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SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT

(KINEMATICS)

{Introduction- Equations of motion, acceleration due to gravity, equations of motion of a

freely falling body, Equations of motion of an object vertically projected upwards from the
ground, Maximum height (H), Time of ascent, time of descent, velocity of the body on
returning to the point of projection, Vertical projection of an object from a tower, Projectiles
– oblique projection from ground, equation of trajectory, maximum height, time of ascent,
time of flight, horizontal range, two angles of projection for the same range, velocity of
projection at any instant, horizontal projection from the top of a tower, equation of
trajectory, time of descent, range, velocity of the projectile (at any instant)}

Important Formulae

1. When motion is uniform (no acceleration) s  t v

2. Average speed = total distance traveled/total time taken.

3. Average velocity = net displacement/total time taken. If a graph is given, deduce the
coordinates from it and apply the formula.

4. For motion with uniform or constant acceleration:

v  u  at , s  ut  (1/ 2)at 2 , v 2  u 2  2as, s  (u  v)t / 2, s  vt  (1/ 2)at 2 ,
and s n  u  a(n  1/ 2)

5. For vertical projections:

(i) When a particle is projected vertically up from a height ‘h’ with an initial velocity ‘u’
u  u 2  2 gh
a) the time taken to reach the ground is t1 
g
b) the velocity with which it reaches the ground is u 2  2 gh

(ii) When a particle is projected vertically down from a height ‘h’ with an initial velocity ‘u’
u  u 2  2 gh
a) the time taken to reach the ground is t2 
g
b) the velocity with which it reaches the ground is u 2  2 gh

6. For slanted projectiles thrown from the ground:

2u sin α
(i) The time of flight: T =
g
 2

u 2 sin 2 α
(ii) The greatest height: H 
2g

 2u sin   u 2 sin 2α
(iii) The horizontal range: R     u cos   
 g  g

gx 2
(iv) Equation of the path of a slanted projectile: y  x tan   or y  ax  bx 2
2 u cos 
2 2

7. For a body projected horizontally from a height h, with initial speed u, time of descent
2h 2h
t ; and range on the ground R  u
g g

8. Velocity of projectile at any time or at any height: v  v 2x  v 2y . Here vx is horizontal

component which is constant and vy is vertical component to be calculated using the
equations for accelerated motions.



TIPS FOR OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. In kinematics dealing with one-dimensional motion, we treat displacement s, velocities u

and v, (uniform) acceleration a as signed quantities. In using the various kinematics formulae,
the following sign conventions are used. i) all horizontal vectors to the right are Positive and
vice versa ii) all vectors vertically upward are Positive and vice versa.

3. In kinematics formulae such as s  ut  (1/ 2)at 2 , s is not distance traveled, but

displacement suffered by the body. Misunderstanding of this is a source of many possible
mistakes.

4. A particle or body will have acceleration when (i) it is speeding up (ii) it is slowing down
(iii) it is changing its direction of motion

5. The path of a body having uniform acceleration is either a straight line or a parabola.

6. For a given initial speed of projection of a slanted projectile, the range will be same for two
possible angles of projection α and β, then α + β = 90 (the angles are complementary).

7. In any motion in two-dimensions, such as that of a slanted projectile, visualize the motion
in two parts. Horizontal motion without acceleration ( s  tv ) and vertical motion with
acceleration due to gravity { s  ut  (1/ 2)at 2 , v 2  u 2  2as etc.,}.

8. For freely falling bodies: Velocities after 1st, 2nd and 3rd … seconds are 10, 20, 30, … (m/s).
The velocity ratio is 1 : 2 : 3 : …. Displacements in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd … seconds are 5, 15,
25, … (m). The displacement ratio is 1 : 3 : 5 : …. .
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9. For bodies thrown vertically up with initial velocity u: Velocities after 1st, 2nd and 3rd …
seconds are u  10, u  20, u  30, …,(m/s). Displacements in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd … seconds
are u  5, u  15, u  25, …(m).

10. When the motion along a straight line has a turning point, i.e. where the velocity
momentarily becomes zero, calculate the distance traveled as sum of distances traveled
before coming to rest and after coming to rest.

11. When a slanted projectile thrown from the ground is moving perpendicular to its initial
direction of motion, its speed is u cot . This can be deduced from the concept that the
horizontal velocity remains constant.

12. When a body is dropped from a moving vehicle, such as a rising balloon, a plane moving
horizontally, it will have an initial velocity equal to that of the vehicle.

13. If a body moving along a straight line with uniform acceleration has initial and final
velocities u and v at A and B, then its velocity at the mid C is u 2  v2 .

14. When the object’s velocity and acceleration are in the same direction, the object is
speeding up in that direction. On the other hand, when the object’s velocity and acceleration
are in opposite directions, the object is slowing down in that direction.

15. When a body starts from rest and moves with uniform acceleration, it will always speed
up in the direction of acceleration and its path will be a straight line.

