Formula 

𝐯−𝐮
𝐭
=a

v – u = at
v = u + at
𝐮+𝐯
s= xt
𝟐

s = ut + ½ at2 s = distance (m) a = acceleration (ms – 2)

s = vt – ½ at2 u = initial speed (ms – 1) t = time (s)
v2 = u2 + 2as v = Last speed (ms – 1)

EXECRCISE 2A 
1 (i) Find v when u = 10, a = 6 and t = 2.  v = u + at = 10 + 6 x 2 = 22 ms – 1
𝐮+𝐯 4 + 20
(ii) Find s when v = 20, u = 4 and t = 10. s= 𝟐
xt = 2
x 10 = 120 m

(iii) Find s when v = 10, a = 2 and t = 10.  s = vt – ½ at2 = 10 x 10 – ½ x 2 x 102 = 0 m

𝐯 𝟐 − 𝐮𝟐 22 − 12 2
(iv) Find a when v = 2, u = 12, s = 7. a= 𝟐𝐬
= 2x7
= – 10 ms – 2

2 Decide which equation to use in each of these situations.

(i) Given u, s, a; find v.  v2 = u2 + 2as
(ii) Given a, u, t; find v.  v = u + at
(iii) Given u, a, t; find s.  s = ut + ½at2
𝐮+𝐯
(iv) Given u, v, s; find t. s= 𝟐
xt

(v) Given u, s, v; find a.  v2 = u2 + 2as

(vi) Given u, s, t; find a.  s = ut + ½ at2
(vii) Given u, a, v; find s.  v2 = u2 + 2as
(viii) Given a, s, t; find v.  s = vt – ½ at2
3 Assuming no air resistance, a ball has an acceleration of 10ms −2 when it is dropped from a window (so its initial
speed, when t = 0, is zero). Calculate :
(i) its speed after 1 s and after 10 s 
v = u + at = 0 + 10 x 1 = 10 ms – 1 and v = 0 + 10 x 10 = 100 ms – 1
(ii) how far it has fallen after 1 s and after 10 s 
s = ut + ½ at2 = 0 x 1 + ½ x 10 x 12 = 5 m and s = 0 x 10 + ½ x 10 x 102 = 500 m
(iii) how long it takes to fall 20m.
𝐬 20
t= ½ 𝐚𝐭 𝟐
= ½ x 10
= 2s

Which of these answers are likely to need adjusting to take account of air resistance?
Speed and distance after 10 s
Would you expect your answer to be an over- or underestimate?
both over-estimates
4 A car starting from rest at traffic lights reaches a speed of 90 kmh−1 in 12 s.
Find the acceleration of the car (in ms−2) and the distance travelled.
v = 90 kmh – 1 / 3.6 = 25 ms – 1
𝐯−𝐮 25 − 0
a= 𝐭
= 12
= 2.08 ms – 2
𝐯+𝐮 25 + 0
s= 𝟐
t= 2
x 12 = 150 m

Write down any assumptions that you have made.

constant acceleration
5 A top sprinter accelerates from rest to 9ms–1 in 2 s. Calculate his acceleration, assumed constant, during this
period and the distance travelled.
𝐯−𝐮 9−0
a= = = 4.5 ms – 2
𝐭 2
𝐯+𝐮 9+0
s= 𝟐
t= 2
x2 =9m

6 A van skids to a halt from an initial speed of 24ms−1 covering a distance of 36m. Find the acceleration of the van
(assumed constant) and the time it takes to stop.
𝐯 𝟐 − 𝐮𝟐 02 − 242
a= = = – 8 ms – 2
𝟐𝐬 2 x 36
𝟐𝐬 2 x 36
t = 𝐯+𝐮 = 0 + 24 =3s

7 An object moves along a straight line with acceleration –8ms−2. It starts its motion at the origin with velocity
16ms−1 .
(i) Write down equations for its position and velocity at time t s.
s = ut + ½ at2 = 16t + ½ x (–8) x t2 =16t – 4t2
v = u + at = 16 + (–8) x t = 16 – 8t
(ii) Find the smallest non-zero time when (a) the velocity is zero (b) the object is at the origin.
v = 16 – 8t = 0  t = 2s
s = 16t – 4t2 = 0  t = 4t (4 – t) = 0  t1 = 0s or t2 = 4s
(iii) Sketch the position–time, velocity–time and speed–time graphs for 0 ≤ t ≤ 4.

