WEEK 4: DATE:________________

TOPIC: EQUATION OF UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION

CONTENT

- Revision on velocity-time graphs.

- Derivations of equation of uniformly accelerated motion
- Application of equation of uniform motion
- Equation of motion under gravity
-

PERIOD ONE:

Velocity – time v-t graph.

1. Gradient of a v-t graph = acceleration

v change∈ velocity
Acceleration = gradient = change ∈time

∆v
∆v Accelerationa=
∆t
∆t

2. Area under a v-t graph = distance.

3.
v

e d

0 a c t
b

i. Total distance covered during the motion = area of trapezium 0edc

ii. Distance covered during acceleration = area of triangle 0ea
iii. Distance covered during constant velocity = area of rectangle aedb
iv. Distance covered during deceleration = area of triangle bdc
ae
v. Acceleration = slope of line 0e ,a=
0a
 bd
vi. Deceleration = slope of dc, −a=
bc

Example 1

1. A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly to 15ms-1 in 5 s. it then continues at this
velocity for the next 10s before decelerating back to rest in another 8 s.
Use the information to answer the following questions
i. Sketch the velocity time graph of the motion of the car
ii. Calculate the acceleration of the car
iii. Calculate the deceleration of the car
iv. What is the total distance travelled by the car
v. Estimate the average speed of the car.

15

0 5 t
15 23 ae
ii. Acceleration a=
0a
15 −2
a= =3 m s
5
bd
iii. deceleration –a =−a=
bc
15 15
−a= =
23−15 8

−2
−a=−1.875 m s
iv. total distance = area under the graph
= area of trapezium
1
S ¿ ( a+ b ) h
2
1
{ ( 15−5 ) + ( 23−0 ) } 15
2
1
= ( 10+23 ) 15
2
 33× 15 495
¿ =
2 2
s=247.5 m
totaldistance
v. average speed v =
totaltime
247.5 −1
v= =10.8 m s
23

Example 2
A body at rest is given an initial uniform acceleration of 8.0ms2 for 30s after which the
acceleration is reduced to 5.0ms2 for 30s. The body maintains the speed attained for 60s
after which it is brought to rest in 20s.
(a) Draw the velocity-time graph of the motion using the information given above.
Using the graph, calculate (b) maximum speed attained during the motion. (c)
average retardation as the body is brought to rest. (d) total distance travelled
during the first 60s (e) average speed during the same intervals as in (c)

Solution.
(a) V(m/s)

V2
5ms-2
V1

8ms – 2

Stage 1 stage 2 stage 3 stage 4

0 30s 60s 120s 140s t (s)

(b)there are two stages of acceleration

Stage 1. Acceleration = gradient a= 8 ms-2
V 1−0
a=
30−0
V1
8=
30
−1
Cross multiplying V 1=8 x 30=240 m s
Stage 2. A= 5 ms-2
V 2−V 1
a=
60−30
V 2−V 1
5=
30
Cross multiplying
V 2−V 1 =150
But V1=240
V 2−240=150
−1
V 2=150+ 240=390 m s
−1
t h emaximumvelocityis390 m s
(c )
Average retardation is equal to gradient
V 2−0
−a= but V2 = 390ms-1
140−120
390−0
−a=
20
−¿a = 19.5ms-2
Average retardation = - 19.5ms-2

(d) distance is in the first 60sec = area of triangle + area of the next trapezium
1 1
S= ( time ) V 1+ ( V 1+V 2 ) time
2 2
1 1
S = ( 30 ) ( 240 ) + ( 240+390 ) 30
2 2
S=3600+9450=13050 m
totaldistance
(d) average speed V=
totaltime
13050 −1
V= =217.5 m s
60
RELATIVE MOTION
This is the motion of a body with respect to another. All motion is relative. The motion
of a car on the road is with respect to the earth or any other frame of reference in which
the motion of the car is being observed.
Resultant velocity of relative motions
 Consider two cars X and Y travelling in the same direction and at the same speed,
a commuter in X will observe that Y is stationary (not moving)
V x =V y
Relative velocity V x −V y =0
  If car X is to be travelling at a speed Vxwhich is greater than the speed of Vy, a
commuter in car Y will observe the speed of car X to be
V x −V y =relativevelocityofcarXwit h respecttoY
A commuter in X will observed the relative velocity of Y to be
V y −V x
This value will be negative. This means that to an observer in X, the car Y will
appear to be going backward (going the opposite direction with a speed of /V y -
Vx/

 But is car X and Y were to be travelling in opposite direction, the relative velocity
of X with respect to Y will be
V x −V y =relativevelocityofXwit h respecttoY
Vy – Vx = relative velocity of Y with respect to X

N.B. note that the relative velocity of X with respect to Y, Vxy is equal in magnitude but opposite
in direction to the relative velocity of Y with respect to X, Vyx.

