TOPIC 5 : KINEMATICS
It is the study of motion, velocity and acceleration.
Linear Motion
a) Displacement (s): the shortest distance from the initial and final positions of point P.
Path
P1
Distance
Displacement
P2
- S.I unit = metre (m)
b) Velocity (V): The rate of change of distance with time.
V= s
t
Units of measure = (mls) or ms¯¹
Where s – displacement (m)
t – time (s)
c) Acceleration (a) : The rate of change of velocity with time
Acceleration = change of velocity
Change in time
a = v–u
t
1
Unit of measure = m/s² or ms¯²
Where v - final velocity
u - initial velocity
t - time
Displacement – Time Graph (s – t) Graph
Displacement
(m)
Velocity
0 t3
t1 t2 Time (s)
The slope of the displacement – time graph gives velocity
Velocity – Time Graph/ (v – t) graph
Velocity
(m/s)
Constant V.
Acceleration
Displacement Deceleration
0 t3
t1 t2 Time (s)
- Slope of the (v – t) graph gives the Acceleration
2
- Area under the (v- t) graph gives distance travelled during motion
Equations of Linear Motion
By definition:
Average Velocity = s
t (1)
Hence: ½ (u + v) = s
t
s = ½ (u + v) t (2)
From the equation
a=v–u t=v–u
t a
Using equation (2) substitute t with above:
S = ½ (u + v) v – u
a
2as = (u + v) (v – u)
2as = v² - u²
v² = u² + 2as (3)
From equation
a=v–u v = u + at (4)
t
From equation (4)
v = u + at u = v – at
Therefore substituting (u) in equation (2):
s = ½ (u + v) t
s = ½ (v – at) +v)t
s = vt – ½ at² (5)
Summary of the Equations
1. v = u + at
2. s = ½ (u + v) t
3. s = ut + ½ at²
4. s = vt – ½ at²
5. v² = u² + 2as
where
3
s = distance between initial and final positions (displacement)
u - the initial velocity (speed in a given direction)
v - the final velocity
a = the constant acceleration
t = time taken to move from the initial state to the final state.
EXAMPLES
1) Calculate the time taken for a train to travel 1000m if its initial speed is 30m/s and it
has a constant acceleration of 0.1m/s²
SOLUTION
Since : s = 1000m
u = 30m/s
a = 0.1m/s²
Therefore using s = ut + ½ at²
1000 = 30t + ½ x 0.1 x t²
0.05t² + 30t – 1000 = 0
t² + 600t – 20 000 = 0
Therefore t = -300 + 332
since the negative answer has no meaning here
t = - 300 + 332
= 32s
2) Find the deceleration of a car which is brought to rest in 60m from a speed of 45km/h.
What is the time taken?
Solution
u = 45km/h = 45 = 12.5mls
v = 0 3.6
s = 60m
Therefore using: v² = u² + 2as
0 = 12,5² + (2 x a x 60)
a = -1,305 mls²
This is negative since the car is being retarded.
b) From: v = u + at
0 = 12.5 – 1.305t
Therefore t = 9.58s
3) A car travelling at 80km/h is brought to rest with constant retardation in a distance of
60m. Calculate the retardation. (4.12mls²)
4
4) The constant acceleration of a train is 1m/s². Calculate the time taken to increase its
speed from 10 to 40km/h and the distance travelled in this time. (8.33s and 57.8m))
5) An aircraft increases its speed from 160km/h to 960km/h in one minute. It the
acceleration is constant calculate its value and the distance travelled in this time. (3.71mls²
and 4.34km)
Use of the Speed – Time Graph
1) A cycle accelerates with a constant acceleration of 0.2mls² from rest for a period of 7s
and continues at this speed for 30s before coming to rest in 5s. The deceleration is constant.
Sketch the v-t diagram and determine the time taken to travel the first 15m and the total
distance travelled.
Solution
Velocity
(m/s)
A B
E D C
0
7 t 37 42 Time (s)
From: v = at
= 0.2 x 7 = 1.4mls
Distance travelled during acceleration
= area OAE
= ½ x 1.4 x 7
= 4.9m
In order to cover a distance of 15m the additional distance to be travelled at a constant speed
of 1.4mls
= 15 – 4.9
= 10.1m
5
Time taken to travel this additional distance at constant speed
= distance
Speed
= 10.1 = 7.22s
Total time to travel 15m
= 7 + 7.22 = 14.22s
Total distance travelled at constant speed
= area ABDE
= 1.4 x 30
= 42m
Distance travelled in coming to rest
= area BCD
= ½ x 1.4 x 5
= 3.5m
Total distance travelled in coming to rest
= 4.9 + 42 + 3.5
= 50.4m
2) An electric train starting from rest is uniformly accelerated during the first 0.4km,
runs 1.2km at the maximum speed attained, and is afterwards brought to rest to rest in 0.2km.
If the time for the whole journey is 5min, find the uniform acceleration at the start.
Solution
Velocity
V A B
(km/h)
1.2km
0.4km 0.2km
E D C
0
X Y Z
Time (h)
Let: x = time for acceleration
y - time at constant speed
6
z - time to come to rest
v - maximum speed attained (km/h)
Area OAE = 0.4km
½ vx = 0.4
vx = 0.8 (i)
Area ABDE = 1.2km
Vy = 1.2 (ii)
Area BDC = 0.2 km
½ Vz = 0.2
Vz = 0.4 (iii)
Therefore V = 0.8 = 1.2 = 0.4 km/h
x y z
y = 3x and z = ½ x
2
1
Also x + y + x = total time taken = 5 min = h
12
3 1
= x + 2x + ½ x = 12h
1
x = 36h = 100s
For the first stage of the journey
S = 0.4km = 400m and t = 100s
From s = ½ at²
2𝑠 400
Therefore a = 𝑡 2 = 2 x1002 = 0.08m/s²
3) A diesel train accelerates uniformity from rest to 70km/ hr for 30s, continues at this
speed for 60s and decelerates uniformly to rest in 60s. Calculate the total distance travelled.
(2.04km)
4) A car accelerates uniformly from rest at 0.6m/s² for 11s and continues at the
maximum speed attained. Calculate the time taken to travel the first 75m. (16.87s)
5) An electric train is uniformly accelerated from rest for 700m, runs 1000m at the
maximum speed attained and is then brought to rest at the next station. The distance
between stations is 3.2km and the total time taken is 3min. Calculate the maximum speed
attained (30m/s).