Page 32 
? Calculate u when t = 8.19, v = 22.3 and a = 4.55. Is t = 8.19 a possible answer?
u = v – at = 22.3 – 4.55 x 8.19 = – 15 ms – 1
Not Possible

EXERCISE 2B  Use g = 10 ms – 1
1 A car is travelling along a straight road. It accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 15 ms−1 and maintains this
speed for 10 minutes. It then decelerates uniformly to rest. If the acceleration and deceleration are 5 ms−2 and 8
ms−2 respectively, find the total journey time and the total distance travelled during the journey.
 𝐯 𝟐 + 𝐮𝟐 225 + 0 𝐯−𝐮 15 − 0
s1 = 𝟐𝐚
t = 2x5
= 22.5 m t1 = 𝐚
= 5
=3s

s2 = v x t = 15 x (10 x 60) = 9000 m t2 = 10 x 60 = 600 s

𝐯 𝟐 + 𝐮𝟐 0 + 225 𝐯−𝐮 0 − 15
s3 = 𝟐𝐚
t = 2x8
= 14.0625 m t3 = 𝐚
= −8
= 1.875 s

Total distance = 9036.5625 m ≈ 9037 m Total journey = 604.875 s ≈ 604.9 s

2 A skier pushes off at the top of a slope with an initial speed of 2 ms−1. She gains speed at a constant rate
v −u 6−2
throughout her run. After 10 s she is moving at 6 ms−1.  a = = = 0.4 ms – 2
t 10

(i) Find an expression for her speed t seconds after she pushes off.
v = u + at = 2 + 0.4t
(ii) Find an expression for the distance she has travelled at time t seconds.
s = ut + ½ at2 = 2 x t + ½ x 0.4 t2 = 2t + 0.2t2
(iii) The length of the ski slope is 400m. What is her speed at the bottom of the slope?
400 = 2t + 0.2t2  t2 + 10t – 2000 = 0  (t + 50)(t – 40) = 0  t = 40s
v = 2 + 0.4 x 40 = 18 ms – 1
3 Towards the end of a half-marathon Sabina is 100 m from the finish line and is running at a constant speed of 5
ms−1. Daniel, who is 140 m from the finish and is running at 4 ms−1 , decides to accelerate to try to beat Sabina. If
he accelerates uniformly at 0.25 ms−2 does he succeed?
t Sabrina = s/v = 100/5 = 20s
s Daniel = ut + ½ at2 = 4 x 20 + ½ x 0.25 x 202 = 80 + 50 = 130 m (– 10 m from Sabrina)
No, he is 10m behind when Sabina finishes
4 Rupal throws a ball upwards at 8 ms−1 from a window which is 4 m above ground level.
(i) Write down an equation for the height h m of the ball above the ground after t s (while it is still in the air).
ht = ho + ut + ½ gt2 = 4 + 8t + ½ (– 10) t2 = 4 + 8t – 5t2
(ii) Use your answer to part (i) to find the time the ball hits the ground.
4 + 8t – 5t2 = 0  5t2 – 8t – 4 = 0
(5t + 2)(t – 2) = 0
t=2s
(iii) How fast is the ball moving just before it hits the ground?
(V max)2 = u2 – 2gh = 0 from window
h max = u2 / 2g + h0 = 82 – 2 x 10 + 4 = 64 / 20 + 4 = 3.2 + 4 = 7.2 m
u = 0 ms – 1 when h max
v2 before hit the ground = u2 + 2gh = 02 + 2 x 10 x 7.2 = 144  v = 12 ms – 1
(iv) In what way would you expect your answers to parts (ii) and (iii) to change if you were able to take air
resistance into account? t greater and v less
5 Nathan hits a tennis ball straight up into the air from a height of 1.25 m above the ground. The ball hits the
ground after 2.5 seconds. Find :
(i) the speed Nathan hits the ball
h = h0 + ut + ½ gt2
h = 1.25 + u x 2.5 + ½ x (– 10) x (2.5)2 = 0
 1.25 + 2.5u – 31.25 = 0
u = 12 ms – 1
(ii) the greatest height above the ground reached by the ball
h = 1.25 + 12t – 5t2 = 0
t2 – 2.4t -0.25 = 0
(t – 2.5)(t + 0.1) = 0
t = 2.5s or – 0.1s (when ball on the ground)
t max = [2.5 + (– 0.1)]/2 = 1.2s
h max = 1.25 + 12 x 1.2 – 5 x (1.2)2 = 1.25 + 14.4 – 7.2 = 8.45 m
(iii) the speed the ball hits the ground
The ball touches the ground 2.5 s after being hit
v2 = u2 + 2gh
v = 02 + 2 𝑥 10 𝑥 8.45 = 169 = 13 ms – 1
(iv) how high the ball bounces if it loses 0.2 of its speed on hitting the ground.
u up after bounces = 0.8 x 13 = 10.4 ms – 1
h = (v2 – u2)/2g
h = (10.42 – 02) / 20 = 5.408 m ≈ 5.41 m
(v) Is your answer to part (i) likely to be an over – or underestimate given that you have ignored air resistance?
Underestimate
6 A ball is dropped from a building of height 30 m and at the same instant a stone is thrown vertically upwards from
the ground so that it hits the ball. In modelling the motion of the ball and stone it is assumed that each object
moves in a straight line with a constant downward acceleration of magnitude 10 ms−2. The stone is thrown with
initial speed of 15 ms−1 and is hs metres above the ground t seconds later.
(i) Draw a diagram of the ball and stone before they collide, marking their positions.

