Source: Advexon, Phys.

org

M. BALATERO, H. CUBIO, M. EGOT, J.J. LADOR, C. MONTALBAN,

F. SANICO, K. SENADOS, R. SOLIDUM, V. SUAREZ, L.G. TABAR
 KINEMATICS
1
Kinematics is a branch of mechanics
that describes the motion of a body or
system of bodies without consideration of its
mass or forces involved. It aims to provide a
description of the spatial position of bodies
or systems of material particles, the rate at
which the particles are moving (velocity),
and the rate at which their velocity is
changing (acceleration).

In this chapter, we will examine the one

dimensional kinematics or the motion along
a straight line. Two important cases such as
motion with constant acceleration and
motion with varying acceleration will be
discussed. Then we will extend to motion
There are many objects around you that undergo and two or three dimensional kinematics or
motion. Whether it is a car driving down a street, a ball motion along curved paths.
rolling down a slope, a person climbing a hill or a
raindrop falling to the ground—all these are instances of
objects in motion. The study of the motion of objects and
the mathematics related to motion is called kinematics.
(Source: https://engieapp.com)

1.1 One-Dimensional Motion

One-dimensional motion is commonly known as a motion along a straight line and is

the simplest type of motion. To describe the motion, vector quantities such as displacement,
velocity and acceleration were used. Example is the motion of the soccer ball shown in Figure
1.1 which is initially at point 𝑃1 at an initial time 𝑡1 and with coordinate 𝑥1 then later at time 𝑡2
landed at point 𝑃2 with coordinate 𝑥2.

Figure 1.1: A soccer ball, considered as a body, moving from point P1 to P2.

Displacement (∆𝒙 ⃗ ) is defined as the change of the position of a body moving from its initial
position 𝑃1 to 𝑃2 which is its final position. Displacement can either have 𝑥-, 𝑦- or 𝑧-
components depending on the direction of motion. For straight-line motion along the 𝑥-axis,
the 𝑥-component of displacement is mathematically defined as

∆𝑥 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 , (1-1)

where 𝑥1 is the initial position and 𝑥2 is the final position of the soccer ball. The SI unit for
displacement is in meters (m).

1
The average velocity (𝒗 ⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒆 ) is the particle’s displacement divided by the time interval so the
SI unit is in meters/seconds (m/s). The 𝑥-component of the average velocity is defined by

𝑥2 − 𝑥1 Δ𝑥
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = . (1-2)
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 Δ𝑡

The instantaneous velocity (𝑣 ) is the velocity at any specific instant of time or specific point
along the path. It is defined by the limit of the average velocity as the time interval
approaches to zero. The 𝑥-component of the instantaneous average velocity is defined by

∆𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑣 = lim = . (1-3)
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

The average velocity and instantaneous velocity can be interpreted using the graph of position
versus time. The average velocity is just the slope of the line segment p1p2 of the graph in
Figure 1.2(a) while the instantaneous velocity is just the slope of the tangent to the 𝑥-𝑡 curve
at p1 described in Figure 1.2(b).

(a) (b)

Figure 1.2: The 𝑥-𝑡 graph of (a) average velocity and (b) instantaneous velocity. (Source: Young &
Freedman, Univ. Physics with Modern Physics 13th Ed.)

Acceleration (𝒂
⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒆) is the rate of change of velocity with time.

𝑣2 − 𝑣1 ∆𝑣
𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = , (1-4)
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 ∆𝑡

where 𝑣1 is the initial velocity at time 𝑡1 and 𝑣2 is the final velocity at time 𝑡2 .The SI unit for
acceleration is m/s2.

The instantaneous acceleration (𝒂 ⃗ ) on the other hand is defined as the limit of the average
acceleration as the time interval approaches to zero or the instantaneous rate of change of the
velocity with time.

∆𝑣 𝑑𝑣 𝑑 2 𝑥
𝑎 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = = (1-5)
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 2

The 𝑣-𝑡 graph in Figure 1.3 shows the average acceleration and instantaneous acceleration.
The average acceleration is the slope of the line p1p2 while instantaneous acceleration at any
point is equal to the slope of the tangent to the curve at that point.

