approach to calculate the time t until encounter (Figure 2) is to calculate

the difference of the distance between ball A and ball B as a function of time by:
∆x = ( H − hA) − hB
At the time of encounter of both balls ∆x = 0 -> t = 200 / 80 = 2.5 [s]
we get the same answer as before.
Figure 3
▲
Ball A is dropped from a 300 [m] tower with an initial velocity of 20

[m/s], at the same time a second ball is thrown from the ground upward at
an initial velocity of v0B [m/s]. Find the value of v0B if the two balls meet
at a height of 100 [m] above the ground.
From the question we know that ball A falls 200 m with an initial
velocity of 20 [m/s] until it meets ball B, so the time to meeting can be
calculated from equation.
9.8 t2 + 40t − 400 = 0

t1, 2 = 4.67 , − 8.75
We take only the positive time 4.67 [s], this time is also the falling time of
ball B after throwing it upward so the initial velocity of ball B can be
calculated from:
▲
Horizontal free fall - example 4
An object is thrown from the top of a building at a horizontal velocity of

vx [m/s], the object heats the ground at a distance of S = 100 [m] from the
building and with an angle of θ = 35 ̊ . Find the height of the building and the
horizontal velocity, suppose that the air resistance is negligible.
We have a combined motion in the x and y direction, horizontally the velocity is constant vx =
constant and in the y direction we have free fall.
At impact point with the ground the vertical velocity is: vy = vx tanθ (1)
The equation for free fall with initial velocity is: vy2 = v02 + 2 g h (2)
From (2) we isolate h, the initial velocity downward is 0. (3)
Falling time can be calculated from the equation: vy = v0 + g t
(4)
The distance traveled horizontally is equal to:

Substitute vx into eq.(1) we get the value of vy at
ground.
Substitute vy or vx into eq.(3) to find h:
Another way to solve the problem is by analyzing the trajectory path which is given by the equation:
The trajectory angle at any distance from the building is:
Insert the values x = 100 [m] and θ = 35 ̊ we get:
NOTE: we can find the value of h by energy method:
All potential energy at top of the building is converted to kinetic energy at ground level.
▲
Horizontal trajectory - Example 51
Note: g and vy in all calculations are

negative.
In order to develop the trajectory path we
get the motion equations
In the x direction constant speed:
x = v0 t (1)
In the y direction free fall motion:
y = g t2 / 2 (v0y = 0) (2)
From eq. (1) we get the value of the time: t = x / v0
Substitute the value of t into eq. (2) we get: (3)

Any point on the trajectory path y is expresed by the displacement x. Because the value g
/ (2 v02) is a constant we can mark it for clarity as k, now we can see that the trajectory
path is a parabola.
Trajectory velocity along the path is:
Trajectory path angle θ is:
Total horizontal distance:
Q An object was dropped from an aircraft who is cruising horizontally at a height of 3 km and a
speed of 720 km/h. Find the distance from the dropping point and the angle of the object when
it heats the ground, also calculate the angle that the pilot sees the target on the ground when he
drops the object.
S First convert the speed of 720 km/h to m/s V0 = 720 * 1000 / 3600 = 200 m/s
Then from eq. (3) we get the impact
distance:
In order to find the impact angle we have to calculate the vertical velocity at ground level:
From eq. (1c):
And the impact angle is:
The dropping angle is:
▲
Horizontal trajectory angle - Example 52
Trajectory initial angle is θ0 and initial
velocity V0
Horizontal distance at constant speed is:
x = V0 cosθ0 t (4)
Vertical height as a function of time from
eq. (1a) is:
y = V0 sinθ0 t + g t2 / 2 (5)
Substitute t from eq. (3) to eq. (4) to get
the trajectory path:
(6)
This equation can be translated to y = a x + b x2 so the trajectory path equation is a

parabola.
We define the range R that is the distance traveled by the projectile until it returns to the
same initial height, then from eq. (6) we have for y = 0:
The trivial solution x = 0 is at the origin and has no interest the second solution is the
required range:
(7)
The maximum range is when θ = 45 ° then sin2θ = 1 and the range is: R = − V02 / g
QAn object is thrown at a velocity of 20 m/s at an angle of 30 deg. Find the distance it heats the
ground at the same height and the position of the object after 1.5 sec.
SThe vertical and horizontal velocity from eq. (1b) are: (remember that g = − 9.8 m/s2)
vx = V0 cos30 = 17.3 m/s vy = V0 sin30 + g t
Total travel time can be calculated from (1b)
The range R that the object heats the ground is the time multyplied by V0 cosθ:
R = t Vx = t V0 cosθ = 2.04 * 20 * cos30 = 35.34 m
The range can also be calculated by eq. (7):
The horizontal and vertical diatances after 1.5 sec are:

x(1.5s) = t V0 cosθ = 1.5 * 20 * cos30 = 25.98 m
y(1.5s) = t V0 sinθ + g t2 / 2 = 1.5 * 20 * sin30 − 9.8 * 1.52 / 2 = 3.97 m
The vertical velocity of the object from free fall eq. (1b)
vy(1.5s) = V0 cosθ + g t = 20 sin30 − 1.5 * 9.8 = − 4.7 m/s
Notice that vy(1.5s) is negative that is because the object passed the highest point and started to fall.
And the velocity of the object is:
The direction of the velocity is:
▲
A projectile is fired at a speed of 200 [m/s]

at an angle of α = 20 [deg] from an
inclined surface,the slope of the surface is
θ = 30 [deg] from the horizontal.Find the
distance d that the projectile will heat the
inclined surface.
We mark the angle: φ = θ + α = 30 +

20 = 50 °
The horizontal and vertical displacements
are:
x = t V0 cosφ y = t V0 sinφ + g t2 / 2
after eliminating t from both equations we get: (1)
From the inclined surface we have the y(x) = d x=d

(2) (3)
relations: sinθ cosθ
Substitute equations (2) and (3) into (1)
gives:
After rearanging the equation we get:
▲
A ball is thrown at an angle θ relative to the horizon
and with an initial velocity of 200 [m/s]. The ball
should heat a target 450 [m] above earth and at a
distance of 2500 [m] away. Find what should be the
value of the angle θ in order to heat the target.
The trajactory path is defind by the equation:

