2.

MOTION IN A STRAIGT LINE

Mechanics: Branch of physics, which deals with the study of objects in rest and
in motion.

Statics: Study of objects at rest or in equilibrium.

Kinematics: Study of motion of objects without considering the cause of

motion.

Dynamics: Study of motion of objects considering the cause of motion.

Rest: An object is said to be at rest if it does not change its position with time,
with respect to its surrounding (a reference point which is generally taken as
origin in numerical problems)

Motion: An object is said to be in motion if it changes its position with time,

with respect to its surroundings.
Rest and motion are relative terms.

Point mass/Point object: An object is said to be a point mass if during its

motion it covers distance much greater than its own size.

One dimensional motion: An object travels in a straight line. It is also called

rectilinear or linear motion. The position change of the object with time in one
dimension can be described by only one coordinate.
Ex. A stone falling freely under gravity.

Two dimensional motion or motion in a plane: For an object travelling in a

plane two coordinates say X and Y are required to describe its motion.
Ex. An insect crawling over the floor.

Three dimensional motion: An object travels in space. To describe motion of

objects in three dimension require all three coordinates x, y and z.
Ex. A kite flying in the sky.

The motion on a particle in a straight line is called rectilinear motion.

14 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Frame of Reference
In order to know the change in position of an object, a reference point is
required. Point O in the figure is the reference point or Origin and together
with three axes, this system is called the coordinate system. A coordinate
system with time frame is called frame of reference.
o Objects changing positions with time with respect to the frame of reference
are in motion while those which do not change position are at rest.
o For a moving car, for the frame of reference outside the car, it appears
moving. While for the frame of reference inside the car, the car appears
stationary.

Distance and displacement

Distance is the actual path length travelled by an object in the given interval of
time during the motion
Displacement is the difference between the final and initial positions of the
object in a given interval of time.

15 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

 S.N Distance Displacement
o
1 It is the length of the path It is the shortest distance
travelled by a object in a between the initial and final
certain time positions.

2 scalar vector 
3 It is always positive It can be negative or positive
4 It depends on the path doesn't depends on the path
followed by the object. followed by the object.
5 Distance cannot be zero Displacement may or may not
be zero.

Speed and velocity

The rate of change of position of an object in any direction is speed.
Distancetravelled Unit- m/s
Speed = time

The rate of change of position of an object in a direction is called velocity

Displacement
Velocity = time
Unit- m/s

S.No Speed Velocity

1 Distance travelled in unit time Displacement in unit time
2 Scalar Vector
3 Speed can never be negative Velocity can be zero, negative, or
or zero positive.

4 Speed may or may not be Velocity may be equal to speed or

equal to velocity. less than speed.

5 v = d/t; v = ∆x/∆t;
‘t’ is time taken to travel the ‘∆t’ ‘∆x’ is the displacement.
distance and ‘d’ is the
distance.

16 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Types of speed
Uniform speed: A object is said to be in uniform speed when the object covers
equal distance in equal time intervals.
Variable speed: A object is said to be in variable speed when the object covers
a different distance at equal intervals of times.
Average speed: Average speed is defined as the uniform speed which is given
by the ratio of total distance travelled by an object to the total time taken by
the object.
Total distance
Average speed = Total time taken

Instantaneous speed: When an
object is moving with variable speed, then the speed of that object at any
instant of time is known as instantaneous speed.

Special cases
(i) A body covering different distances S1, S2, S3,…. with different speeds v1, v2,
v3…., then
Total distance S
Average speed = Total time taken = t
S 1+ S 2+ S 3+…
= t 1+t 2+t 3+… .

S 1+ S 2+ S 3+…
Average speed = S1 S2 S3
( + + + …)
v1 v 2 v 3
If S1 =S2 = S (i.e.) the body covers
equal distances with different speeds, then

2S
2V 1 V 2
Average speed = 1 1
S( + ) = V 1+V 2
v1 v2

17 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

(ii) A body moving with different speeds V1, V2, V3..., in different time intervals
t1, t2, t3…,
Total distance travelled = V1 t1+ V2 t2+ V3t3 …..
Total time taken = t1+ t2+ t3……

Average speed =
V 1 t 1+V 2t 2+V 3 t 3 …..
t 1+ t 2+t 3 … …
If t1+ t2+ t3……=tn=t.., then
( V 1+V 2+V 3 … ..+Vn ) t
Average speed = nt

( V 1+V 2+V 3 … ..+Vn )

Average speed = n

Types of velocity
Uniform velocity: A object is said to be in uniform velocity when the object
covers equal displacements in equal time intervals.
Variable velocity: A object is said to be in variable velocity if either its speed
changes or direction of motion changes or both change with time.
Average speed: Average velocity is the ratio of total displacement to the total
time taken by the object.

Total displacement
Instantaneous Average velocity = Total timetaken velocity: The
velocity of an object at a
particular instant of time is called
the instantaneous velocity.

18 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Uniform and non-uniform motion
An object covers equal distance which is equal interval of the time in the same
fixed direction then object is said to have uniform motion.

Example of Uniform Motion:

1. If the speed of a car is 10 m/s, it means that the car covers 10 meters in
one second. The speed is constant in every second.
2. Movement of blades of a ceiling fan.

An object covers the unequal distance which is equal intervals of time then the
object is said to have non-uniform motion.

