Kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics
1. Words
2. Sketches
3. Time elapsed photographs
4. Physical Expressions (Equations)
5. Graphical Representation
Kinematics Equations that Make Sense!
sav = d / ∆t = d / tf - ti
df = di + vav t
vf = vi + aav t
Note: if the time intervals are very small we call these quantities instantaneous
Using Split Times!
Sitting at your desk right now you don’t seem to be moving but you
are infact revolving at 30 km/s (67,000 mi/h) around the sun
The earth also has a rotational speed about its axis. People on
earth experience different tangential speeds depending on their
latitude. The space shuttle at Kennedy Space Center is already
traveling at 410 m/s (917 mi/h) before it even gets off the ground. A
geosynchronous satellite that is in a stationary orbit over the earth
is traveling at over 3080 m/s (6890 mi/h)
2. Write down your known variables and show unknowns with a question
mark.
3. Write down the kinematics expression that will allow you to solve for
one variable. All the others in your expression should be known.
Rearrange if necessary.
5. Solve the equation for your unknown and include the correct units.
sav = d / t
d = 12000 m
Andy Green in the car ThrustSSC set a world record of 341.1 m/s in
1997. To establish such a record, the driver makes two runs through
the course, one in each direction,to nullify wind effects. From the data,
determine the averagevelocity for each run.
1. The slope of a d-t graph at any time tells you the av. velocity of
the object.
2. The slope of a v-t graph at any time tells you the av.
acceleration of the object.
3. The area under a v-t graph tells you the displacement of the
object during that time.
4. The area under a a-t graph tells you the change in velocity
of the object during that time
Constant Motion
60 20 10
18
50
16 8
14
acceleration (m/s)
40
velocity (m/s)
position (m)
12 6
30 10
8 4
20
6
4 2
10
2
0 0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
time (s) time (s) time (s)
On the d-t graph at any point in On the v-t graph at any point in On the a-t graph the area between
time … vav = ∆d / ∆t time… aav = vf - vi / t the line and the x-axis is….
aav = (10 - 10)m/s / (5 - 0)s
vav = (50 - 0)m / (5 - 0)s Area of rectangle = b x h
aav = 0 m/s2 Area = 5s x 0 m/s2 = 0 m/s
vav = 10 m/s
Looking at the area between the The area thus represents….
The slope is constant on this graph line and the x-axis….
so the velocity is constant ∆v = aav ∆t
Area of rectangle = b x h
Area = 5s x 10 m/s = 50 m Change in velocity
Which is of course displacement
Changing Motion
60
60 25
25 8
50
50 7
20
20
6
acceleration (m/s/s)
40
40
velocity (m/s)
velocity (m/s)
(m)
15 5
position(m)
15
30
30
position
20 10
10
3
20
10 2
55
10
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0 00 0
-10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
time
time (s)
(s) time
time(s)
(s) time (s)
On the d-t graph at any point in On the v-t graph at any point in
On the a-t graph the area between
time … vav = ∆d / ∆t time… aav = vf - vi / t
the line and the x-axis is….
aav = (20 - 0)m/s / (5 - 0)s
The slope is constantly increasing Area of rectangle = b x h
on this graph so the velocity is aav = 4 m/s2
increasing at a constant rate Area = 5s x 4 m/s2 = 20 m/s
Looking at the area between the
line and the x-axis…. The area thus represents….
The slope of a tangent line drawn
at a point on the curve will tell you Area of triangle = 1/2 (b x h)
the instantaneous velocity at this Change in velocity
position Area = 1/2 (5s x 20 m/s) = 50 m
Which is of course displacement
To determine the velocity at any point in time you need to find the slope of the distance-time graph. This means that
you need to find the slope of the tangent line drawn at the point of interest. By selecting two points spaced evenly
on either side of the point of interest, a line can be drawn between them that has the same slope as the tangent.
(shown below).
5
4
3
velocity (m/s)
2
1
0
-1 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
-2
-3
time (s)
Total distance traveled by the student is….
dtotal = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4 + d5
dtotal = s1t1 + s2 t2+ s3 t3 + s4 t4 + s5 t5
dtotal = (3m/s)(30s) + (0m/s)(10s) + (2m/s)(10s) +
………(0m/s)(5s) + (1/2(4m/s)(10s)
dtotal = 130 m
5
4
3
velocity (m/s)
2
1 + 90 m + 20 m
0
-1 0 10 20 30
- 20 m50
40 60 70
-2
-3
time (s)
More Kinematics Equations that Make
Sense!
2. An object in free fall experiences a constant uniform acceleration of 9.8 m/s2 in the
downwards direction
3. Kinematics equations can be used for solving free fall problems by replacing aav in
the expressions with g where g is 9.8 m/s2 downwards
g is negative g is positive
- +
If you define up as the positive direction, g must If you define up as the negative direction, g
be negative because the velocity gets less must be positive because the velocity gets less
positive over time negative over time
Freely Falling Bodies
dv a vf vi t
? - 9.8 m/s2 0 m/s 3.00 s
Freely Falling Bodies
dv a vf vi t
? -9.80 m/s2 0 m/s 3.00 s
dv = vi t + ½ g t2
= (0 m/s)(3.00s) + ½ (-9.8 m/s2)(3.00s)2
= - 44.1 m
Freely Falling Bodies
dv a vf vi t
? - 9.80 m/s2 0 m/s + 5.00 m/s
Freely Falling Bodies
dv a vf vi t
? -9.80 m/s2 0 m/s +5.00
m/s
vf v
2 2
2
vf = vi 2 + 2 g dv dv
i
2g
0 m s 5.00 m s
2 2
d v = 1.28 m
2 9.80 m s 2