(1
)
In this equation all the parameters are known except the angle which can be found:
We will use the trigonometric identity: into eq. (1)
After arranging terms we get a quadratic equation with the unknown tanθ
After marking: we get: u tan2θ + x tanθ + u - y(x) = 0
(2
)
Substitute the values given for the height distance and initial velocity we get:
u = − 765.6 and for the angle we get two values θ = 30.7° and θ = 69.5°
V0 m/s
x m
h m
Range of θ that allows flying over the wall
Range of the distances d coresponding to the angles
Input limit:
A vertical wall of 6
m in height is
located 30 m from
a projectile firing
point, the projectile
get an initial
velocity of 20 m/s2
.Find the angle range
that the projectile
can be fired in order
to pass the wall to
the other side (see
calculator's Ex4).
According to eq. (2)

u = − 9.8 *
30 / (2 * 202) = −
2
11.025
An
d
the
ran θ1 θ2
ge = =
of 38. 62.
ang 89° 42°
les
are
:
The flight range
according to the
angles are:
▲
An object is thrown upward on a slope and
reached a height of h = 15 m as shown, the
object heats the slope at a distance of l = 75 m.
The slope angle α is 35°. Determine the
magnitude v and the direction of the initial
velocity.
The horizontal and vertical distances traveled

are:
x = l * sinα = 75 cos35 = 61.4 m
y = −l * sinα = − 75 sin35 = − 43 m
The horizontal and vertical velocities of v are
vx and v0y
From eq. (1c) the value of v0y is:
Total travel time

from (1a):
The horizontal velocity is: vx = x / T = 61.4 / 5.2 = 11.8 m/s
And the initial velocity is:
And the initial angle θ is:
▲
An anti aircraft gun start firing on an aircraft

passing directly overhead with a muzzle velocity
of 500 m/s the cruising velocity of the aircraft is
980 km/h and the altitude is 4 km. Find the firing
angle and the time until it heats the aircraft.
The horizontal distance and the time traveled by

the aircraft and the bullet until impact are the
same:
For the aircraft da = va t and for the bullet db = v cosθ t
After dividing the diatance by time we get: d a / t = db / t ⟶ va = v cosθ
After converting aircraft velocity to m/s we get: cosθ = va / v = 980 / (3.6 * 500) = 0.544
And the firing angle is: θ = cos − 10.544 = 57.02 °
The vertical initial velocity of the bullet is: v0b = v sinθ = 500 sin57.02 = 419.43 m/s
Total travel time can be calculated from eq. (1a):
We got two values but only the value t = 10.93 s is relevant because the second time is
when the bullet returns to 6 km high after passing the highest point.
▲
The horizontal velocity of an aircraft is 500

km/h at an altitude of 5.4 km. Find the angle
that the pilot will see a car moving at a speed of
150 km/h horizontally in order to directly hit
the car.
The projectile falling time until it hits the

ground is from eq. (1a) where v0y = 0:
The
horizontal
Va km/h distance
traveled by
Vc km/h the projectile:
h m D = va t =
500 * 33.2/
θ deg 3.6 = 4611 m
t s At the same
D m time the car
d m traveled a
distance of:
Input limit:
d = vc t = 150
* 33.2/ 3.6 =
1383.3 m
The angle θ
will be:
▲
A pilot releases a projectile while diving at an angle of

θ = 40 degree and altitude of 2 km and a velocity of
600 km/h. Find the angle γ between diving line and the
target as seen by the pilot at the release point.
The vertical and horizontal velocity of the aircraft ca

be calculated from the speed and angle of the aircraft:
vx = v cosθ = 600 cos40 / 3.6 = 127.67
Horizontal:
m/s
v0y = v sinθ = 600 sin40 / 3.6 = 107.13

Vertical:
m/s
Falling time from eq. (1b) and (1c) is:
Horizontal trajectory travel distance: d = vx t = 600 cos40 * 12.04 / 3.6 = 1537.2 m
Angle α is equal to:
And the required angle ν is: γ = 180 − θ − (180 − α) = α − θ = 52.5 − 40 = 12.5 °
▲
Find the maximum range that
a projectile can reache for a
muzzle velocity of 100 m/s
and maximum height of 10 m.
v m/s The initial vertical and horizontal velocities are:

v0y = v sinθ (1)
h m
From eq. (1c) and with final vertical velocity vty =
R m 0 we get:
θ deg (2)
t s
From (1) and (2)
vx m/s
we get:
v0y m/s
and from trigonometric identity:
Input limit:
(3
)
Flight time up and down from (1b) :
(4
)
R = vx t =
And the range is: (5)
v cosθ t =
And the range numerically:
▲
Two trajectories Collision - Example 60
Two objects A and B are located at a distance
of d from each other, they are thrown at the same
time, body A at an angle θ and initial velocity
of v0 and body B free falls from a height of H,
both objects collide in midair at a height of h
above ground. Find the angle θ and v0 that will
allow the collision.
We notice that the time from throw to collision

for both objects are the same.
H m The distance that

object B falls is:
h m2 L = − (H − h) = h −
d m H
Note: Because the
θ deg direction of L is
v0 m/s downward in order to
t s keep compatibility
α deg with the free fall
vc m/s equations L should
be negative and H
Input limit:
and h are positive and
H > h.
The time to collision
of B is from eq. (1a):
Distance
d=
traveled
v cosθ (1)
by object 0
tB
A:
Object A is reaching
height h by the time tB
h
=
v0
(
s
2
in
)
θ
tB
+
g
tB
2
/
2
First we eliminate the
values of v0 from both
equations.
Fro
m (3
eq. )
(1)
From eq. (2) we can elininate v0 (4)
From eq. (3) and (4) we have:
After substituting the value of tB into the equation we get:
Eliminating the angle value we have:
And finally the angle is: (5)
And the value of v0 from eq. (3) is: (6)
Using the trigonometric equality to further develop we

get:
Substitute the value of cosθ into eq. (6) we get the velocity of v0 with H, h
and d.
The horizontal and vertical velocities at the collision are:
vcx = v0 cosθ and vcy = v0 sinθ + g tB
▲
Trajectory along a slope - Example 61
A ball leaves a
slope whose angle
is θ = 30 deg with
a velocity of v0 the
ball leaves the slope
at a hight of h = 6
meter above the
ground and hits the
ground at a distance
of d = 10 meter.
Find the velocity
v0 expressed by d,
h and θ.
We will use the fact

that the flight time
vertically and
horizontally is the
same.
d m v0x
a v0y =
=
h m2 n −v0 s
v0 c
d inθ
θ deg osθ
In the horizontal
v0 m/s
direction the velocity is
t s constant therefore:
v0x deg d=
v0y m/s t a (
v0 n 1
vt m/s cos d )
α deg θ
From the vertical free
fall we have according
to (1a):
(
2
)
Substitute the time
from (1) into eq. (2) we
get:
(
3
)
Notes: Remember that h and v0y are pointed down so they are negative values in the
calculations. From geometric consideration d < |h| / tanθ (in the calculator input h
can be negative or positive).
Q If given the values of d, h and v0 find the value of the slope angle θ of the example above.
S From equation (2) all parameters are known except the angle θ. Multiplying all terms by
v02 cos2θ we have:
From eq. (3) we have: (4)
From trigonometric identity:
Substitute cos2θ into (4) we have:

After arranging terms we get: (5)
We got a quadratic equation with the unknown tanθ . A tan2θ + B tanθ + C = 0
where
▲
Object thrown from a car - Example 62
A small object is thrown at an angle of θ and initial velocity

of v0throught the complete flight a constant acceleration of
a m/s2 is acting on the object in the negative flight
direction. Finf the flight time and the distance of hit point
on the ground.
The horizontal and vertical componants of the velocity are:

v0x = v0 cosθ and v0y = v0 sinθ
At the hightest point vty = 0 so the total flight time
from (1b) is:
(1)
Horizontally the velocity of the object is a mix of a constant velocity and a negative acceleration:
vtx = v0 cosθ + a t (2)
From equation (2) we can clearly see that when vtx = 0 the object changes the flight direction and t is.
(3)
The final displacement d is according to eq. (1a) and the time from eq. (1):
(4)
The maximum displacement dmax is according to eq. (1a) and the time of eq. (3):
(5)
In equation (4) if we set d = 0 then the object will return

