UNIFORM ACCELERATED

MOTION:
Horizontal Dimension
Vertical Dimension
• Uniformly accelerated motion
(UAM) or constant acceleration, is
motion that has a constant and
unchanging velocity.
•The acceleration of an object
means that there is a net force in
the direction of that object's
acceleration.
• Main characteristics of the uniformly accelerated motion:
to identify when we are talking about a uniformly accelerated
motion is necessary to know the parameters of this motion: Its
trajectory is in a straight line which means that this is a
motion that only moves in one dimension. Its acceleration is
different than zero, and this is the main difference between
this motion and the constant velocity motion. Its velocity is
changing constantly, because of the acceleration, the velocity
increases or decreases permanently, this is why in the problems
of this motion there is always going to be an initial velocity and
a final velocity.
• The acceleration is the constant change of the
velocity. The sign or the direction that a velocity or
an acceleration has could give a preview of what the
movement is going to be like, if both acceleration
and velocity have the same sign, then the object will
increase the velocity every second, but if this
magnitudes have different signs (for example a
positive velocity and a negative acceleration) then
the object will start to slow down every second until
it is at rest.
Now you will use basic equations to derive formula use in
Uniform Accelerated Motion (UAM). Using the following
equations on velocity, average velocity, and acceleration, you
can derive other equations.
where: v = velocity

Equation A
v= vf = final velocity
vi = initial velocity

Equation B  vave = vave = average velocity

d = displacement
t = time
Equation C a= a = acceleration
 
 where: v = velocity
Equation A
v= d = displacement
t = time 

d=? t =?
v= v=
d=vt t=
d=vt v v
SAMPLE PROBLEM
1. A car travels at uniform velocity a distance of
100 m in 4 seconds. What is the speed of the car?
Given:
d=100 m v =
t= 4 s
v=? v=
v=
SAMPLE PROBLEM
2. What is the speed of a rocket that travels 8000m
in 13s?
Given:
d=8000 m v =
t= 13 s
v=? v=
v=
SAMPLE PROBLEM
3. How long will it take if you travel 400km with an
average speed of 100m/s?
400 km x 1000 m = 400000 m
Given:
d=400 km
t= 1 km 1
=400000 m
v= 100 m/s
t=? t=
t=
SAMPLE PROBLEM
4. A high school bus travels 240 km in 6.0 h. What
is its average speed for the trip? (in km/h).
Given:
d=240 km
v=
v= ?
t=6 h v=
v=
SAMPLE PROBLEM
5. A spider travels across a driveway 3.6 m wide
with a speed of 14 cm/s. How long will it take to
cross the driveway? 14 cm x 1 m = 14m
Given: t= 100 cm 100
=.14 m
d=3.6 m
v= 14 cm/s
t=? t=
t = 25s
SAMPLE PROBLEM
6. A motorist traveling on a straight stretch of open
highway sets his cruise control at 90.0 km/h.
How far will he travel in 15 minutes?
15 min x 1 h = 15 h
Given:
d=? d=vt 60 min. 60
=.25 h
v= 90 km/h
t=15 min.
d= 90 km/h (.25 h)
d = 22 km
 Formulas of the Uniformly
accelerated motion
vf = vi + at vf = vi + 2ad
2 2

d = vit+ ½at 2 vf = vi - 2ad

2 2

d = vi + vf t
2
Example 1: A car that is at rest starts to accelerate 2m/s2, if it
keeps accelerating for 10 seconds, define the velocity that the
car will reach.
Given:
vi = 0 m/s
a = 2 m/s
t =10 s
vf = ?
Given:
vi = 0 m/s
vf = vi + at
a = 2 m/s
t =10 s
vf = 0 m/s + 2 m/s (10 s)
vf = ?
vf = 0 m/s + 2 m/s (10 s)
vf = 2 m/s (10 s)
vf = 20 m/s
Example 2: A person that starts walking at a speed of 1m/s start
accelerating and 30 seconds later this person is already running at a
speed of 5m/s, ¿what was the distance that this person run?.
Given:
vi = 1 m/s
d=?
t =30 s
vf = 5 m/s
Given: d = v i + vf t
vi = 1 m/s
d=? 2
t =30 s d = 1 m/s + 5 m/s 30s
vf = 5 m/s
2
d = 6 m/s 30s
2
d = 3 m/s 30s
d = 90 m
Example 3: A car that is going at a speed of 33.2 m/s starts slowing
down and it ends up at rest, if we know that the acceleration applied
was of -2m/s2. What was the distance that this car covered?
Given:
vi = 33.2 m/s
d=?
a =-2 m/s2
vf = 0 m/s
Example 3: A car that is going at a speed of 33.2 m/s starts slowing
down and it ends up at rest, if we know that the acceleration applied
was of -2m/s2. What was the distance that this car covered?
Given:
vi = 33.2 m/s
vf = vi + 2ad
2 2