(ii) Write down an expression for hs at time t.

hs = ut + ½ gt2 = 15 x t + ½ x (–10) x t2 = 15t – 5t2
(iii) Write down an expression for the height hb of the ball at time t.
hb = 30 – ut + ½ gt2 = 30 – 0 x t + ½ x 10 x t2 = 30 – 5t2
(iv) When do the ball and stone collide?
When hs = hb
15t – 5t2 = 30 – 5t2
t=2s
 (v) How high above the ground do the ball and stone collide?
h = hs = hb = 30 – 5 x 22 = 30 – 20 = 10 m
7 When Kim rows her boat, the two oars are both in the water for 3 s and then both out of the water for 2 s. This 5
s cycle is then repeated. When the oars are in the water the boat accelerates at a constant 1.8 ms−2 and when
they are not in the water it decelerates at a constant 2.2 ms−2.
(i) Find the change in speed that takes place in each 3 s period of acceleration.
v = at = 0 + 1.8 x 3 = 5.4 ms – 1
(ii) Find the change in speed that takes place in each 2 s period of deceleration.
v = at = – 2.2 x 2 = – 4.4 ms – 1
(iii) Calculate the change in the boat’s speed for each 5 s cycle.
∆v = 5.4 + (– 4.4) = 1 ms – 1
(iv) A race takes Kim 45 s to complete. If she starts from rest what is her speed as she crosses the finishing line?
v = 45/5 x 1 = 9 ms – 1
(v) Discuss whether this is a realistic speed for a rowing boat.
Too fast
8 A ball is dropped from a tall building and falls with acceleration of magnitude 10 ms−2. The distance between
floors in the block is constant. The ball takes 0.5 s to fall from the 14th to the 13th floor and 0.3 s to fall from the
13th floor to the 12th. What is the distance between floors?
v = velocity when reach 14th floor
0.5s later  v + 10 x 0.5 =v+5 (reach 13th floor)
0.3s later  v + 5 + 10 x 0.3 = v + 8 (reach 12th floor)
n linier motion with constant acceleration , distance is the product of average speed and time

Between the 14th and 13th floors Between the 13th and 12th floors
v +(v + 5) (v + 8) +(v + 5)
2
x 0.5 = d  2v + 5 = 4d 2
x 0.3 = d  6v + 39 = 20d

6v + 15 = 12d
6v + 39 = 20d
24 = 8d
d=3m
9 Two clay pigeons are launched vertically upwards from exactly the same spot at 1 s intervals. Each clay pigeon has
initial speed 30 ms−1 and acceleration 10 ms−2 downwards. How high above the ground do they collide?
The two clay pigeons will collide when the first one is already going down while the second is still rising up ----at
the same height above the ground.
s1 = s2 ------(i)