Example of Non Uniform Motion:

1. If a car covers 10 meters in first two seconds, and 15 meters in next two
seconds.
2. The motion of a train.

19 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity with respect to time is called acceleration. It is a
vector quantity. Its unit is m/s2.
Change∈velocity
Acceleration = Time

Types of acceleration
Uniform acceleration- A body is said to be in uniform acceleration if its velocity
changes by equal amounts in equal intervals of time.
Variable acceleration –The acceleration of a body is said to be variable if its
velocity changes by unequal amounts I equal intervals of time.
Average acceleration – It is the ratio of total change in velocity to the total
time taken.
V 2−V 1
Average acceleration = t 2−t 1 =
∆V
∆t
Instantaneous acceleration – It is the acceleration at any specific time during
the motion.
lim ∆ V
Instantaneous acceleration = ∆ t → 0
∆t

Positive and negative acceleration – In positive acceleration velocity increases

with time and in negative acceleration the velocity reduces with time. Negative
acceleration is also called as retardation or deceleration.

20 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Position –time graph (x-t)

Velocity – time graph (V-t)

Acceleration- time graph (a-t)

21 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Velocity–time graph for motions with constant acceleration .

Position-time graph for motion with (a) positive acceleration; (b) negative
acceleration, and (c) zero acceleration

22 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Slope of x-t graph give velocity

BC
Slope of line AB =tan θ = AC

S 2−S 1
= t 2−t 1

Displacement
= time

Slope of x-t graph = velocity

Area of v-t graph(uniform motion) gives displacement

Area of rectangle ABCD

= AD x AB
= v(t2-t2)
= velocity x time
Area of v-t graph = displacement
Velocity –time graph gives
acceleration

Slope of line AE = tan θ

ED
= AD

V −u
= t 2−t 1

Change∈velocity
= time taken

Slope of v-t graph = acceleration

Kinematic equations for uniform Motion-Graphical method

23 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Velocity (v-u)
m/s v
u θ

t
time(sec)
(i)Slope of v-t graph = acceleration(a)
v−u
slope = t

v−u
a= t or v-u =at

v= u +at ……. (1)

(ii)Area of v-t graph = displacement (S) V= u+at
v−u
S = Area of rectangle + area of triangle t
=a
= length x breadth + ½ base x height at =v-u
= ut + ½ t (v-u) ( substitute v-u =at )
= ut + ½ t(at)
S = ut +1/2 at2 …..(2)
(iii) V-t graph = displacement(S) Area of trapezium = ½ h(a+b)
(h =t , a= v and b= u)
S = area of trapezium
v−u v−u
S = ½ x t (v+u) (substitute t = a = t) =t
a

v−u
S = ½ ( a ) (v+u)

1
S= 2 a v2 –u2

V2 =u2 +2as ……. (3)

24 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Kinematic equations for uniform Motion-Calculas method
t v
dv
(i) a = dt ∫ adt = ∫ dv
0 u

now, integrate
a(t₂ - t₁) = v - u
Let (t₂- t₁) = t
then, at = v - u
v = u + at

ds
(ii) v= dt or ds = vdt

= (u + at)dt = u dt + atdt
s t t

∫ ds= u ∫ dt + a ∫ tdt
0 o 0

S - 0 = u (t-0) + a (t2 /2)

S = ut +1/2 at2 dv dv ds
(iii) a = = x
dt ds dt
dv
= ds
xv

ads =v dv
s v

a ∫ ds =∫ vdv
0 u

a (s-0) = v2/2 –u2/2

v 2−u 2
Sa= 2

V2 =u2 +2as

25 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Distance travelled during nth second of motion

Consider a particle moving with uniform acceleration ‘a’.

Let u be the initial velocity of the particle.
Distance travelled during nth second = Distance travelled in ‘n’ seconds –
Distance travelled in (n-1) seconds
1
Distance travelled in ‘n’ seconds = un + 2 an2

1
Distance travelled in (n-1) seconds = u(n-1) + 2 a(n-1)2

1 1
Distance travelled during nth second = un + 2 an2 - {u(n-1) + 2 a(n-1)2}

1 1
= un + 2 an2 - {un-u + 2 a(n2+1-2n)}

1 1 1
= un + 2 an2 – un+u - 2 an2- 2 a +an

1
= u +an- 2 a

1
=u + a(n - 2 )

a
= u + 2 (2n-1)

a
Distance travelled during nth second = u + 2 (2n-1)

26 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

Freefall
Freefall is defined as a situation when a body is moving only under the
influence of the earth's gravity. Here the effect of resistance of air is neglected.
Examples (i) Fruit Falling from the Tree (ii)Bungee Jumping. 

S.No Equations of Freely falling Vertically thrown upwards

motion bodies (g is negative)
(g is positive)
v= u +at V=gt V= u-gt
S = ut +1/2 at2 h= 1/2g t2 h =ut -1/2g t2

V2 =u2 +2as V2 =2gh V2 = u2-2gh

(a) Variation of acceleration with time. (b) Variation of velocity with time

27 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

(c) Variation of distance with time

Stopping distance
It is the distance travelled between the time when the body decides to stop a
moving vehicle and the time when the vehicle stops completely.
V2 =u2 +2as here V=0 and S = ds (stopping distance)
u2
ds = - 2 a

Reaction time
The reaction time is the time it takes for the person to see the event and press
the brakes of the car

2d
Reaction time tr =√ g S
Relative velocity in one dimension
Every motion is relative as it has to be observed with respect to the observer.
Relative velocity is the measurement of velocity of an object with respect to
other observer.
It is defined as the time rate of change of relative position of one object w.r.t
another.

28 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS

29 G.SELVAN PGT PHYSICS