d=?
a =-2 m/s2
vf = 0 m/s
Example 4: A light plane is flying at a velocity of 12m/s, if this
accelerates and it reaches a velocity of 20m/s, and if we know that
between this it covered a 300 meters distance, what was the time and
what was the acceleration.
Given:
vi = 12 m/s
d = 300 m
t= ?
a=?
vf = 20 m/s
Example 4: A light plane is flying at a velocity of 12m/s, if this
accelerates and it reaches a velocity of 20m/s, and if we know that
between this it covered a 300 meters distance, what was the time and
what was the acceleration.
Given: d = vi + vf t
vi = 12 m/s
d = 300 m
2
t= ?
a=?
vf = 20 m/s
The anchovy swims at a speed of 5.6 m/s until it reaches a speed of 12.3
m/s. As the fish swam, the fish was unaware that it was 50m away from
its companions. Now, find the time spent by the fish and its
acceleration.
Example 5: An acceleration of 3m/s was applied to an object for 9
seconds, if we know that the object covered 103 meters, calculate the
final velocity and the initial velocity.

Given:
vi = ?
d = 103 m
t= 9s
a = 3 m/s2
vf = ?
Example 5: an acceleration of 3m/s2 was applied to an object for 9
seconds, if we know that the object covered 103 meters, calculate the
final velocity and the initial velocity.
Given:
vi = ?
d = v t+ ½at
i
2

d = 103 m
t= 9s
a = 3 m/s2
vf = ?
Exercises 6: There is a roller coaster in an amusement park where the first 140
meters are in a straight line, if from the beginning when the car is at rest until it
hits 140 meters there is a constant acceleration of 7.5 m/s2, calculate the time
that took the car to get to the 140 meters and the final velocity.
Given:
vi = 0 m/s
d = 140 m
t= ?
a = 7.5 m/s2
vf = ?
Exercises 6: There is a roller coaster in an amusement park where the first 140
meters are in a straight line, if from the beginning when the car is at rest until it
hits 140 meters there is a constant acceleration of 7.5 m/s, calculate the time that
took the car to get to the 140 meters and the final velocity.
Given:
vi = 0
vf = vi + 2ad
2 2

d = 140 m
t= ?
a = 7.5 m/s2
vf = ?
Example 7: A satellite in space that is at rest, is going to change his
position moving in a straight line , if it reaches a velocity of 3000m/s
in only 0.9s, what was the acceleration applied and define the
distance.
Given:
vi = 0 m/s
d=?
t = 0.9 s
a=?
vf = 3000 m/s
Example 7: A satellite in space that is at rest, is going to change his
position moving in a straight line , if it reaches a velocity of 3000m/s
in only 0.9s, what was the acceleration applied and define the
distance.
Given:
vi = 0 m/s
d=v+v t i f
d=?
t = 0.9 s
2
a=?
vf = 3000 m/s
Under special circumstances, we can use a series of three
equations to describe or predict movement

vf = vi + at Where:
vf - final velocity

d = vi t + 1/2at2 vi - initial velocity

a - acceleration
t - time
vf 2 = vi 2 + 2ad d - distance
Uniformly Accelerated Motion: Horizontal
Dimension
• If a body maintains a constant change in its
velocity in each time interval along straight line,
then the body is said to have a uniform
acceleration.
To find out how displacement changes with time when an object is uniformly
accelerated, rearrange equation A to arrive at d = vt. Since the velocity of the object
changes when it is uniformly accelerating, we use the average velocity to determine
displacement, so substituting v by vave in equation B. you will get:

v= Equation A  vave = Equation B

v=
d =vt
d =(vf-vi)t Equation D
2
 What is the vertical motion
• The vertical motion is a motion that happens
when we throw an object totally up, this
means that the initial velocity or the force is
only applied in the vertical axis, this is
why this motion only has vertical
movement and in case there is a horizontal
motion, it is because of the air that makes the
object move.
• The vertical motion could be seen as a uniformly
accelerated motion variant, that moves in the “y”
axis, because normally a uniformly accelerated
motion moves in the “x” axis. 
• The vertical motion could be seen as a uniformly
accelerated motion but with the difference that
the acceleration in this motion will be equals to
the gravity. 
• The gravity is an acceleration that points down, this
means that the sign of the gravity will be negative.
 Vertical motion characteristics
• One of the main conditions of the vertical motion is
that its initial velocity must be different than 0, if
the initial velocity is positive, then the object will
start to raise, slowing down the velocity until the
velocity is equals to 0, and after that moment the
object will start falling, and the velocity will increase
constantly in the opposite direction until the object
impacts with the floor.
• In case the initial velocity of the object is
negative, the object will start descending to
the floor and its velocity will be higher
every second until it impacts with the floor.
• A projectile motion can become
a vertical motion if the
inclination angle of the initial
velocity is equals to 90°, because
when the inclination is 90°, the
whole force of the initial velocity
will be applied in the vertical
axis, so there will only be a
vertical movement.
 Vertical motion formulas

• The vertical motion formulas are the same

formulas we use in uniformly accelerated
motion, but, as we said before, with the
difference that the acceleration will be equals
to the value of the gravity, but with the
negative sign.
The following formulas are the vertical motion formulas, this are already
with the changes we explained before and simplified with the vertical
motion parameters.
hmax = vi 2
h = vit – agt 2

2g
2
tmax = 2(vi)
g
vf = vi – 2ag(h)
2 2

v f = v i – agt h = (vi + vf) t

2
Example 1: An archer shoots an arrow up from the floor at a
velocity of 4m/s. Define the height that the arrow reached?

Given:
v i = 4 m/s
h= ?
Example 1: An archer shoots an arrow up from the floor at a
velocity of 4m/s. Define the height that the arrow reached?

hmax = vi2
Given: 2g
v i = 4 m/s hmax = (4 m/s)2
h= ? 2 (9.8 m/s2)
hmax = (16 m2/s2)
2 (9.8 m/s2)
hmax = (16 m2/s2)
hmax = 0.82 m
19.6 m/s2
Example 2: A person throws a rock up at a velocity of 3.2m/s
Calculate the time that it took to the rock to hit the floor.