A: Flight when tanθ > g / a exactly to the throw point so we have the condition:
B: Flight when tanθ < g / a
QGiven v0 = 12 m/s θ = 60 ° and a = 8 m/s2. Find total flight time, the distance of the impact with the
ground, what is the maximum distance in the x axis positive direction.
S From eq. (1) we can find the

total flight time:
Final displacement From
eq. (4):
From eq. (5) we can find the maximum displacement to the positive x axis:
Final vertical
velocity:
vty = − v0y = −
12 * sin60 =
v0 m/s
− 10.4 m/s
θ deg Final
horizontal
a m/s2 velocity:
d m vtx = v0x + at
dmax m = 12 * cos60
α deg − 8 * 2.12 = −
10.96 m/s
vt m/s Velocity at
t s ground
h m impact:
Object ground
hit angle:
▲
Calculating the speed of sound - Example 63
In order to calculate the speed of sound an object has been

dropped from a height h of 50 m, at the exact time of
impact with the ground a timer on the top of the building at a
height of 65 m has been activated and measured the time
that the sound was heard to be T = 3.382 s. Find the speed
of sound.
From eq. (1a) and taking v0 = 0 the time of fall can be

calculated
From the time of impact the sound reached the top after time
T:
H = vs Δt = vs (T − t)
Note: this value of sound speed according to the table is measured at an outside
temperature of 24 °C
▲
Trajectories at same v0 and different angles - Example 64
Two identical objects are trajected with equal

initial velocities at the same time from point A
but at a different angles. Verify a) if the objects
will collide at point B and b) if the total flight
time are the same and c) if the absolute
velocities of the objects at point B are the
equal.
v1y0 =
Object 1: v1x = v0 cosθ
v0 sinθ
v2y0 =
Object 2: v2x = v0 cosγ
v0 sinγ
a) Let assume that the horizontal distance of
point B is d for both objects, because θ >
γ also cosγ > cosθ
and from the horizontal velocities of the objects we see that v2x > v1x and because d is the
same for both objects, object 2 will pass point B before object 1 and the objects will not
collide at point B.
b) The total flight time of both objects
are:
And we get the relationship between the times:
c) the vertical velocities of the objects at point B according to eq. (1c) are:
And the absolute velocities are:
We clearly see that the absolute velocities of objects 1 and 2 at point B are the same and
are not a function of the angles.
▲
Minimum v0 calculation - Example 65
An object is thrown from a height h and at an angle of θ

. Find the angle θ for a minimum initial velocity in order
to fall at a distance d, what is the initial velocity in this
case.
in the horizontal direction we have: d = v0 cosθ t (1)

From eq. (1a) in the vertical direction we have:
(2)
Substitute the value of t from eq. (1) into eq. (2) to get:
(3)
In order to find the minimum angle we have first to express the velocity v0 as a function of
the angle θ
From eq (3) we can find v0
After changing tanθ = sinθ / cosθ we get: (4)
In order to find the angle that will give minimum initial velocity we will differentiate the
right side of eq. (4) and compare it to zero. the power of v0 don't make any difference
because the minimum of v0 is also the minimum of v02 .
Dividing the last equation by cos2θ to get: d tan2θ − 2h tanθ + 2d = 0
And the solution of the quadratic eq. with tanθ is: (5)
After the angle had been found we can use eq. (4) in order to find the minimum initial
velocity v0 is.
For example if h = 8 m and d = 8 m then the angle of the minimum initial velovity is from
eq. (5)
And the correct solution is the positive angle 22.5° and the initial velocity according to
eq. (4) is:
▲
Two angles for equal trajected distance - Example 66
For equal trajected distances of d = 10 m and initial velocities of v0 = 12 m/s there
are two possible angles, find the ratio between the two flight times.
The horizontal and vertical initial velocities are:

vx = v0 cosθ v0y = v0 sinθ
In the horizontal direction: d = vx t = v0 cosθ t
And half flight time is (1)
Fro
m (
eq. 2
(1 )
c)
Substitute t and
h into eq (1a)
we get:
v0 m/s
Multiplying all
d m2 terms by
θ1 deg 4gv02cos2θ we
θ2 deg get a quadratic
t1 s equation with
t2 s the unknown
sin2θ:
h1 m
v04 sin22θ + 2
h2 m
g v02 d sin2θ
+ g2 d2 = 0
Th
e
sol
uti (
on 3
is )
sim
ply
:
An
d
the
ang
le
is:
From trigonometry there is another solution to equation (3) that is:
sinθ2 = sin(π − 2θ1) ⟶ θ2 = π − 2θ1
From eq. (1) or
Note: we use the relation: g = − 9.8 m/s2
From the question we have:
And the ratio t1 / t2 is: t1 / t2 = tanθ1 = tan 21.44 = 0.39
▲
Rocket on a lunch pad - Example 67
A rocket is fired from a 30 degree inclined launch pad and with an acceleration of 4 m/s2 when
it pass point A which is at the ground level as point C his velocity is vA at point B which is
12 m above ground level, the rocket's engine stop working and it continues flight at gravitational
forces until it hits the ground at a distance of d = 35 m. Find the velocity of the rocket at point
A.
Vertical and
horizontal velocity
at point B are:
vBy vBx
0= 0=
vB vB
sin cos
θ θ
The horizontal
distance from B
to C is equal to:
vA m/s d=
vB m/s vBx0
(
tBC =
d m 1
vB c
)
osθ
h m
tBC
θ deg From the vertical
a m/s2 direction from
eq. (1a) we have:
H m
h=
tab s vB si
tbc s nθ (
tBC + 2
g )
tBC2 /
2
And velocity vB
is:
After arranging
terms we get:
vB2 (2 h cos2θ − d
sin2θ) − g d2 = 0
And velocity vB is: (3)

And velocity vA is: (4)
Total flight time is: (5)
Maximum altitude will be: (6)
Substitute the numerical values of the question we get:
The velocity vB from eq. (3) is:
And the velocity vA at point A from

eq. (4) is:
Total flight time from point A from

eq. (5) is:
Maximum height from ground from
eq. (6) is:
▲
Horizontal acceleration trajectory - Example 70
A rocket lanched from an aircraft get an

acceleration of 4 m/s2 the altitude and the
velocity of the aircraft are 3000 m and
900 km/h respecteadly. Find the angle θ
between the horizon and the line of sight
to the target.
v0x m/s The total flight
time from the
ax m/s2 free fall
h m eq. (1a) is:
θ deg
d m
t s The horizontal
α deg movement is
V m/s with constant
acceleration and
initial velocity
of the aircraft.
The distance
traveled by the
rocket is:
And the angle θ

is:
At the hit point we have: vtx = v0x2 + 2 a d
▲
Horizontal acceleration trajectory - Example 72
A small object is thrown from point A

upward with an initial velocity of 25 m/s
near a building whose height is 15 m, when
the object passes point B it is subjected to a
steady wind that accelerates the object by 3
m/s2 to the right. Find the distance from point
B to the hit point at C and the angle of the
hit γ.
The time and velocity at points AB can be

calculated by free fall equations (g = − 9.8
m/s2).
The velocity upward of the object at point B according to free fal equation (1c) is:
vB is the initial velocity at point B, the time tB to reach the maximum height from point B is
from (1b)
tB = (vt − vB) / g = (0 − 18.2) / (− 9.8) = 1.86 s
And the total flight time BC is: TBC = 2 tB = 2 * 1.86 = 3.72 s