2
 Figure 1.3: The 𝑣-𝑡 graph showing the average and instantaneous acceleration. (Source: Young &
Freedman, Univ. Physics with Modern Physics 13th Ed.)

Note: Displacement and velocity are vector quantities that depends on the direction of the motion. If the
body is moving in the negative direction, ∆𝑥 and 𝑣 are both negative. If the body is moving in the
positive direction, ∆𝑥 and 𝑣 are both positive. If 𝑣 and 𝑎 have the same signs, the body is speeding
up or accelerating. If 𝑣 and 𝑎 have opposite signs, the body is slowing down or decelerating.

Sample Problems

1. Starting from the USTP gate you run 280 m north (+𝑦-direction) at an average speed of
5.0 m/s, then run 200 m south (−𝑦-direction) at an average speed of 4.0 m/s. Calculate
the total time and the average velocity from the gate to the final position.

Solution

We will use equation (1-2) to calculate the time it takes to run the 280 m north. Replacing
𝑥 to 𝑦 and setting 𝑦1 = 0,

Δ𝑦 |Δ𝑦| 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 280 m − 0
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 = ⇒ ∆𝑡 = =| |=| | = 56 s .
Δ𝑡 |𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 | 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 5.0 m/s

And the time it takes to run the 200 m south,

𝑦2 − 𝑦1 200 m − 0
∆𝑡 = | |=| | = 50 s .
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 4.0 m/s

So the total time it takes to run from the gate to the final position is

∆𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 56 s + 50 s = 106 s .

If the gate which is the starting position is at the origin 𝑦1 = 0, your final position will be at
𝑦2 = 280 m − 200 m = 80 m . Therefore, the average velocity is

Δ𝑦 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 80 m 𝑗̂ − 0 m
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = = = 0.75 𝑗̂ .
Δ𝑡 Δ𝑡 106 s s

2. The velocity of a car moving along the 𝑥-axis varies in time according to the expression
𝑣 (𝑡) = 40 m/s − 5𝑡 2 m/s 3 , where 𝑡 is in seconds.
a) Find the average acceleration in the time interval 𝑡 = 0 to 𝑡 = 2.0 𝑠.

3
 b) Determine the acceleration at 𝑡 = 2.0 𝑠.

Solution

a) Using the expression 𝑣 (𝑡) = 40 m/s − 5𝑡 2 m/s 3, calculate the velocities at each time.

At 𝑡 = 0: 𝑣 (0) = 40 m/s − 5(0)2 m/s 3 = 40 m/s

At 𝑡 = 2.0 s: 𝑣(2.0 s) = 40 m/s − 5(2.0 s)2 m/s 3 = 40 m/s − 20 m/s = 20 m/s .

From equation 1-4 we set 𝑣1 = 𝑣(0) = 40 m/s and 𝑣2 = 𝑣 (2.0 s) = 20 m/s. Thus, the
average acceleration is

𝑣2 − 𝑣1 20 m⁄s − 40 m⁄s
𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = = −10 m⁄s2 .
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 2.0 s − 0

b) The acceleration at 𝑡 = 2.0 s refers to the instantaneous type of acceleration. Using

equation 1-5,

𝑑𝑣 𝑑 3
𝑎= = [40 m⁄s − 5𝑡 2 m⁄s 3 ] = 0 − 2(5)𝑡 m⁄s 3 = −10𝑡 m⁄s .
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Therefore the acceleration at 𝑡 = 2.0 s is,

3 2
𝑎 = −10(2 s) m⁄s = −20 m⁄s .

Motion with Constant Acceleration

A straight-line motion with constant acceleration has velocity changes at the same
rate throughout the motion. The motion of free falling bodies neglecting the effect of air
resistance and body sliding on an incline or along a rough horizontal surface are few examples
of motion with constant acceleration.

There are four equations of motion with constant acceleration. The first equation can be
derived from the equation of the average acceleration in equation (1-4). By setting 𝑣1 = 𝑣0 ,
𝑣2 = 𝑣, 𝑡1 = 0 and 𝑡2 = 𝑡 and deriving for 𝑣 equation 1-6 can be obtained.

𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑡 (1-6)

The second equation (1-7) can be obtained by equating the average velocity described in
equation (1-2) and 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 = (𝑣 + 𝑣0 )⁄2.

1
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = (𝑣 + 𝑣0 )𝑡 (1-7)
2

By substituting 𝑣 from equation (1-6) to (1-7), the third equation (1-8) can be obtained.

1
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑣0 𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 (1-8)

Lastly, solving for time (𝑡) in equation (1-6) and substituting it to equation (1-7), one can
obtain

2
2𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑥0 ) = 𝑣 2 − 𝑣0 . (1-9)

4
Sample Problem

1. You brake your Toyota Innova car with constant acceleration from a velocity of 23.6
m/s to 12.5 m/s over a distance of 105.0 m.
a) How much time elapses during this interval?
b) What is the acceleration?
c) If you were to continue braking with the same constant acceleration, how much longer
would it take for you to stop and how much additional distance would you cover?

Solution

a) Solving for 𝑡 from equation (1-7),

1 2(𝑥 − 𝑥 0 )
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = (𝑣 + 𝑣0 )𝑡 ⇒ 𝑡 = .
2 (𝑣 + 𝑣0 )

Thus, the time it takes for the car to brake is,

2(105.0 m)
𝑡= = 5.82 s .
(12.5 m/s + 23.6 m/s)

b) Solving for 𝑎 from equation (1-6),

𝑣 − 𝑣0 12.5 m/s − 23.6 m/s

𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑡 ⇒ 𝑎 = = = −1.91 m/s 2 .
𝑡 5.82 s

c) Using equation 1-6, we can calculate the total time for the car to go from moving with
velocity 𝑣0 = 12.5 m/s to stop with 𝑣 = 0.

𝑣 − 𝑣0 0 − 12.5 m/s
𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑡 ⇒ 𝑡 = = = 6.54 s.
𝑎 −1.91 m/s 2

And from equation 1-8 the additional distance is

1 1
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑣0 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 = (12.5 m⁄s)(6.54 s) + (−1.91 m⁄s2 )(6.54 s)2 = 40.90 m .
2 2

Free Fall

Free fall is any motion of a body where gravity is the only force acting upon it. The
term "free fall" may not necessarily be falling down in the usual sense of the term. An object
moving upwards would not normally be considered to be falling, but if it is subject to the force
of gravity only, it is said to be in free fall. Near the surface of the Earth, an object in free fall in
a vacuum will have a constant acceleration g = 9.8 m/s2 known as the acceleration due to
gravity.

Free fall is a vertical motion where the body has constant acceleration, so the motion can be
described by the four kinematics equations (1-6) to (1-9). Using the vertical coordinate axis 𝑦
and taking the upward direction to be positive and downward direction to be negative so the
acceleration is 𝑎 = −g, the equations of motion are:

𝑣 = 𝑣0 − g𝑡 (1-10)

5
 1
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = (𝑣 + 𝑣0 )𝑡 (1-11)
2
1
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑣0 𝑡 − g𝑡 2 (1-12)
2
−2g(𝑦 − 𝑦0 ) = 𝑣 2 − 𝑣0
2 (1-13)

Sample Problem

1. A football game customarily begins with a coin toss to determine who kicks off. The referee
tosses the coin up with the initial speed of 5.0 m/s. In the absence of air resistance,
a) what is the maximum height reached?
b) how long is it in the air?
c) what are the velocities of the coin at 𝑦 = +1.04 m?

Solution

2
a) From the equation −2g(𝑦 − 𝑦0 ) = 𝑣 2 − 𝑣0 , set 𝑦0 = 0 and 𝑣=0 then solve for 𝑦,

−𝑣0 2 −(5.0 m/s)2

𝑦= = = 1.28 m
−2g −2(9.8 m/s2 )

Thus, the maximum height reached by coin is 1.28 m.

1
b) From the equation 𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑣0 𝑡 − g𝑡 2 solve for 𝑡,
2

2𝑣0 2(5.0 m/s)

𝑡= = = 1.020 s
g 9.8 m/s2

The coin stays 1.020 s in the air.

