Notes

KINEMATICS (Add Math)

Kinematics is the study of the motion of an object/body without considering the cause of
its motion.

The kinematics of a particle moving(travelling) in a straight line will be examine using

terms such as displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

Displacement, velocity, and acceleration

Consider the figure [X] below, which shows a a particle P moving in a straight line and
its distance s in metres from a fixed point O.

Let t in s be the time elapsed after the particle had pass O.

Now the s = 4t – t2

The position of P at t is specified by s:

s = 4t – t2

When t = 1, s = 4 – 1 = 3 and P is at A

When t = 2, s = 8 – 4 = 4 and P is at B

When t = 3, s = 12 – 9 = 3 and P returns to point A t =1 s

s=3m
p
t=2s
s = 4m

O 1 2 3(A) 4(B)

Figure [X] p
s=3m
t=3s

Using the concept of rate of change, one may note that the rate of change of s w.r.t. t is

ds = 4 – 2t
dt

When t = 1 , ds = 4 – 2t → 4 – 2(1) = 2
dt
 Notes

→ that P moves away from O at a speed of 2 ms-1 and that distance s increases at rate of
2 ms-1(i.e. to say that the distance from O increases 2 m for each second that passes).

When t = 2 , ds = 4 – 2t → 4 – 2(2) = 0
dt
→ that P is instantaneously /momentarily at rest and that distance s increases at rate of 0
ms-1(i.e. to say that the particle P, for just that brief instant/moment of time stationary).

Hence
When t = 3 , ds = 4 – 2t → 4 – 2(3) = – 2
dt
→ that P moves towards O at a speed of 2 ms-1 and that distance s decreases at rate of 2
ms-1(i.e. to say that the distance from O decreases 2 m for each second that passes).

* NB – ds is used to determine both speed and the direction of the motion of the
dt particle at that instant.

ds is called the velocity of the particle at time t and is denoted by v

dt

Example 2. A particle moves in a straight line so that its displacement s in metres from a
fixed point O on the line is given by s = 3t2 – 12 when t is the time in seconds after
passing a point A on the line .

a) Find the distance OA.

Now s = 3t2 – 12

At A, t = 0 s → s = [3(0)2 – 12 ] = –12
.
. . the distance OA, is 12 m

b) Find the velocity of P when it passes O.

Now at O, s = 0 → t2 = s + 12 = 0 + 12 = 4 s
3 3
2
Now at O, s = 0 → t = 4 s

s = 0 → t = √4 s = 2 s

s = 3t2 – 12 → v = ds = 6t
dt

So at O, t = 2 → v = 6t = 6(2) = 12
.
. . the velocity of the particle P when it has passed O is 12 ms-1
 Notes

c) Show that P never comes to rest after passing A

After passing A, (t is getting greater than 0) t ˃ 0 → v = 6t ˃ 0

And so P never comes to rest.

d) Find the average speed of P during the first 3 seconds

At t = 3 s, s = 3(3)2 – 12 = 27 – 12 = 15 m

Since the particle P never comes to rest, the motion of P during the first 3 seconds
is shown below:

t=0 t=3s
A

P P

s
–12 O 15

.
. . average speed v = distance travelled
time taken

s2 – s1 = 15 – (–12) m = 9 ms-1
average speed v =
t2 – t1 3–0 s
Another useful quantity for describing motion is acceleration.

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity with time.

In calculus notation one gets;

a= dv
dt

d2sa=
dt2
Example 3. A particle P, travels in a straight line so that t, seconds after it started moving,
its displacement s, in metres from a fixed point of reference O on the line is given by

s = 6 – 9
t+3
 Notes

a) the expression for the velocity and the acceleration of the particle in terms of t.

Since s = 6 – 9
t+3

v = ds = 9
dt (t + 3)2

a= dv = – 18
dt (t – 3)3

b) the velocity of the particle when it is 5 metres from O,

s = 5 m,
5 = 6 – 9
t+3
5 = 6t + 18 – 9
t +3
5(t + 3) = 6t + 18 – 9

5t + 15 = 6t + 18 – 9

15– 9 = 6t – 5t

6=t

→ v = 9 = 9 = 9 = 1 ms-1
( t + 3)2 (6 + 3)2 92 9

c) the time t when the acceleration of the particle is – 1 ms-2

12

a= – 1
12

– 1 = – 18
12 (t + 3)3

–1× – (t + 3)3 = – 12 × – 18

(t + 3)3 = 12 ×18

t + 3(t2 + 6t + 9) = t + 3(t2 + 6t + 9) = 216

t3 = 216
 Notes

Now for a particle moving along the x – axis (i.e. along a straight line) its position at
time t is given by its displacement x from a fixed point O, By differentiation one may
obtain:
Velocity v = ds and acceleration = dv
dt dt