In the horizontal direction we have an acceleration of 3 m/s2 and the initial velocity
horizontaly at point B is 0, the total distance traveled according to (1a) and changing g
by the acceleration a is:
d = v0 TBC + a TBC2 / 2 = 0 * 3.72 + 3 * 3.722 / 2 = 20.5 m
The horizontal velocity at point C is: vcx = 0 + a TBC = 3 * 3.72 = 11.1 m/s
The vertical velocity at point C is: vcy = − vB = − 18.2 m/s
Angle γ is: γ = tan− 1 ( vcy / vcx) = tan− 1 (− 18.2 / 11.1) = − 58.6 deg
▲
Horizontal trajectory - Equations summary
Notes:
vx is constant throuhout the trajectory.
Only in the following equations g is
positive and equal to: g = 9.80665 m/s2
(g is positive in order to simplify the
equations)
the trajectory equation is:
Horizontal constant velocity: Vx = V0 cosθ0 (1)

Vertical initial velocity: Vy0 = V0 sinθ0 (2)
From vertical free fall: Vy = Vy0 = V0 sinθ − g t (3)

Velocity magnitude along flight
(4)
path:
Distance horizontal: d=d(t): d = Vx t = V0 cosθ0 t (5)
Range total: (6)

Range maximum (θ=45°) (7)
Altitude vertical: y=y(t) (8)
Altitude maximum: (9)
Travel time upward: (10)
Travel total time (up+down): (11)
Angle initial: (12)
Angle θ throuhout the flight: (13)
x as a function of y: (14)
Time of flight as a function of y: (15)
▲
Horizontal trajectort vector calculation
Any point along the path of a projectile can be

described by a location vector r(t) that is a
function of time t. The notation i and j denotes
the unit vector in the x and y direction
The velocity vector is the derivation of the location

vector according to time t therfore we have:
The acceleration is the derivation of velocity:
In horizontal trajectory we have constant speed in the x direction and free fall in the y
direction so the location vector will be:
The velocity is:
The acceleration is:
The direction of the velocity is tangent to the trajectory curve and is equal to the tangent:
The magnitude of the velocity is:
Note the benefit of the vector trajectory calculation is that three dimensional systems can be easily
calculated we have only to add the z direction or k unit vector and make the same calculations.
▲
Vector calculation of trajectory - Example 71
Q The x and y coordinate of a moving partical is given by x = 2t2 + 3t and y = 2t3 + 2t − 5 where x and y
are in meters and t in seconds. Find the magnitude and the direction of the velocity and the acceleration at
the point when t = 2 seconds.
S
The velocity along the path is:
The velocity after 2 seconds is:
The magnitude of the velocity is:
The direction of the velocity is:
The acceleration along the path is:
The acceleration after 2 seconds is:
The magnitude of the acceleration is:
The direction of the acceleration is:

▲
Three dimantional free fal - Example 73
A small object is located at point r0 = 2i + 3j at time t = 0 it is trajected

with an initial velocity of v0 = 8i + 6k if air resistance is neglected find
the velocity and the location of the object after 3 seconds.
From eq. (1b) the velocity is vt = v0 + g t so we get in vector form.

vt = 8i + 6k + gtk = 8i + (6 + gt)k
The velocity and the magnitude after 3 seconds are:
vt=3 = 8i + (6 − 9.8 * 3)k = 8i − 23.4 k
The location of the object as a function of time from eq. (1a) is:
rt = r0 + v0t + gt2 / 2
rt = 2i + 3j + 8i + 6k + (gt2 / 2)k = 10i + 3j + (6 + gt2 / 2)k
rt=3 = 10i + 3j + (6 − 9.8 * 32 / 2)k = 10i + 3j − 38.1k m
Problem 1: From rest, a car accelerated at 8 m/s2 for 10 seconds.
a) What is the position of the car at the end of the 10 seconds?
b) What is the velocity of the car at the end of the 10 seconds?
Solution to Problem 1:
a) The car starts from rest therefore the initial speed u = 0. Nothing is said about the initial position and we
therefore assume it is equal to 0. Hence the position x is given by the equation
x = (1/2) a t 2
where a is the acceleration (=8 m/s2) and t is the period of time between initial and final positions
x = (1/2)8 (10)2 = 400 m
b) The velocity v of the car at the end of the 10 seconds is given by
v = a t = 8 * 10 = 80 m/s
Problem 2: With an initial velocity of 20 km/h, a car accelerated at 8 m/s2 for 10 seconds.
a) What is the position of the car at the end of the 10 seconds?

b) What is the velocity of the car at the end of the 10 seconds?
a) The car has an initial velocity of 20 km/h, therefore the initial speed u = 20 km/h. Nothing is said about the
initial position and we therefore assume it is equal to 0. Hence the position x is given by the equation
x = (1/2) a t 2 + u t
where a is the acceleration (=8 m/s2) and t is period of time between initial and final positions and u is the
initial velocity.
Since the time is given in seconds, we need to convert 20 km/h into m/s as follows:
20 * 1km 1000 m 1 hour

u = 20 km/h = 1 hour 1 km 3600 seconds
= 5.6 m/s
We now have
x = (1/2) (8) 102 + 5.6*10 = 456 m
b) v = at + u = 8*10 + 5.6 = 85.6 m/s
Problem 3: A car accelerates uniformly from 0 to 72 km/h in 11.5 seconds.
a) What is the acceleration of the car in m/s2?
b) What is the position of the car by the time it reaches the velocity of 72 km/h?
a) The acceleration a is a measure if the rate of change of the velocity within a period of time. Hence
change in velocity v - u
u= change in time t 72 km/h - 0
11.5 seconds
= =
We now convert 72 km/h into m/s
72 * 1km 1000 m 1 hour

u = 72 km/h = 1 hour 1 km 3600 seconds
= 20 m/s
We now calculate the acceleration a
a = (20 m/s) / (11.5 s) = 1.74 m/s2 (approximetd)
b) Two ways to find the position x:

1) x = (1/2)(v + u) t or 2) x = (1/2) a t 2 + u t
1) We first use: x = (1/2)(v + u) t = 0.5*(20 m/s + 0)*11.5 = 115 m
2) We now use: (1/2) a t2 + u t = 0.5*1.74*(11.5) 2 + 0*t = 115 m
Problem 4: An object is thrown straight down from the top of a building at a speed of 20 m/s. It hits the ground
with a speed of 40 m/s.
a) How high is the building?
b) How long was the object in the air?
a) We consider that the direction from ground up is the positive direction of the falling object. We are given
the initial (-20 m/s) and final velocities (-40 m/s); the minus sign was added to take into account the fact that
the falling object is moving in the negative direction. We know the gravitational acceleration (g = - 9.8 m/s2)
acting on the falling object and we are asked to find the height of the building. If we consider the position of
the object as being x (wth x = 0 on the ground), then we may use the equation relating the initial and final
velocities u and v, the acceleration a and the initial (x0 which the height of the building) and final (x, on the
ground) positions as follows:
v2 = u2 + 2 a (x - x0)
(-40 m/s)2 = (-20 m/s)2 + 2 (-9.8 m/s0) (0 - x0)
Solve the above for x0
x0 = 1200 / 19.6 = 61.2 m
b) x - x0 = (1/2)(u + v)t
-61.2 = 0.5(-20 - 40)t
t = 61.2 / 30 = 2.04 s
Problem 5:
A train brakes from 40 m/s to a stop over a distance of 100 m.
a) What is the acceleration of the train?
b) How much time does it take the train to stop?
a) We are given the initial velocity u = 40 m/s, the final velocity v = 0 (train stops) and the distance.
Hence the formula that relates these 3 quantities and the acceleration is given by
v2 = u2 + 2 a x
02 = 402 + 2 a (100)
Solve for the acceleration a
a = -1600 / 200 = - 8 m/s2
b) There two ways to find the time:
1) Use: x = (1/2)(v + u) t
100 = 0.5(0 + 40) t
Solve for t: t = 5 seconds.
2) Use x = (1/2) a t2 + ut
100 = 0.5 ( - 8) t2 + 40t
4 t2 - 40 t + 100 = 0
4 (t2 - 10 t + 25) = 0
4(t - 5)2 = 0
t = 5 seconds.
Problem 6: A boy on a bicycle increases his velocity from 5 m/s to 20 m/s in 10 seconds.
a) What is the acceleration of the bicycle?
b) What distance was covered by the bicycle during the 10 seconds?
a) In this problem the initial velocity u = 5 m/s and the final velocity v = 20 m/s. The acceleration a of the
bicycle is the rate of change of the velocity and is given as follows
20 m/s - 5 m/s
v-u 10 seconds
a= t =
= 1.5 m/s2
b) There are two ways to find the distance covered by the bicyle in t = 10 seconds.
1) x = (1/2)(v + u) t = 0.5 (20 + 5) 10 = 125 m
2) x = (1/2) a t2 + u t = 0.5 * 1.5 * 100 + 5 * 10 = 125 m
Problem 7: a) How long does it take an airplane to take off if it needs to reach a speed on the ground of 350
km/h over a distance of 600 meters (assume the plane starts from rest)?
b) What is the acceleration of the airplane over the 600 meters?
a) In this problem the initial velocity u = 0 (assumed because it is not given) , the final velocity v = 350 km/h
and the distance x = 600 meters = 0.6 km
The relationship between the give quantities is:
x = (1/2)(v + u) t
0.6 = 0.5 (350 + 0) t
Solve for t
t = (0.6 / 175) hours = 12.3 seconds
b) The acceleration a of the airplane is given by
a = (v - u) / t = 350 km/h / 12.3 s
Convert 350 km/h into m/s
350 km/h = 350,000 m / 3,600 s = 97.2 m/s
a = 97.2 m/s / 12.3 s = 8 m/s2 (to the nearest unit)
Problem 8: Starting from a distance of 20 meters to the left of the origin and at a velocity of 10 m/s, an object
accelerates to the right of the origin for 5 seconds at 4 m/s2. What is the position of the object at the end of
the 5 seconds of acceleration?
a) In this problem, we may consider that the direction of the object is the positive direction and the initial
position x0 = -20 meters (to the left of the origin), the initial velocity u = 10 m/s, the acceleration a = 4 m/s2 and
the time is t = 5 seconds. The position is given by
x = (1/2) a t2 + u t + x0
= 0.5 * 4 * (5)2 + 10 * 5 - 20 = 80 meters to the right of the origin.

Problem 9: What is the smallest distance, in meters, needed for an airplane touching the runway with a
velocity of 360 km/h and an acceleration of -10 m/s2 to come to rest?
a) In this problem the initial velocity u = 360 km/h, the final velocity v = 0 (rest) and the acceleration a = -10
m/s2. The distance x can be calculated using the formula
v2 = u2 + 2 a x
Convert 360 km/h into m/s: 360 km/h = (360 000 m) /(3600 s) = 100 m/s
x = ( v2 - u2 ) / (2 a) = (0 - 10,000) / (-20) = 500 meters
Problem 10: To approximate the height of a water well, Martha and John drop a heavy rock into the well. 8
seconds after the rock is dropped, they hear a splash caused by the impact of the rock on the water. What is
the height of the well. (Speed of sound in air is 340 m/s).
a) In this problem we have:
1) a rock was dropped down the well and is uniformly accelerated downward due to gravity. If h is the height
of the well and t is the time taken by the rock to reach the bottom of the well, then we have
h = (1/2)(9.8) t 2
2) After the splash, the sound travels up the well at a constant speed of 340 m/s. Again the same height h of
the well is given by
h = 340 *(8 - t) : 8 - t is the time taken for the sound to travel from bottom to top where the sound is heard.
The above equations give:
(1/2)(9.8) t2 = 340 *(8 - t)
4.9 t2 + 340 t - 2720 = 0
Solve for t, two solutions:
t = 7.24 s and the second solution is negative and is not valid.
The height h of the well is calculated using one of the above equations:
h = 340 *(8 - t) = 340 *(8 - 7.24) = 257 meters (approximated to the the nearest meter)
Problem 11: A rock is thrown straight up and reaches a height of 10 m.

a) How long was the rock in the air?
b) What is the initial velocity of the rock?
a) In this problem the rock has an initial velocity u. When the rock reaches a height of 10 m, it returns down to
earth and the the velocity v = 0 when x = 10 meters. Hence
v = -9.8 t + u
0 = -9.8 t + u
u = 9.8 t
x = (1/2)(u + v) t
10 = 0.5 (9.8 t + 0) t
= 4.9 t2
Solve for t: t = 1.42 seconds
b) u = 9.8 t = 9.8 * 1.24 = 14 m/s
Problem 12: A car accelerates from rest at 1.0 m/s2 for 20.0 seconds along a straight road . It then moves at a
constant speed for half an hour. It then decelerates uniformly to a stop in 30.0 s. Find the total distance
covered by the car.
a) The car goes through 3 stages:
stage 1: acceleration a = 1, initial velocity = 0, t = 20 s. Hence the distance x is given by
x = (1/2) a t2 = (1/2) (1) 202 = 200 meters
stage 2: constant speed v is the speed at the end of stage 1.
v = a t = 1 * 20 = 20 m/s
x = v t = 20 m/s * (1/2 hour) = 20 m/s * 1800 s = 36,000 meters
stage 3: deceleration to a stop, hence u = 20 m/s and v = 0 (stop)
x = (1/2)(u + v) t = (1/2)(20 + 0) 30 = 300 meters
total distance = 200 + 36,000 + 300 = 36,500 meters.