16. When an observer and an object are both in motion, superimpose on the observer and
the object a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of the observer. Now the observer
will be at rest and the object only in motion and solving the problem is made easy.

17. The slope of the line joining any two points on a s-t graph, indicate the average velocity.
Such a line is called a secant. The slope of the tangent drawn at any point on a s-t graph,
indicate the instantaneous velocity.

18. When two particles are projected from the same point on the ground with different
velocities, the path of one projectile with respect to the other in general is a straight line. If
their horizontal components of initial velocity are equal, the path is a vertical straight line
and vice versa.


MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. From the top of a tower 80 m high, two identical balls are projected one up and one down
each with a speed of 30 m/s. If g = 10 m/s2, the ratio of the times taken by them to reach the
ground is

1) 1 : 2 2) 2 : 1 3) 4 : 1 4) 1 : 4
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2. From the top of a tower of height h a ball is projected vertically upward with an initial
velocity u. If g is acceleration due to gravity, the velocity of the ball when it is at a height h/2
above the ground is

1) u 2  2 gh 2) u 2  2 gh 3) u 2  gh 4) u 2  gh

3. For a particle moving along X-axis, a graph is plotted with displacement on X-axis and the
acceleration on Y-axis. The graph is found to be a straight line passing through the origin.
The area under the graph is proportional to

1) the jerk which is rate of change of acceleration

2) the change in the acceleration
3) the change in the velocity
4) the change in the square of velocity

4. Time is plotted on X-axis and velocity is plotted on Y-axis. The

graph for the motion of a body is a straight line not passing +10 m/s
through the origin as shown in the figure. Which of the following
correctly describes the motion? 12s
O
8s
1) the body continuously slows down -5 m/s
2) the body first speeds up and then slows down
3) the body first slows down and then speeds up
4) the body continuously speed up

5. A and B are two locations on a straight highway 240 km apart. Two cars P and Q start
simultaneously from A and B and move towards each other with speeds of 50 kmph and 30
kmph respectively. Before they cross each other, the distance travelled by P is

1) 120 km 2) 90 km 3) 150 km 4) 75 km

6. The time – velocity graph of a particle moving along X-axis is +10 m/s
shown. The total distance travelled by it during the interval from t
10s
= 0 to t = 15 s is O
5s
15s

1) 75 m 2) 25 m -10 m/s
3) 50 m 4) 100 m

7. From the top of a tower of height 30 m, a stone is projected vertically up and is found to
reach the ground after a time interval of 6 s. The maximum height reached by the stone above
the ground is (g = 10 m/s2)

1) 31.25 m 2) 61.25 m 3) 90 m 4) 45 m

8. A particle travels with uniform acceleration along a straight line. It covers a distance of
36 m in the first two seconds and 28 m in the same direction in the next two seconds. Its
acceleration is

1) 2 m/s2 2)  4 m/s2 3) 4 m/s2 4)  2 m/s2

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9. From a point ‘O’ on the ground a ball is projected with its initial direction of motion
making an angle of 45 with the horizontal. It just clears two vertical walls of same height at
distances a and b respectively from ‘O’. The height of each wall is

2ab ab ab
1) 2) b  a 3) 4)
ab ab ab

10. From the top of a tower of height h a ball is thrown horizontally with an initial speed u. It
is found to strike the ground at an angle of 45 with the vertical. The correct relation between
h and u is (g is acceleration due to gravity)

1) u  gh 2) u  2h / g 3) u  g / h 4) u  2 gh

11. A particle is projected slantwise from a point on the ground with initial velocity
u  (iˆ  ˆj ) m / s . If g = 10 m/s2, then the equation of the path (trajectory) of the particle is

1) y  x  5 x 2 2) y  x  5 x 2 3) y  x  (5 / 2) x 2 4) y  x  (5 / 2) x 2

12. A balloon is moving up with a uniform velocity 15 m/s. When it is at a height of 20 m

above the ground, a small stone is released from it. If g = 10 m/s2, the height of the balloon
when the stone hits the ground is

1) 80 m 2) 60 m 3) 100 m 4) 50 m

13. A particle moving along a straight line is obeying the relation t  x  3 , where x is the
distance from the origin in meters and t is the time interval in seconds. Then the particle
comes to rest in a time interval of

1) 6 s 2) 2 s 3) 3 s 4) 4 s

14. A block projected along a rough horizontal surface experiences uniform retardation and
comes to a stop over a distance s. The ratio of the times taken for the first s/2 distance and the
remaining s/2 distance is

1) 1 : 3 2) 1 : 2 3) 1: ( 2  1) 4) 1: ( 2  1)

15. A particle is moving along X-axis. At t = 0 it is at the origin and its distance x from the
origin at any time t is given by the relation t   x 2   x . The retardation of the particle is (v
is its velocity at t = t)