Conversely if v, is known, one can find x by reversing the process of differentiation i.e.
by integrating v.

x = ∫ v dt

Take for example v = 2t + 1

By its integration gives x = ∫ (2t + 1) dt = t2 + t + c

If x = 1 when t = 0, then c = 1

And so x = t2 + t + 1

Similarly if the acceleration a, is given then its velocity v, is given by:

v = ∫ a dt
Example 4. A particle P, moves in a straight line with a velocity v, in ms-1 given by
v = 4 – t2, where t is the time in seconds after passing through a fixed point
O, on the line. Find

a) the acceleration of P after 4 s.

b) the distance of P from O after 6 s
c) the displacement of P from O, when P is instantaneously at rest.

a) the acceleration of P after 4 s.

a= dv = [d(4) – d(2)t2 – 1] = – 2t
dt
.
. . after 4 s , t = 4 and the acceleration is – 2(4) = – 8 ms-1

b) the distance of P from O after 6 s.

the displacement x, from O, is given by :

x = ∫ v dt

= ∫ (4 – t2) dt

= 4t – ⅓ t3 + c
 Notes

When t = 0, x = 0 and so c = 0

Hence at time t, x = 4t – ⅓ t3
When t = 6, x = 4(6) – ⅓ (6)3 = 24 – 72 = – 48 m
.
. . the distance of P, from O is 48 m

c) the displacement of P from O, when P is instantaneously at rest.

When P is instantaneously at rest v = 0,

4 – t2 = 0

√4 = √t2

2 = t (since t ≥ 0)

→ x = 4t – ⅓ t3 = 4(2) – ⅓ (2)3 = 8 – 8
3
x=5⅓

.
. . the displacement is 5 ⅓

Equations of Motion with Constant Acceleration [Optional]

A particle moves in a straight line with an initial velocity of u ms-1 and constant
acceleration a ms-2.
At any time t seconds after the start of motion its velocity is v ms-1 and its displacement
from its starting point is s metres.

Example 1. Use integration to prove the following equations of motion with constant
acceleration.

a) v = u + at

b) s = ut + ½ at2

c) s = ½ (u + v) t OR s = u + v × t
2
d) v2 = u2 + 2as

a) dv = a, a constant → v = ∫ a dt
dt
= at + c
 Notes

When t = 0, v = u and so c = u
.
. . v = u + at [1]

b) So, s = ∫ v dt

= ∫ (u + at) dt

= ut + ½ at2 + d

When t = 0, s = 0 and so d = 0

.
. . s = ut + ½ at2 [2]

c) s = ut + ½ at2

= ½ t (2u + at)

= ½ t (u + u + at) [since v = u + at]

s = ½( u + v)t [3]

d) v = u + at → t = v – u
a
.
. . s = ½( u + v)t

→ s = ½( u + v) × v – u
a
2as = (u + v)(v – u)

2as = v2 – u2

→ v2 = u2 + 2as [4]

Example 2. A car moving with a constant acceleration of 3 ms-2 passes point A with a
speed of 6 ms-1 . Find its speed and the distance travelled after 8 s.

Solution: a = 3 ms-2 u = 6 ms-1 v=? t=8s

Using v = u + at

v = (6 ms-1) + (3 ms-2)(8 s)

v = 6 ms-1 + 24 ms-1
 Notes

v = 30 ms-1

Solution: a = 3 ms-2 u = 6 ms-1 v = 30 ms-1 s = ? t=8s

Using s = ½ (u + v)t

s = ½ (6 ms-1 + 30 ms-1)(8 s) = 144 m

Example 3. A Car travelling with a constant acceleration along a straight road passes two
bus stops A and B with speeds 8 ms-1 and 12 ms-1 respectively. Given that the
two bus stops are 800 m apart, Calculate’
a) its acceleration
b) the time taken to move from A to B.
c) the distance BC if it reaches C after another 10 s.