Problem 1: A man walks 7 km in 2 hours and 2 km in 1 hour in the same direction.
a) What is the man's average speed for the whole journey?
b) What is the man's average velocity for the whole journey?
a)
distance 7 km + 2 km 9 km
average speed = time
= 2 hours + 1 hour = 3 hours = 3 km/h
b)
displacement 7 km + 2 km 9 km
average velocity = time
= 2 hours + 1 hour = 3 hours = 3 km/h
Problem 2: A man walks 7 km East in 2 hours and then 2.5 km West in 1 hour.
a) What is the man's average speed for the whole journey?
b) What is the man's average velocity for the whole journey?
a)
distance 7 km + 2.5 km 9.5 km

= 2 hours + 1 hour = 3 hours = 3.2 km/h (approximated to the nearest tenth)
b)
displacement 7 km - 2.5 km 4.5 km
= 2 hours + 1 hour = 3 hours = 1.5 km/h
Problem 3: You start walking from a point on a circular field of radius 0.5 km and 1 hour later
you are at the same point.
a) What is your average speed for the whole journey?
b) What is your average velocity for the whole journey?
a) If you walk around a circular field and come back to the same point, you have covered a
distance equal to the circumference of the circle.
distance circumference 2 * 0.5 * Pi

= time
= 1 hour
= Pi km/h = 3.14 km/h (approximated)
b) If you walk around a circular field and come back to the same point where you started the
displacement, which a change in position, is equal to zero. Since the displacement is equal to
zero, the average velocity is also equal to zero.
Problem 4: John drove South 120 km at 60 km/h and then East 150 km at 50 km/h. Determine
a) the average speed for the whole journey?
b) the magnitude of the average velocity for the whole journey?

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a)
The time t1 to cover 120 km at a speed of 60 km/h is given by
t1 = 120 / 60 = 2 hours
The time t2 to cover 150 km at a speed of 50 km/h is given by
t2 = 150 / 50 = 3 hours
distance 120 km + 150 km 270 km

= 2 hours + 3 hours = 5 hours = 54 km/h
b) The magnitude of the displacement is the distance AC between the final point and the
starting point and is calculated using Pythagora's theorem as follows
AC2 = 1202 + 1502 AC = √(14400+22500) = 30 √41 km

displacement 30 √41 km
= 2 hours + 3 hour = 38.4 km/h (approximated)
Problem 5: If I can walk at an average speed of 5 km/h, how many miles I can walk in two
hours?
distance = (average speed) * (time) = 5 km/h * 2 hours = 10 km
using the rate of conversion 0.62 miles per km, the distance in miles is given by
distance = 10 km * 0.62 miles/km = 6.2 miles
Problem 6: A train travels along a straight line at a constant speed of 60 mi/h for a distance d
and then another distance equal to 2d in the same direction at a constant speed of 80 mi/h.
a)What is the average speed of the train for the whole journey?
a) The time t1 to cover distance d at a speed of 60 mi/h is given by
t1 = d / 60
The time t2 to cover distance 2d at a speed of 80 mi/h is given by
t2 = 2d / 80
distance d + 2d 3d 3d 3d*4800
= d/60 + 2d/80 = (80d + 2d*60)/(60*80) = 200d/4800 = 200d = 72 mi/h
Problem 7: A car travels 22 km south, 12 km west, and 14 km north in half an hour.
a) What is the average speed of the car?
b) What is the final displacement of the car?
c) What is the average velocity of the car?
a)
distance 22 km + 12 km + 14 km
= 0.5 hour
= 96 km/h
b) The displacement is the distance between the starting point and the final point and is the
hypotenuse DA of the right triangle DAE and is calculated using Pythagora's theorem as
follows
AE = 22 - 14 = 8 km
DA2 = AE2 + ED2 = 82 + 122 = 64 + 144 = 208
DA = √208 = 4√13 km
c)
displacement 4√13 km
= 0.5 hour = 28.8 km/h (approximated)
Problem 8: A man walked from point A to F following the route in the grid below in 3250
seconds. Determine
a) the average speed, in m/s, for the whole journey.
b) the magnitude of the displacement.
c) the magnitude of the average velocity, in m/s, for the whole journey.
a)
distance 3 km + 1 km + 1.5 km + 0.5 km + 0.5 km 6.5 km 6500 m
= 3250 seconds
= 3250 seconds = 3250 seconds = 2 m/s
b) The magnitude of the displacement is the distance between the starting point A and the final
point F and is the hypotenuse AF of the right triangle AFH and is calculated using Pythagora's
theorem as follows
AF2 = FH2 + HA2 = 32 + 42 = 9 + 16 = 25
DA = √25 = 5 km
c)
displacement 5 km 5000 m
= 3250 s = 3250 s = 1.5 m/s (approximated)
Problem 1: An object is launched at a velocity of 20 m/s in a direction making an angle of 25°

upward with the horizontal.
a) What is the maximum height reached by the object?
b) What is the total flight time (between launch and touching the ground) of the object?
c) What is the horizontal range (maximum x above ground) of the object?
d) What is the magnitude of the velocity of the object just before it hits the ground?
a) The formulas for the components Vx and Vy of the velocity and components x and y of the
displacement are given by
Vx = V0 cos(θ) Vy = V0 sin(θ) - g t
x = V0 cos(θ) t y = V0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t2
In the problem V0 = 20 m/s, θ = 25° and g = 9.8 m/s2.
The height of the projectile is given by the component y, and it reaches its maximum value
when the component Vy is equal to zero. That is when the projectile changes from moving
upward to moving downward.(see figure above) and also the animation of the projectile.
Vy = V0 sin(θ) - g t = 0
solve for t
t = V0 sin(θ) / g = 20 sin(25°) / 9.8 = 0.86 seconds
Find the maximum height by substituting t by 0.86 seconds in the formula for y
maximum height y (0.86) = 20 sin(25°)(0.86) - (1/2) (9.8) (0.86) 2 = 3.64 meters
b) The time of flight is the interval of time between when projectile is launched: t1 and when the
projectile touches the ground: t2. At t = t1 and t = t2, y = 0 (ground). Hence
V0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t2 = 0
Solve for t
t(V0 sin(θ) - (1/2) g t) = 0
two solutions
t = t1 = 0 and t = t2 = 2 V0 sin(θ) / g
Time of flight = t2 - t1 = 2 (20) sin(θ) / g = 1.72 seconds.
c) In part c) above we found the time of flight t2 = 2 V 0 sin(θ) / g. The horizontal range is the
horizontal distance given by x at t = t2.
range = x(t2) = V0 cos(θ) t2 = 2 V0 cos(θ) V0 sin(θ) / g = V02 sin(2θ) / g = 202 sin (2(25°)) / 9.8 =
31.26 meters
d) The object hits the ground at t = t2 = 2 V0 sin(θ) / g (found in part b above)
The components of the velocity at t are given by
Vx = V0 cos(θ) Vy = V0 sin(θ) - g t
The components of the velocity at t = 2 V0 sin(θ) / g are given by
Vx = V0 cos(θ) = 20 cos(25°) Vy = V0 sin(25°) - g (2 V0 sin(25°) / g) = - V0 sin(25°)
The magnitude V of the velocity is given by
V = √[ Vx2 + Vy2 ] = √[ (20 cos(25°))2 + (- V0 sin(25°))2 ] = V0 = 20 m/s