1) 2 2 v3 2) 2 v3 3) 2 v3 4) 2 v3

16. P and Q are at a distance of 75 m apart. P is moving towards Q with a uniform velocity 10
m/s. Q at that moment starts from rest and accelerates towards P at a uniform rate of 2 m/s2.
The ratio of the distances traveled by P and Q before they meet is
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1) 1 : 2 2) 2 : 3 3) 3 : 2 4) 2 : 1

17. A ball thrown vertically up from the top of a tower strikes the ground with a velocity of
40 m/s. If g = 10 m/s2, the distance it covers during the last second of its journey is

1) 5 m 2) 25 m 3) 35 m 4) 15 m

18. A stone is thrown slantwise from the ground. After two seconds, its horizontal and
vertical components of velocity are found equal. After two more seconds, it is found to move
horizontally. If g = 10 m/s2, the maximum height reached by the stone is

1) 40 m 2) 40 2 m 3) 80 m 4) 160 m

19. A particle is projected with same speed making angles of 15, 30 and 45 with the
horizontal. The horizontal ranges were found to be R1, R2 and R3 respectively. Which of the
following is the correct relation between?

1) R3  R12  R22 2) R2  R12  R32

2R1 R3 R1  R3
3) R2  4) R2 
R1  R3 2

20. The position of an object moving along X- axis is given by x  3t  4t 2  t 3 ,where x is in

meters and t in seconds. Its average velocity for the time interval from t = 2 s to t = 4 s is

1) 6 m/s 2) 7 m/s 3) 5 m/s 4) 8 m/s



KEY TO SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT (KINEMATICS)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3 3 4 3 3 1 2 4 4 4
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
2 1 3 3 4 4 3 3 1 2



H I N T S

1. Use s  ut  (1/ 2)at 2 and solve for t in each case. Be careful with sign conventions.

2. Apply v 2  u 2  2as with proper sign conventions. Or you may use the law of conservation
of energy.
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3. Area is dimensionally x × y = L × LT2 = L2T2. This matches to change in the square of

velocity.

4. From the graph, from t = 0 to t = 8 s the body slows down and in the interval t = 8 s and t =
12 s it speeds up in the reverse direction.

5. As the relative velocity is 50+30 = 80 kmph, they cross each other after a time interval of
240/80 = 3 hours. Meanwhile P travels 3×50 = 150 km.

6. As the velocity reverses in sign, you have to calculate the distance travelled before coming
to rest and separately the distance travelled after coming to rest and then add them. In 10 s, it
travels a distance (1/2)×(10)×(10) = 50 m. In the next 5 s, it travels a distance =
(1/2)×(5)×(10) = 25 m.

7. Use s  ut  (1/ 2)at 2 with proper sign conventions and get u. Maximum height reached
above the tower is u2/2g. Add the height of the tower to get the required answer.

8. Apply s  ut  (1/ 2)at 2 . For first two seconds it gives, u + a = 18. Next apply for the first
four seconds, in which s = 64 m. This gives u + 2a = 16. Solve for a.

9. As the two walls have same height, due to symmetry of the parabola path about the vertical
through highest point, the range will be (a + b). Apply range formula and get u2. Next use the
trajectory equation y  x tan   gx 2 / (2u 2 cos 2  ) .

10. If it strikes the ground at an angle of 45 with vertical, the horizontal and vertical
components of velocities must be equal.

11. From data, u = 2 m/s and  = 45. Substitute in y  x tan   gx 2 / 2u 2 cos 2  .

12. The stone has initial velocity 15 m/s upwards. Apply s = ut + (1/2)at2, with u = +15,
a = 10 and s = 20. This gives t = 4 s. Mean while the balloon goes up 4×15 = 60 m. This is
added to the initial height of 20 m.

13. The given equation t  x  3  x  6t  t 2  9 . From this (x  9) =  6t + (1/2)2t2. This

is like s = ut + (1/2)at2. Comparison gives initial velocity  6 m/s and acceleration + 2 m/s2.
Apply v = u + at.

14. Think of applying s  vt  (1/ 2)at 2 . For the second half s / 2  (1/ 2)at22 , for the total
distance s  (1 / 2) a (t1  t2 ) 2 . Divide and solve.

15. Though this question needs differentiation, you can pick up the correct choice by method
of dimensions. α has dimensions of TL2 and  has dimensions of TL1. Only 2αv3 has
dimensions of LT2 as required.

16. During a time t, P travels 10t (s = tv) and Q travels t2 (s = ut + at2/2). The total distance
must be 75 m as they are meeting. This gives a quadratic in t and solve it. Next form the
required ratio.
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17. One second before striking the ground, the speed of the ball is 40  10 = 30 m/s. Average
speed during the last second is (40 + 30)/2 = 35. So displacement is 35 m.

18. Evidently the time of ascent is 2 + 2 = 4 s. Hence usin = 40 m/s. Maximum height H =
(u sin  ) 2 / (2 g ) .

19. Horizontal range is  sin2. The horizontal ranges are respectively 1/2, 3 /2, and 1.

20. When t = 2, x =  2 and when t = 4, x = 12. vavg = (x/t).


*Kora: 16 April 2010