Solution :

a) its acceleration

u = 8 ms-2 v = 12 ms-1 a=? s = 800 m

Using v2 = u2 + 2as

a = v2 – u2
2s

a = (12 ms-1 )2 – (8 ms-1)2

2(800 m)

a = 144 ms-2 – 64 ms-2

1600 m

a = 80 ms-2
1600 m

a = 0.05 ms-2

b) the time taken to move from A to B.

u = 8 ms-2 v = 12 ms-1 t=? a = 0.05 m

Using a = v–u
t
 Notes

t = v–u
a

t = (12 ms-1) – (8 ms-1)

(0.05 ms-2)

t = 4 ms-1
0.05 ms-2

t = 80 s

c) the distance BC if it reaches C after another 10 s.

u = 12 ms-2 a = 0.05 ms-2 s=? t = 10 s

Using s = ut + ½ at2

s = (12 ms-1) (10 s) + ½ (0.05 ms-2) (10 s)2

s = 120 ms-1 + ½ (5 m)

s = 122.5 m

Example 4. Two particles X and Y, are moving in the same direction on parallel
horizontal tracks.
As X passes through a point P, on its track, X overtakes Y.
At this very instant X is travelling at a speed of 28 ms-1 and retarding
uniformly at 4 ms-2, and Y is travelling at a speed of 4 ms-1 and accelerating
uniformly 2 ms-2. Calculate :

a) the speed of Y when X comes to rest.

b) The distance of X from P when Y overtakes X.

Solution :
a) the speed of Y when X comes to rest.

b) The distance of X from P when Y overtakes X .

Vertical Motion Under Gravity [Optional]

When an object falls under gravity its downward acceleration is called acceleration due
to gravity and is denoted by g. Usually g is given the value of 10 ms-2in calculations.
 Notes

If an object falls vertically and if one were to ignore the effect of air resistance, its motion
is a constant acceleration motion in a straight line and equations of linear motion hold
true.

Example 1. A stone is (projected) vertically upwards from a height of 14 m above

the ground with a velocity of 9 ms-1 Calculate :
a) its greatest height above the ground
b) its speed when it hits the ground.
c) Its time of flight.

Solution : sm

u g = a = 10 ms-2

9 ms-1
A

14 m

a) its greatest height above the ground

v = 0 ms-1 s = ?

u = 9 ms-1 a = –10 ms-2 [taking a directed upwards against g as – ve]

Using v2 = u2 + 2as
.
. . s = v2 – u2
2a

s = 0 – 81 ms-2
–20 ms-2

s = (0)2 – (9)2
2( –10)
 Notes

s = 4.05 m

Considering the stone is already 14 m above the ground the additional

4.05 m would make the greatest height be:

(14 m + 4.05 m) = 18.05 m

b) its speed when it hits the ground.

v = 0 ms-1 s = 18.05 m

u=? a = 10 ms-2 [taking a directed downwards with g as + ve]

Using v2 = u2 + 2as
.
. . u2 = v2 – 2as

u2 = (0)2 – 2(10)(18.05)

u2 = 361 ms-2

u2 = √361 ms-2

u = 19 ms-1

c) Its time of flight.

The time of flight means the time an object spends in the air (above the
ground).

u = 19 ms-1 a = 10 ms-2 s = 18.05 m v = 0 ms-1 t = ?

Using v = u + at

t = v–u
a
Example 2. An object falls from rest from a point h, in metres above the ground. During
the last 2 s before it hits the ground, the particle moves through 140 m.
Calculate ;
a) its speed at the beginning of the last 2 s.
b) the speed at which it hits the ground.
c) The total time it takes to reach the ground.
d) The value of h.

Solutions :

a) its speed at the beginning of the last 2 s.

 Notes

A u=0
g=a = 10 ms-2

hm B

140 m in 2 s

s = 140 m t=2s a = 10 ms-2 u = ?

Using s = ut + ½ at2

140 m = u (2) m + ½ (10 ms-1)(2 s)2

140 m – 20 = u (2 s)

140 m – 20 ms-1 = u
(2) m
120 ms-1 = u
2m
60 ms-1 = u

b) the speed at which it hits the ground.

s = 140 m t=2s a = 10 ms-2 u = 60 ms-1

Using v = u + at
.
. . v = (60 ms-1) + (10 ms-2)(2 s)

v = 80 ms-1

c) The total time it takes to reach the ground.

s = 140 m t=2s a = 10 ms-2 u = 60 ms-1

Using v = u + at
.
. . t= v–u
a
 Notes

.
. . t = 0 – 60 ms-1
10 ms-2

d) The value of h.