2
c) From equation −2g(𝑦 − 𝑦0 ) = 𝑣 2 − 𝑣0 solve for 𝑣,

2
𝑣 2 = 𝑣0 − 2g(𝑦 − 𝑦0 ) = (5.0 m⁄s)2 − 2(9.8 m⁄s2 )(1.04 m − 0) = 4.62 m2 /s2

𝑣 = ±2.15 m/s

The velocity of the coin is +2.15 m/s in upward trip and - 2.15 m/s in downward trip.

Velocity and Position by Integration

In most cases, the acceleration of the moving body

is not constant. And in many situations, the acceleration is
known while its position and velocity as a function of time is
unknown. So how do we find the position and velocity in
straight-line motion from the acceleration function?

The graph in Figure 1.4 shows a body in straight line motion

with time-varying acceleration. From the graph, we can
divide the time interval between 𝑡1 and 𝑡2 into many smaller
Figure 1.4: 𝑎𝑥 -𝑡 graph.
(Source: Young &
Freedman, Univ. Physics
6
with Modern Physics 13th
Ed.)
intervals ∆𝑡. The total 𝑥 -velocity change is the total area under the 𝑎𝑥 -𝑡 curve. In the limit that
all the ∆𝑡 become very small, the area under the curve is the intergral of 𝑎𝑥 from 𝑡1 to 𝑡2 ,

𝑣2𝑥 𝑡2
𝑣2𝑥 − 𝑣1𝑥 = ∫ 𝑑𝑣𝑥 = ∫ 𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑡
𝑣1𝑥 𝑡1

If we set 𝑣2𝑥 = 𝑣, 𝑣1𝑥 = 𝑣0 , 𝑡1 = 0 and 𝑡2 = 𝑡,

𝑡
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥 + ∫ 𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑡 (1-14)
0

Carrying out the same procedure with the 𝑥 − 𝑡 curve, the position of the body is

𝑡
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + ∫ 𝑣𝑥 𝑑𝑡 . (1-15)
0

Sample Problem

Chris is driving along a straight highway in an FJ cruiser. At 𝑡 = 0, when he is moving at 10

m/s in the positive 𝑥-direction, he passes a signpost at 𝑥=50 m. His 𝑥 -acceleration as a
function of time is 𝑎𝑥 = 2.0 m/s 2 − (0.10 m/s 3 )𝑡.
a) Find his 𝑥-velocity 𝑣𝑥 and position 𝑥 as a functions of time.
b) When is his 𝑥-velocity greatest? What is that maximum 𝑥-velocity? Where is the FJ
when it reaches that maximum 𝑥 -velocity?

Solution

a) At 𝑡 = 0, Chris’s initial position is 𝑥0 = 50 m and initial velocity 𝑣0𝑥 = 10 m/s. Using

equation 1-14, we can calculate for the final velocity.

𝑡 𝑡
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥 + ∫ 𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑡 = 10 m/s + ∫ [2.0 m/s 2 − (0.10 m/s3 )𝑡]𝑑𝑡
0 0
𝑣𝑥 = 10 m/s + (2.0 m/s 2 )𝑡 − 1/2(0.10 m/s 3 )𝑡 2

We can calculate the position using equation 1-15,

𝑡 𝑡
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + ∫ 𝑣𝑥 𝑑𝑡 = 50 m + ∫ [10 m/s + (2.0 m/s 2 )𝑡 − 1/2(0.10 m/s3 )𝑡 2 ] 𝑑𝑡
0 0
𝑥 = 50 m + (10m⁄s) 𝑡 + 1/2(2.0 m/s2 )𝑡 2 − 1/6(0.10 m/s 3 )𝑡 3

b) The maximum value of 𝑣𝑥 occurs when the x-velocity stops increasing and begins to
decrease. At the instant 𝑑𝑣𝑥 /𝑑𝑡 = 𝑎𝑥 = 0. Thus,

𝑎𝑥 = 2.0 m/s 2 − (0.10 m/s3 )𝑡

0 = 2.0 m/s 2 − (0.10 m/s 3 )𝑡

Solving for time,

2.0 m/s2
𝑡= = 20 𝑠
0.10 m/s 3

7
 The maximum velocity is therefore,

𝑣𝑥 = 10 m/s + (2.0 m/s2 )(20 s) − 1/2(0.10 m/s3 )(20 s)2 = 30 m/s

And the FJ’s position at that time is,

𝑥 = 50 m + (10m⁄s)(20 s) + 1/2(2.0 m/s 2 )(20 s)2 − 1/6(0.10 m/s 3 )(20 s)3

𝒙 = 𝟓𝟏𝟕 𝐦 .