Given:
u1 = u2 = 30 ms – 1 upwards
a1 = a2 = 10 ms – 2 downwards. ----so it is -10 ms – 2 as we take upwards to be positive.
 If we make the time the first one is fired as our reference, then
t1 = t s
t2 = (t – 1) s -----because t2 is less than t1.

s = ut + ½ at2:
s1 = 30t + ½ x (-10) x t2 = 30t – 5t2
s2 = 30(t – 1) + ½ x (-10) x [(t – 1)2 = 30t – 30 – 5(t2 – 2t + 1) = – 5t2 + 40t – 35

s1 = s 2
30t – 5t2 = – 5t2 + 40t – 35
– 10t = – 35
t = 35/10 = 3.5 s

Hence,
s1 = 30(3.5) – 5(3.5)2 = 43.75 m
2
s2 = – 5(3.5) + 40(3.5) – 35 = 43.75 m

Therefore, the two clay pigeons will collide at 43.75 meters above the ground.

10 A train accelerates along a straight, horizontal section of track. The driver notes that he reaches a bridge 120 m
from the station in 8 s and that he crosses the bridge, which is 31.5 m long, in a further 2 s.

The motion of the train is modelled by assuming constant acceleration. Take the speed of the train when leaving
the station to be u ms−1 and the acceleration to have the value a ms−2.
(i) By considering the part of the journey from the station to the bridge, show that u + 4a = 15.
s = ut + ½ at2
120 = u x 8 + ½ x a x (8)2
120 = 8u + 32a …………… x 1/8
u + 4a = 15 (PROVEN) ….. 1)
(ii) Find a second equation involving u and a.
s = (u + at1) t2 + ½ at22
31.5 = (u + a x 8) x 2 + ½ x a x (2)2
31.5 = 2u + 16a + 2a
31.5 = 2u + 18a …………… x ½
 u + 9a = 15.75 ….. 2)
(iii) Solve the two equations for u and a to show that a is 0.15 and find the value of u.
2) – 1) 
5a = 0.75
a = 0.75/5 = 0.15 ms – 2 (PROVEN)
u = 15 – 4(0.15) = 15 – 0.6 = 14.4 ms – 1
(iv) If the driver also notes that he travels 167 m in the 10 s after he crosses the bridge, have you any evidence to
reject the modelling assumption that the acceleration is constant? [MEI]
v after bridge = u + at3 = (u + at1) + at2 = (14.4 + 0.15 x 8) + 0.15 x 2 = 15.6 + 0.3 = 15.9 ms – 1 = u3
s = u3t3 + ½ at32 = 15.9 x 10 + ½ x 0.15 x 102 = 159 + 7.5 = 166.5 m
No, distance at constant acceleration is 166.5m.
11 The diagram shows the velocity–time graph for a lift moving between floors in a building. The graph consists of
straight line segments. In the first stage the lift travels downwards from the ground floor for 5 s, coming to rest at
the basement after travelling 10 m.

(i) Find the greatest speed reached during this stage.

Used area of triangle 
½ x 5 x v = ± 10
v = 4 ms – 1
The second stage consists of a 10 s wait at the basement. In the third stage, the lift travels upwards until it comes
to rest at a floor 34.5 m above the basement, arriving 24.5 s after the start of the first stage. The lift accelerates
at 2 ms−2 for the first 3 s of the third stage, reaching a speed of v ms–1.
Find :
(ii) the value of v
Used the gradient represents acceleration 
v = u + at
v=0+2x3
v = 6 ms – 1
(iii) the time during the third stage for which the lift is moving at constant speed,
Used area of trapezium 
[t + 9.5) x 6 x ½ = 34.5
t=2s
(iv) the deceleration of the lift in the final part of the third stage.
 Used gradient represents deceleration 
dv 6−0
a= = = 1.33 ms – 2
dt 24.5 − (18 + 2)

12 A particle is projected vertically upwards from a point O with initial speed 12.5 ms−1. At the same instant another
particle is released from rest at a point 10 m vertically above O. Find the height above O at which the particles
meet.
s = ut + ½ at2

s1 + s2 = 10
s1 = 12.5t – ½ gt2
s2 = 0t + ½ gt2 = ½ gt2
12.5t – ½ gt2 = ½ gt2
12.5t = gt2
12.5 = 10t
t = 0.8 s
h = 12.5 x 0.8 – ½ x 10 x (0.8)2 = 10 – 3.2 = 6.8 m