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Problem 2: A projectile is launched from point O at an angle of 22° with an initial velocity of 15
m/s up an incline plane that makes an angle of 10° with the horizontal. The projectile hits the
incline plane at point M.
a) Find the time it takes for the projectile to hit the incline plane.
b)Find the distance OM.

a) The x and y components of the displacement are given by
x = V0 cos(θ) t y = V0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t2
with θ = 22 + 10 = 32° and V0 = 15 m/s
The relationship between the coordinate x and y on the incline is given by
tan(10°) = y / x
Substitute x and y by their expressions above to obtain
tan(10°) = ( V0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t2) / V0 cos(θ) t
Simplify to obtain the equation in t
(1/2) g t + V0 cos(θ) tan(10°) - V0 sin(θ) = 0
Solve for t
V0 sin(θ) - V0 cos(θ) tan(10°) 15 sin(32°) - 15 cos(32°) tan(10°)

t= 0.5 g = 0.5 (9.8) = 1.16 s
b)
OM = √[ (V0 cos(θ) t)2 + ( V0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t2)2 ]
OM (t=1.16)= √[ (15 cos(32) 1.16)2 + ( 15 sin(32) 1.16 - (1/2) 9.8 (1.16)2)2 ] = 15 meters
Problem 3: A projectile is to be launched at an angle of 30° so that it falls beyond the pond of
length 20 meters as shown in the figure.
a) What is the range of values of the initial velocity so that the projectile falls between points M
and N?
a) The range is given by x = V02 sin(2θ) / g
We want to have the range greater than OM and smaller that ON, with OM = 10 + 20 = 30 m
and ON = 10 + 20 + 10 = 40 m
30 < V02 sin(2θ) / g < 40
30 g / sin(2θ) < V02 < 40 g / sin(2θ)
√ [ 30 g / sin(2θ) ] < V0 < √ [ 40 g / sin(2θ) ]
18.4 m/s < V02 < 21.2 m/s
Problem 4:A ball is kicked at an angle of 35° with the ground.
a) What should be the initial velocity of the ball so that it hits a target that is 30 meters away at a
height of 1.8 meters?
b) What is the time for the ball to reach the target?

a)
x = V0 cos(35°) t
30 = V0 cos(35°) t
t = 30 / V0 cos(35°)
1.8 = -(1/2) 9.8 (30 / V0 cos(35°))2 + V0 sin(35°)(30 / V0 cos(35°))
V0 cos(35°) = 30 √ [ 9.8 / 2(30 tan(35°)-1.8) ]
V0 = 18.3 m/s
b)
t = x / V0 cos(35°) = 2.0 s
Problem 5: A ball kicked from ground level at an initial velocity of 60 m/s and an angle θ with
ground reaches a horizontal distance of 200 meters.
a) What is the size of angle θ?
b) What is time of flight of the ball?
a)
Let T be the time of flight. Two ways to find the time of flight
1) T = 200 / V0 cos(θ) (range divided by the horizontal component of the velocity)
2) T = 2 V0 sin(θ) / g (formula found in projectile equations)
equate the two expressions
200 / V0 cos(θ) = 2 V0 sin(θ) / g
which gives
2 V02 cos(θ)sin (θ) = 200 g
V02 sin(2θ) = 200 g
sin(2θ) = 200 g / V02 = 200 (9.8) / 602
Solve for θ to obtain
θ = 16.5°
b)
Time of flight = 200 / V0 cos(16.5°) = 3.48 s
Problem 6: A ball of 600 grams is kicked at an angle of 35° with the ground with an initial
velocity V0.
a) What is the initial velocity V0 of the ball if its kinetic energy is 22 Joules when its height is
maximum?
b) What is the maximum height reached by the ball
a)
When the height of the ball is maximum, the vertical component of its velocity is zero; hence the
kinetic energy is due to its horizontal component Vx = V0 cos (θ).
22 = (1/2) m (Vx)2
22 = (1/2) 0.6 (V0 cos (35°))2
V0 = (1 / cos (35°)) √(44/0.6) = 10.4 m/s
b)
Initial kinetic energy (just after the ball is kicked)
Ei = (1/2) m V02 = (1/2) 0.6 (10.4)2 = 32.4 J
The difference between initial kinetic energy and kinetic energy when the ball is at maximum
height H is equal to gain in potential energy
32.4 - 22 = m g H
H = 10.4 / (0.6 * 9.8) = 1.8 m
Problem 7: A projectile starting from ground hits a target on the ground located at a distance of
1000 meters after 40 seconds.
a) What is the size of the angle θ?
b) At what initial velocity was the projectile launched?
a)
Vx = V0 cos (θ) = 1000 / 40 = 25 m/s
Time of flight = 2 V0 sin (θ) / g (formula found in projectile equations)
= 40 s
V0 sin (θ) = 20 g
Combine the above equation with the equation V 0 cos (θ) = 25 m/s found above to write
tan (θ) = 20 g / 25
Use calculator to find θ = 82.7 °
b)
We now use any of the two equations above to find V 0.
V0 cos (θ) = 25 m/s
V0 = 25 /cos (82.7 °) = 196.8 m/s
Problem 8: The trajectory of a projectile launched from ground is given by the equation y = -
0.025 x2 + 0.5 x, where x and y are the coordinate of the projectile on a rectangular system of
axes.
a) Find the initial velocity and the angle at which the projectile is launched.
a)
y = tan(θ) x - (1/2) (g / (V0 cos (θ))2 ) x2 (formula found in projectile equations)
hence tan(θ) = 0.5 which gives θ = arctan(0.5) = 26.5 °
-0.025 = -0.5 (9.8 / (V0 cos (26.5 °))2 )
Solve for V0 to obtain V0 = 15.6 m/s
Problem 9: Two balls A and B of masses 100 grams and 300 grams respectively are pushed
horizontally from a table of height 3 meters. Ball has is pushed so that its initial velocity is 10
m/s and ball B is pushed so that its initial velocity is 15 m/s.
a) Find the time it takes each ball to hit the ground.
b) What is the difference in the distance between the points of impact of the two balls on the
ground?
a) The two balls are subject to the same gravitational acceleration and therefor will hit the
ground at the same time t found by solving the equation
-3 = -(1/2) g t2
t = √ (3(2)/9.8) = 0.78 s
b) Horizontal distance XA of ball A
XA = 10 m/s * 0.78 s = 7.8 m
Horizontal distance XB of ball B
XB = 15 m/s * 0.78 s = 11.7 m
Difference in distance XA and XB is given by
|XB - XA| = |11.7 - 7.8| = 3.9 m
Algebra - basic laws
Power expressions
Powers
Logarithms
Limits
Absolute Values and Inequalities
Arithmetic and geometric series
Factorial numbers
Permutations
Combinations
Matrices Types ▲
The notation of a matrix of size (m ✕n) is defined as A(m ✕n) = A(row, column)
A convenient shorthand which offers considerable advantage when working with system of linear equations is b
In matrix notation these equations may be represented as: or AX = C
The terms of the matrix can be represented as:
Left side A(B + C) = AB + AC A(m ✕n) B and C (n ✕p)