1.2 Two or Three Dimensional Motion

The motion of a body in two or three dimensions can be

described by two or three components of position, velocity and
acceleration. For body in a point at a certain instant in Figure 1.5, the
location is described by the 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧 coordinates which are the three
components of the position vector 𝒓 ⃗,

𝑟(𝑡) = 𝑥 (𝑡)𝑖̂ + 𝑦(𝑡)𝑗̂ + 𝑧(𝑡)𝑘̂. (1-16)

The displacement is the change of the position,

∆𝑟 = 𝑟2 − 𝑟1 = (𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )𝑖̂ + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )𝑗̂ + (𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )𝑘̂ . (1-17)

The average velocity is the displacement divided by the time interval,

𝑟2 − 𝑟1 ∆𝑟
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = (1-18)
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 ∆𝑡

And the instantaneous velocity which is the instantaneous rate of Figure 1.5: The position
change In position with time is and displacement vectors.

∆𝑟 𝑑𝑟
𝑣 = lim = (1-19)
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

It follows that the components of the instantaneous velocity are simply the time derivatives of
the coordinates 𝑥,𝑦 and 𝑧.

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧
𝑣𝑥 = , 𝑣𝑦 = , 𝑣𝑧 = (1-20)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

The acceleration of a body in space will describe both the changes in the magnitude and
direction of its velocity. The average acceleration is defined as

𝑣2 − 𝑣1 ∆𝑣
𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = (1-21)
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 ∆𝑡

The instantaneous acceleration is also equal to the instantaneous rate of change of velocity
with time,

∆𝑣 𝑑𝑣
𝑎 = lim = (1-22)
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

8
There are two components of acceleration, the parallel acceleration (𝒂∥ ) and the
perpendicular acceleration (𝒂⊥ ). Parallel acceleration is parallel to the body’s path while
perpendicular acceleration is perpendicular or normal to the path and these are used to
describe the changes in the body’s speed and direction of motion, respectively.

Projectile Motion

A projectile is any body given an initial velocity and follows a curved path (or
trajectory) determined by the effects of gravitational acceleration and air resistance. Example
of a projectile is a batted baseball, thrown football and a bomb dropped from an airplane.

The motion of the projectile has no acceleration in the 𝑥-direction when neglecting air
resistance (𝑎𝑥 = 0) while the acceleration in the 𝑦-direction is equal to the free-fall acceleration
(𝑎𝑦 = −g) with its direction is towards the center of the earth. The trajectory of the projectile
shown in Figure 1.6 is a combination of horizontal motion with constant velocity and vertical
motion with constant acceleration.

Figure 1.6: The trajectory followed by the projectile. (Source: Source: Young &
Freedman, Univ. Physics with Modern Physics 13th Ed.)

Substituting 𝑎𝑥 = 0 to the equations for the horizontal motion, we find

𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥 (1-23)
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣0𝑥 𝑡 (1-24)

And substituting 𝑎𝑦 = −g, the y-component of the equations are

𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0𝑦 − g𝑡 (1-25)
1
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = (𝑣𝑦 + 𝑣0𝑦 )𝑡 (1-26)
2
1
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑣0𝑦 𝑡 − g𝑡 2 (1-27)
2
2
−2g(𝑦 − 𝑦0 ) = 𝑣𝑦 2 − 𝑣0𝑦 (1-28)

where 𝑣0𝑥 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 , 𝑣0𝑦 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 , 𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣 cos 𝜃0 and 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣 sin 𝜃0 . The position of the projectile at
any time is 𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 , its speed is 𝑣 = √𝑣𝑥 2 + 𝑣𝑦 2 and direction tan 𝜃 = 𝑣𝑦 /𝑣𝑥 .