Vxy = - Vyx

EXAMPLES

1. Two racing cars A and B travelling in the same direction at 300m/s and 340mls
respectively. What is the relative velocity of A with respect to B?
Solution:
Va= 300 km/h
Vb=340 km/h
Relative velocity of a with respect to B, Vab = Va -Vb = 300 – 340 = -40 km/h
(note that this is negative. A appears to be travelling in the opposite direction to B)
2. A boat whose speed is 8 km/h sets course on a bearing 0600. If the tide is running at a
speed of 3 km/h from a bearing of 3300, find;
i. The actual speed of the boat(i.e, relative speed of the boat)
ii. The direction of travel
Vt Vb
0 Vb N.B the angle
Direction of tide 60
900 in the
θ
boat triangle is
V rel obtained by
Vt
geometry
To obtain the relative velocity (actual velocity), draw the component velocity such that the
head of one point to the end of the other. Draw the relative velocity to beginning from end of
the first to the head of the last.

Using Pythagoras theorem

2 2 2
V rel =8 +3
2
V rel =64+ 9=73

V rel =√ 73=8.54 km h
−1

Let ϴ be the angle between the relative velocity and the direction of the boat.

Vt 3
tanθ= =
Vb 8
−1
θ=tan [ 0.375 ]=20. 6
0

EVALUATION
1. A train runs at a constant speed of 20m/s for 300s. and then accelerate uniformly to
a speed of 30m/s over a period of 20s. this speed is maintained for 300s before the
train is brought to rest with uniform deceleration is 30s. draw the velocity – time
graph to represent the journey describe above. From the graph find,
i. The acceleration while the speed changes from 20m/s to 30m/s.
ii. The total distance travelled in the time described
iii. The average speed over the time described. (J.M.B)
2. A car travels at a uniform velocity of 20m/s for 4s. if the brakes were applied to bring
the car to rest in the next 8 s. draw the velocity time graph for the motion. How far
does the car travel after the brakes were applied?

GENERAL EVALUATION
 1. The planetary motions are examples of ----- motion. (a) rectilinear (a) rotation (c)
vibratory (d) spin
2. The rate of change of velocity is called ---- (a) speed (b) displacement (c) uniform
velocity (d) acceleration
3. Which of these is also referred to as negative acceleration? (a) instantaneous
acceleration (b) uniform acceleration (c) retardation (d) non-uniform acceleration
4. The gradient of a distance –time graph gives ---- (a) velocity (b) acceleration (c)
speed (d) displacement
5. ---- represent the area under a velocity – time graph. (a) distance (b) speed (c)
acceleration (d) none of the above
6. Which of these graphs represent the velocity-time graph of the motion of a spherical
metal ball falling through a fluid until it attain it terminal velocity?

(a) (b) (c) (d)

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT:
1. The graph below represent the velocity time graph a body

e d

Sketch
0 the corresponding
a displacement
b
–time graph
c for this motion.
t

READING ASSIGNMENT
Students should read page 121-125 of the New School Physics by MA Anyakoha and
answer question 21 and 25 on page 131

DERIVATIONS OF EQUATION OF UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION

Sub-Topic 3: ANALYSIS OF RECTILINEAR MOTION.

Supposing a body moving at an initial velocity ' u ' later attains a final velocity ' v ' in time t ,
Its acceleration is given as:
 c h angeinvelocity
a=
timetaken
Change in velocity = v-u
v−u
∴ a= −−−−−(1)
t
By making v subject of the formula,
We have v=u+at−−−−−(2)
distance
Recall that speed=
time
s
∴v=
t
∴ s=vt
v +u
Since the body above experienced two velocities, u & v, thus, the average velocity is
2
(v +u)t
Hence, s= −−−−−(3)
2
Putting (2) into (3), we have
( u+ at +u ) t 2 ut + a t 2 2ut a t 2
s= = = +
2 2 2 2
1 2
Hence, s=ut+ ( a t )−−−−−(4)
2
From (1),
v−u
t= −−−−−(5)
a
Putting (5) into (3), we have
v+ u v−u ( v +u ) ( v −u )
s= × =
2 a 2a
But ( v+u ) (v −u) is a different of two squares, implying that ( v+u )( v−u )=v 2−u 2
2 2
v −u
Hence, s=
2a
Making v 2 subject of the formula, we have
2 2
v =u +2 as−−−−−−(6)
Thus, in summary, the equations of motion include:
v=u+at