Given:
v i = 3.2 m/s
tmax = ?
Example 2: A person throws a rock up at a velocity of 3.2m/s
Calculate the time that it took to the rock to hit the floor.
Given: tmax = 2(vi)
vi = 3.2 m/s g
tmax = ? tmax = 2(3.2 m/s)
9.8 m/s2
tmax = (6.4 m/s)
9.8 m/s2
tmax = 0.65 s
Example 3: A rocket made of cola drinks and mints reached a height
of 15 meters, knowing this calculate the initial velocity of the rocket.
Given:
vi = ?
hmax = 15 m
Example 3: A rocket made of cola drinks and mints reached a height
of 15 meters, knowing this calculate the initial velocity of the rocket.
Given: v = vi – 2ag(h)
2 2
f
vi = ?
hmax = 15 m
Example 4: A person want to throw a ball with enough velocity so
the ball reaches a 25 meters height, calculate the velocity this person
must apply to the ball, so the ball reaches that height
Given:
vi = ?
hmax = 25 m
 Free fall definition
• The free fall is a motion that
happens when we let
something fall from certain
height, this motion only
happens when the object falls
because of its own weight
without any initial force or
initial velocity, because then
we would be talking about a
vertical motion.
• The free fall is a uniformly accelerated motion that
only moves in the vertical axis (“y” axis), with the
condition that the initial velocity will always have
to be equals to 0 and the acceleration will be the
value of the gravity in the place of the motion
(9.8m/s). When a free fall motion happens in perfect
conditions (this means that there is no air or any
other factor that affects the trajectory of the object)
the object only moves vertically.
• When an object is in free fall, it will star
with a 0m/s velocity, but while time passes,
the velocity of the object will increase
progressively until it impacts the floor or
any object that is in its trajectory, therefore,
the higher the initial height is, the stronger
the impact will be against the floor.
 Free fall conditions
• The trajectory of an object in free
fall could be affected by the air
masses, an atmospheric phenomenon
also known as aerodynamic resistant. In
theory an object in free fall only moves
vertically, but because of the air masses
the trajectory of the object could
change, both vertically and
horizontally, how much will the air
masses affects the object will depend on
the weight of the object, if the object is
heavier, then the air masses will not
affect the object that much.
 Half projectile motion
• A half projectile motion is also a type
of free fall, the difference is that this
motion has horizontal motion, this
motion happens when we throw an
object from certain height, but only
applying force in the horizontal axis,
but even though we apply a force to the
object, this does not affect the “y” axis
motion because the force is only
applied in the “x” axis, and the “y” is
only moving because of the gravity.
An example of this motion could be
throwing an arrow from a cliff.
• The half projectile motion is the second half of
a projectile motion, this is when the object
reaches the maximum height and the velocity is
equals to 0, and then it starts to fall because of
the gravity.
 Free fall formulas
• As we said before the free fall is a uniformly
accelerated motion, but with some defined conditions
(gravity equals to 0 and the acceleration equals to the
gravity), so the formulas we are going to use in free
fall problems are going to be the same as the
uniformly accelerated motion, but with some
changes, the following formulas are the formulas
already with the changes and simplified just to use
directly with free fall problems.
vf = gt h = gt 2

2
vf = (2g) h
2
h = (vf) t
2
Example 1: A person drops a rock from 1.75 meters height,
Calculate the time that takes to the rock to hit the floor.

Given:
t=?
h = 1.75 m
Example 1: A person drops a rock from 1.75 meters height,
Calculate the time that takes to the rock to hit the floor.

Given: h = gt 2

t=? 2
h = 1.75 m
Example 2: If we drop a demolition ball from a 10 meters
height, what will be the velocity when it impacts with the
floor.
Given:
vf = ?
h = 10 m
Example 2: If we drop a demolition ball from a 10 meters
height, what will be the velocity when it impacts with the
floor.
Given: v = (2g) h
f
2

vf = ?
h = 10 m
Example 3: A glass needs to be hit with a velocity of at least
3.7m/s, if this glass falls from a 0.8-meter height table. Did
the glass break with the impact?

Given:
vf = ?
h = 0.8 m
Example 3: A glass needs to be hit with a velocity of at least
3.7m/s, if this glass falls from a 0.8-meter height table. Did
the glass break with the impact?

Given: v = (2g) h
f
2
vf = ?
h = 0.8 m
Example 4: If we drop a basketball ball from the top of a 44 meters
building, and we want to score on a basketball hoop that is 3 meters
height. How much time will it take to the ball to enter in the
basketball hoop?
Given:
t= ?
h = 44 m
h= 3m
Example 4: If we drop a basketball ball from the top of a 44 meters
building, and we want to score on a basketball hoop that is 3 meters
height. How much time will it take to the ball to enter in the
basketball hoop?
h = gt 2
Given:
t= ? 2
h = 44 m
h= 3m
Example 5: A mango falls from a tree that is 5 meters height,
if right below the tree is a man that is 1.78m height, calculate
the velocity of the impact of the mango with the man's head.
Given:
vf = ?
h= 5m
h = 1.78 m
Example 5: A mango falls from a tree that is 5 meters height,
if right below the tree is a man that is 1.78m height, calculate
the velocity of the impact of the mango with the man's head.
Given:
vf = ? vf = (2g) h
2
h= 5m
h = 1.78 m
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