In a level surface, we can determine the range (𝑅) and maximum height (𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) of the
projectile’s trajectory using the 𝑥- and the 𝑦-component of the equations above.

9
 𝑣0 2
𝑅= sin(2𝜃0 )
g (1-29)

𝑣0 2 sin2 𝜃0
𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (1-30)
2g

Circular Motion

Circular motion is a movement of an object along the

circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path. It can be
uniform, with constant angular rate of rotation and constant speed, or
non-uniform with a changing rate of rotation.

In uniform circular motion (in Figure 1.7), the speed of the body is
constant and its acceleration is directed toward the center of the
circular path. The radial acceleration (also known as centripetal
acceleration) is

𝑣 2 4𝜋 2 𝑅
𝑎rad = = (1-31)
𝑅 𝑇2

where 𝑇 is the time for one revolution where the particle travels a
distance equal to the circumference 2𝜋𝑅.
Figure 1.7: Uniform
Circular motion. (Source:
If the speed varies, the motion is known as nonuniform circular motion. https://physics.stackexch
In this type of motion, there are two components of acceleration; one is ange.com
perpendicular to the instantaneous velocity described in eqn. 1.31; and one
is parallel to the instantaneous velocity 𝑎∥ also known as the tangential acceleration 𝑎tan,

𝑑𝑣
𝑎tan = (1-32)
𝑑𝑡

Sample Problems

1. A Pomeranian dog is at the origin of coordinates at time 𝑡1 = 0. For the time interval from
𝑡1 = 0 to 𝑡2 = 12.0 𝑠, the dog's average velocity has 𝑥-component −3.8 m/s and 𝑦-
component 4.9 m/s. At time 𝑡2 = 12.0 𝑠,
a) what is the 𝑥- and 𝑦- coordinates of the dog?
b) how far is the dog from the origin?

Solution

a) The 𝑥-coordinate is 𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥 Δ𝑡 = (−3.8 m/s)(12 s) = −45.6 m, and 𝑦- coordinate is 𝑦 =

𝑣𝑦 Δ𝑡 = (4.9 m/s) (12 s) = 58.8 m.

b) The distance is 𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = √(−45.6 m)2 + (58.8 m)2 = 74.4 m.

2. A motorcycle stunt rider rides off the edge of a cliff. Just at the edge, his velocity is
horizontal, with a magnitude of 9.0 m/s. After 0.5 seconds, what is the motorcycle’s
a) position?
b) distance from the edge of the cliff?
c) velocity after 0.50s?

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Solution

a) Calculating for the 𝑥 and 𝑦 position,

𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 𝑡 = (9.0 m/s)(0.5 s) = 4.5 m ,

1 1
𝑦 = 2 g𝑡 2 = 2 (9.8 m/s2 )(0.5 s)2 = −1.2 m

b) The distance 𝑟 is,

𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = √(4.5 m)2 + (−1.2 m)2 = 4.7 m

c) The 𝑥 - and 𝑦-components of the velocity after 0.50 s are,

𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 = 9.0 m/s

𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0𝑦 − g𝑡 = 0 − (9.8 m/s2 )(0.5 s) = −4.9 m/s

− 4.9 s 𝑗̂.
m m
The velocity vector is 𝑣 = 9.0 𝑖̂
s
m m
The magnitude of the velocity is 𝑣 = √𝑣𝑥 2 + 𝑣𝑦 2 = √(9.0 )2 + (−4.9 )2 = 10.2 m/s2 .
s s
𝑣𝑦 (−4.9 m/s)
The direction is 𝜃 = tan−1 = tan−1 = −28.6𝑜 or 28.6o below the 𝑥-axis.
𝑣𝑥 (9.0 m/s)

3. Passengers on a carnival ride move at constant speed in a horizontal circle of radius 5.0
m, making a complete circle in 4.0 s. What is their speed and acceleration?

Solution

Solving for the speed, .

Solving for the acceleration, .

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