s= ( v +u2 )t=¿
1 2
s=ut+ a t
2
1 2
s=vt− a t
2
2 2
v =u +2 as
Under gravity, for a body descending, gis+ve . Therefore, the above equations become:
v=u+¿
1 2
s=ut+ g t
2
2 2
v =u +2 gs
Under gravity, for a body ascending, gis−ve. Therefore, the above equations become:
v=u−¿
1 2
s=ut− g t
2
2 2
v =u −2 gs
EVALUATION
1. Define the following terms (i) average speed (ii) average velocity (iii) uniform
acceleration (iv) constant velocity
2. State the value of the acceleration of a body moving with uniform velocity.

PERIOD TWO
Derivation of equation of uniform motion

Recall that,
Equation (i) --- V =U +at
( V +U ) t
Equation (ii) --- S=
2
Substituting equation (i) into equation (ii)
 [ ( U + at ) +U ] t
S= V =U +at … … … (i )
2s
1 ( V +U ) t
S= [ U + at+U ] t S= … … … ( ii )
2 2
1
S= [ 2 U +at ] t
2 1 2
S=Ut+ a t … … …(iii)
1 2
S= [2 Ut + at ]
2
2 2 2
1 2 V =U +2 aS … … …(iv)
S=Ut+ a t … … … ( iii )
2
1 2
Again from equation (i), S=vt− a t … ….. … ..(v)
2
V =U +at
V −U =at
Dividing both sides by a,
V −U
=t−−−−−−( 3 )
a
Substituting equation (3) into equation (ii)
( V +U )
(ii) --- S= t
2
becomes
( V +U ) ( V −U )
S= ×
2 a
( V +U )( V −U )
S=
2a
Expanding the bracket in the numerator,
2 2
V −U
S=
2a
Cross multiplying,
2 2
V −U =2 aS
2 2
V =U +2 aS … … … . ( iv )

Summarily, the equations of uniformly accelerating bodies are:

.N.B. note that these equations can only be applied to solve problems on bodies
moving with constant/uniform acceleration. Problems on bodies moving with non-
uniform acceleration can be solved using differential calculus.

EVALUATION
1. State the equations of uniformly accelerating bodies.
 2. Derive the (iv) of uniformly accelerating motion.

PERIOD THREE
Application of the equations of uniform accelerating bodies.

1. A train starts from rest and accelerate until it attains a velocity of 8m/s is 10 s. calculate
the acceleration of the train.
Solution:
For a body at rest velocity is zero.
Initial velocity U=0
Final velocity V= 8m/s
Time t=10 s
Acceleration a= ?
{ you use any of the four equations that has U,V, t, a has identified from the question}
V = U + at
8 = 0 + ax10
8 = 10a
Dividing both side by 10
a = 0.8m/s2
2. A horse rider moving with constant acceleration covers the distance between two point
70.0m apart in 7.0 s. if his speed as he passes the second point is 15.0 m/s. what is its
speed at the first point?
Distance S = 70.0m
Time t = 7.0s
Initial speed U = ?
Final speed V = 15.0m/s
(V +U )t
{ the equation containing S, t, U, and V is S = }
2
( V +U ) t
S=
2
( 15+U ) 7
70 =
2
Cross multiplying
(15+U)7 = 140
Dividing both sides by 7
 15 +U = 20
U = 20 – 15
U = 5m/s
3. A body starts with an initial velocity of 26m/s and moves down it with uniform
acceleration of 7m/s2 for 25 s. find the total distance moved in metres
Solution: Initial velocity U = 26m/s
Acceleration a = 7m/s2
Time t = 25 s
Distance S = ?
1 2
{the equation containing U, a, t and s is S=Ut+ a t }
2
1 2
S=Ut+ a t
2
1 2
S=26 bxcvzg× 25+ ×7 ×25
2
S=650+3.5 ×625
S=650+2187.5
S=2837.5 m