Distributive law
Right side (A + B)C = AC + BC A and B (m ✕n) C(n ✕p)
Addition (A + B) + C = A + (B + C) (m ✕n)
Associative law
Multiplication (AB)C = A(BC) (n ✕n)
A(m ✕n) B(n ✕p)
Scalar multiplication (kA)B = A(kB) = k(AB)
k any number
Addition A+B=B+A A and B (m ✕n)
Commutative law
Multiplication not commutative Because A∙B ≠ B∙A
0+A=A k(A + B)= kA + kB

1·A=A (k + v)A = kA + vA
Other algebric laws
0·A=0 k(vA) = (kv)A
(k, v are constants)
A + (  A) = 0 kA = 0 → k = 0 or A = 0
(  1)A =   A
Matrices powers
(c is constant)
Matrices Addition and Multiplication ▲

Matrices addition:
A and B are of the same size m × n
Scalar multiplication
Matrices multiplication A (m × n) ∙ B (n × p) = C (m × p)
Example:
Determinants ▲
Determinants - symbol: det A or |A|
The result of the determinant of a matrix (n ⨯ n) is a real number.
Size 2 matrix
Size 3 matrix
General form to evaluate determinant values:
In this formula Min is the determinant of the submatrix of A obtained by deleting its ith row and nth column. The
determinant Min is called the minor of the element ain and his size is (n-1) ⨯ (n-1).
It is convenient to consolidate the quantity (-1)i+j and the minor Mij . We define
Cofactors of matrix Aij
the cofactor Aij of the element aij in determinant A as: Aij = (-1)i+jMij .
Determinants properties:
Example:
det A = 1(1*2-(-1)(-1))-(-2)(2*2-(-1)(-2))+3(2*(-1)-1*(-2))
Avaluate the determinant:
det A = 1(2-1)+2(4-2)+3(-2+2) = 5
Transposed matrix AT ▲
Interchange of terms across the main
Transposed matrix AT diagonal
Transposed matrices properties:
Example:
Find the transposed of the matrix
Note: The transposed size of an m ⨯ n matrix is n ⨯ m.
Inverse matrix A-1 ▲

The matrix A is inversible if there is a matrix B so that: AB = BA = I
then the matrix B is the inversed matrix of A.
Matrix I is the unit matrix. Thus the solution of A X = B can be written in
Inverse matrix A-1 = B the form X = A-1 B (where A is an n x n matrix and X and B are n x 1
matrices).
Inversed matrices properties:
Example:
Find the inverse 1. Add the unit matrix at the right:
of matrix A
2. Multiply first row by -2 and add it to the second row

then multiply first row by -4 and add it to the third row
to obtain:
3. Add second and third rows to obtain:
4. Subtract third row from second row:
5. Finally multiply third row by 2 and add it to the first

row and multiply third row by -1 to get the unit matrix:
And the inverse of A is:
Rank of a matrix A ▲
A square matrix is said to be nonsingular if its determinant is not zero. The rank
of an m ⨯ n matrix is the largest integer r for which a nonsingular
Rank of a matrix A
r ⨯ r submatrix exists.
If A and B be an n ⨯ n matrices then: rank(A + B) ≤ rank A + rank B
Example: Find the 1. Multiply first row by 2 and add it to the second row.
rank of matrix A. 2. Multiply first row by -3 and add it to the third row.
3. Subtruct fourth row from the first row to get:
4. Add second row to the third row.

5. Subtruct fourth row from second row to obtain:
The result matrix is:
And the r ⨯ r non zero matrix is:

And the rank of matrix A is 3.
Scaling Matrices ▲
Enlarging or shrinking a vector can be done by multiplying the vector by the diagonal
matrix of the form:
Scaling
matrix If a = b = c > 1 then the vector is enlareged equally in all directions.
If a = b = c < 1 then the vector is shrank equally in all directions.
If a ≠ b ≠ c then the vector is scaled in different sizes in the x, y and z
directions.

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1-D Kinematics - Lesson 6 - Describing Motion with Equations

Kinematic Equations and Free Fall

Applying Free Fall Concepts to Problem-Solving

Solutions to Above Problems

First use: vf = vi + a*t

Kinematic Equations and Graphs

Example Problem - Graphical Solution

Example Problem - Solution Using Kinematic Equation

Check Your Understanding

See Graph and Answer

See Graph and Answer

See Graph and Answer

See Graph and Answer

See Graph and Answer

See Graph and Answer

Solutions to Above Questions

a. The velocity-time graph for the motion is:

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

a. The velocity-time graph for the motion is:

a. The velocity-time graph for the motion is:

a. The velocity-time graph for the motion is:

a. The velocity-time graph for the motion is:

0.0 m2/s2 = 2025.0 m2/s2 + (-20.0 m/s2)*d

a. The velocity-time graph for the motion is:

Direction Variable signs

Upward motion −g +t +h +v0 +vt

Downward motion −g +t −h −v0 −vt

Initial velocity [v0]: [m/s]

Final velocity [vt]: [m/s]

Height [h]: [m]

Falling time [t]: [s]

A body is thrown upward with an initial

a We know that the initial velocity v0 =

b The time to reach the height is from

c In order to find the time to reach

For ball A: (1)

For ball B: (2)

The meeting point altitude is from eq. (2):

Another approach to calculate the time t until encounter (Figure 2) is to calculate

Ball A is dropped from a 300 [m] tower with an initial velocity of 20

9.8 t2 + 40t − 400 = 0

An object is thrown from the top of a building at a horizontal velocity of

From (2) we isolate h, the initial velocity downward is 0. (3)

Falling time can be calculated from the equation: vy = v0 + g t

The distance traveled horizontally is equal to:

Substitute vy or vx into eq.(3) to find h:

The trajectory angle at any distance from the building is:

Insert the values x = 100 [m] and θ = 35 ̊ we get:

NOTE: we can find the value of h by energy method:

Note: g and vy in all calculations are

From eq. (1) we get the value of the time: t = x / v0

Substitute the value of t into eq. (2) we get: (3)

Trajectory path angle θ is:

Total horizontal distance:

And the impact angle is:

The dropping angle is:

This equation can be translated to y = a x + b x2 so the trajectory path equation is a

vx = V0 cos30 = 17.3 m/s vy = V0 sin30 + g t

Total travel time can be calculated from (1b)

vf2 = vi2 + 2ad