Motion of bodies under gravity

Neglecting air resistance, motion of bodies moving under gravity (either vertical upward
or downward) is an example of uniformly accelerating motion.
1. A body thrown vertically upward in the earth gravitational field.
When a body is thrown vertically upward from the earth surface, it retards uniformly
(with acceleration of a = -g) until it attain it maximum height where its final velocity
is zero. (V = 0)
If U is the initial velocity with which the body was projected vertically upward and
H=S is the maximum height where it the velocity is zero (i.e, temporarily at rest
before coming down)
g – acceleration due to gravity

2 2
V =U +2 aS
V=0 s = H a = -g is negative (retardation) where g is the acceleration due to gravity
0 = U2 + 2(-g) H
0 = U2 -2gH
2gH = U2
2
U
H= H is the maximum height
2g
Again , using V= U + at
 V = 0 a = -g
0 = U + (-g)t
0 = U –gt
gt = U
U
t=
g
T is the time to reach the maximum height.
If the body is thrown vertically upward and allowed to return to the point of projection,
the total time of flight is given as
2U
t=
g
2. Motion of a bodies falling freely under gravity
The body was initially at rest, hence the initial velocity is zero. As it falls, it velocity
increase i.e it accelerate, a = g
2 2
Using , V =U +2 aS
V2 = 0 + 2gH
V = √ 2 gH
This is the velocity of the body just as it it about to reach the ground
Again using
1 2
S=Ut+ a t
2
H = 0 x t + ½ g t2
H = ½ gt2

√
2H
t= g ¿
¿
T h i ist h e time taken¿ reac h t h eground

CLASSWORK;
A projectile is fired vertically upward and it reach a height of 78.4 m. find the
velocity of projection and the time it takes to reach the highest point
( take g = 10m/s2)
Solution:
initial velocity U = velocity of projection
U =?
Maximum height S =H = 78.4 m
Acceleration a = -g = -10m/s2
Final velocity V = 0 m/s ( body is temporarily at rest at the maximum height)
 { U, S, a, V}
2 2
V =U +2 aS
V2 = U2 + 2(-g) H
0 = U2 – 2 x 10 x 78.4
U2 = 1568
U ¿ √ 1568
U = 39.6 m/s

CLASSWORK; A body falls from a height of 80m. what is it velocity just before hitting the
ground
Solution; height H = S = 80m
Initial velocity U = 0 ( body is taken be initially at rest)
Acceleration a = g = 10 m/s2 ( this is positive because the body is coming down)
Final velocity V = ?
{ S, U, a, V}
2 2
V =U +2 aS
2 2
V =0 + 2× 10× 80
2 −1
V =1600=40 m s

A stone is dropped from a height of 196 m. neglecting air resistances; calculate the time to
reach the ground.
Solution
H=S = 196 m
2
a = g = 10 m/s . ( g is positive because the body is moving downward)
U=0m/s ( body is taken to be initially at rest)
t= ?

1 2
S=Ut+ a t
2
196 = 0xt + ½ x 10 t2.
196 = 5 t2.
2 196
t =
5
2
t =39.2
t=√ 39.2
t=6.3 s

EVALUATION:
 1. A stone was thrown vertically upward with an initial speed U. If g is the acceleration of
2U
free fall, show that the time taken for the ball to return to its point of projection is
g
2. A ball is thrown vertically upward with a velocity of 19.6m/s. what distance does it
travels before coming to rest momentary at the maximum height?
3. With what velocity must a ball be projected vertically upward for it return to it point of
projection in 5s?
4. A vehicle which starts from rest is accelerated uniformly at the rate of 5m/s2 for 5 s. It
attains a speed which is maintained for 60 s. the vehicle is then brought to rest by a
uniform retardation after another 3 s. determine the total distance covered.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Two cars A and B move parallel to each other but in opposite direction. If the velocity of
A is 10m/s and that of B is 15m/s. what is the relative velocity of B with respect to A?
2. A car travelling with a uniform acceleration of 3m/s2 starts from rest. What time will it
attain a velocity of 15m/s?
3. A ball was thrown vertically upward from the ground with a velocity of 40m/s. a similar
ball was thrown 1 s later from the same spot with the same velocity. At what time will
the two ball meet each other?

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

Derive an equation of uniformly acceleration motion that involves only S, V, t and a

READING ASSIGNEMENT

Students should read pages 125, 130-132 of New School Physics. By MA Anyakoha and answer
question26 on page 131