Chapter 2
Motion in One Dimension
Dynamics
The branch of physics involving the
motion of an object and the
relationship between that motion
and other physics concepts
Kinematics is a part of dynamics
In kinematics, you are interested in
the description of motion
Not concerned with the cause of the
motion
Quantities in Motion
Any motion involves three
concepts
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
These concepts can be used to
study objects in motion
Brief History of Motion
Sumaria and Egypt
Mainly motion of heavenly bodies
Greeks
Also to understand the motion of
heavenly bodies
Systematic and detailed studies
Geocentric model
“Modern” Ideas of Motion
Copernicus
Developed the heliocentric system
Galileo
Made astronomical observations with
a telescope
Experimental evidence for description
of motion
Quantitative study of motion
Position
Defined in terms
of a frame of
reference
One dimensional,
so generally the x-
or y-axis
Defines a starting
point for the
motion
Displacement
Defined as the change in position
fixxxΔ≡−
f stands for final and i stands for initial
May be represented as y if vertical
Units are meters (m) in SI,
centimeters (cm) in cgs or feet (ft) in
US Customary
Displacements
Vector and Scalar
Quantities
Vector quantities need both
magnitude (size) and direction to
completely describe them
Generally denoted by boldfaced type
and an arrow over the letter
+ or – sign is sufficient for this
chapter
Scalar quantities are completely
described by magnitude only
Displacement Isn’t
Distance
The displacement of an object is
not the same as the distance it
travels
Example: Throw a ball straight up
and then catch it at the same point
you released it
The distance is twice the height
The displacement is zero
Speed
The average speed of an object is
defined as the total distance traveled
divided by the total time elapsed
==totaldistanceAveragespeedtotaltimedv
Speed is a scalar quantity
Speed, cont
Average speed totally ignores any
variations in the object’s actual
motion during the trip
The total distance and the total
time are all that is important
SI units are m/s
Velocity
It takes time for an object to
undergo a displacement
The average velocity is rate at
−which the displacement
Δ==Δ−fiaveragefixxxvttt occurs
generally use a time interval, so
let ti = 0
Velocity continued
Direction will be the same as the
direction of the displacement (time
interval is always positive)
+ or - is sufficient
Units of velocity are m/s (SI),
cm/s (cgs) or ft/s (US Cust.)
Other units may be given in a
problem, but generally will need to be
converted to these
Speed vs. Velocity
Cars on both paths have the same average
velocity since they had the same displacement in
the same time interval
The car on the blue path will have a greater
average speed since the distance it traveled is
larger
Graphical Interpretation of
Velocity
Velocity can be determined from a
position-time graph
Average velocity equals the slope
of the line joining the initial and
final positions
An object moving with a constant
velocity will have a graph that is a
straight line
Average Velocity,
Constant
The straight line
indicates constant
velocity
The slope of the
line is the value of
the average
velocity
Average Velocity, Non
Constant
The motion is
non-constant
velocity
The average
velocity is the
slope of the blue
line joining two
points
Instantaneous Velocity
The limit of the average velocity as the
time interval becomes infinitesimally
short, or as the time interval
approaches zero
Δlim0txvt
Δ→ Δ≡
The instantaneous velocity indicates
what is happening at every point of
time
Instantaneous Velocity on
a Graph
The slope of the line tangent to the
position-vs.-time graph is defined
to be the instantaneous velocity at
that time
The instantaneous speed is defined as
the magnitude of the instantaneous
velocity
Uniform Velocity
Uniform velocity is constant
velocity
The instantaneous velocities are
always the same
All the instantaneous velocities will
also equal the average velocity
Acceleration
Changing velocity (non-uniform)
means an acceleration is present
Acceleration is the rate of change
of fifivvvattt
the velocity
−Δ==Δ−
Units are m/s² (SI), cm/s² (cgs),
and ft/s² (US Cust)
Average Acceleration
Vector quantity
When the sign of the velocity and
the acceleration are the same
(either positive or negative), then
the speed is increasing
When the sign of the velocity and
the acceleration are in the opposite
directions, the speed is decreasing
Instantaneous and
Uniform Acceleration
The limit of the average
acceleration as the time interval
goes to zero
When the instantaneous
accelerations are always the same,
the acceleration will be uniform
The instantaneous accelerations will
all be equal to the average
acceleration
Graphical Interpretation of
Acceleration
Average acceleration is the slope
of the line connecting the initial
and final velocities on a velocity-
time graph
Instantaneous acceleration is the
slope of the tangent to the curve
of the velocity-time graph
Average Acceleration
Relationship Between
Acceleration and Velocity
Uniform velocity (shown by red arrows
maintaining the same size)
Acceleration equals zero
Relationship Between
Velocity and Acceleration
Velocity and acceleration are in the same direction
Acceleration is uniform (blue arrows maintain the
same length)
Velocity is increasing (red arrows are getting longer)
Positive velocity and positive acceleration
Relationship Between
Velocity and Acceleration
Acceleration and velocity are in opposite directions
Acceleration is uniform (blue arrows maintain the
same length)
Velocity is decreasing (red arrows are getting shorter)
Velocity is positive and acceleration is negative
Kinematic Equations
Used in situations with uniform
()=+Δ==+Δ=+=+Δ22212122oooovvatxv
acceleration
Notes on the equations
⎛vo + vf ⎞
Δx = v average t =⎜ ⎟t
⎝ 2 ⎠
Gives displacement as a function
of velocity and time
Use when you don’t know and
aren’t asked for the acceleration
Notes=+
on the
ovvat
equations
Shows velocity as a function of
acceleration and time
Use when you don’t know and
aren’t asked to find the
displacement
Graphical Interpretation of
the Equation
Notes on the equations
1 2
Δx = v o t + at
2
Gives displacement as a function
of time, velocity and acceleration
Use when you don’t know and
aren’t asked to find the final
velocity
Notes on the equations
=+Δ222ovvax
Gives velocity as a function of
acceleration and displacement
Use when you don’t know and
aren’t asked for the time
Problem-Solving Hints
Read the problem
Draw a diagram
Choose a coordinate system, label initial and
final points, indicate a positive direction for
velocities and accelerations
Label all quantities, be sure all the units
are consistent
Convert if necessary
Choose the appropriate kinematic
equation
Problem-Solving Hints,
cont
Solve for the unknowns
You may have to solve two equations
for two unknowns
Check your results
Estimate and compare
Check units
Galileo Galilei
1564 - 1642
Galileo formulated
the laws that govern
the motion of objects
in free fall
Also looked at:
Inclined planes
Relative motion
Thermometers
Pendulum
Free Fall
All objects moving under the influence
of gravity only are said to be in free fall
Free fall does not depend on the object’s
original motion
All objects falling near the earth’s
surface fall with a constant acceleration
The acceleration is called the
acceleration due to gravity, and
indicated by g
Acceleration due to
Gravity
Symbolized by g
g = 9.80 m/s²
When estimating, use g 10 m/s2
g is always directed downward
toward the center of the earth
Ignoring air resistance and assuming g
doesn’t vary with altitude over short
vertical distances, free fall is constantly
accelerated motion
Free Fall – an object
dropped
Initial velocity is
zero
Let up be positive
Use the kinematic vo= 0
equations a=g
Generally use y
instead of x since
vertical
Acceleration is g
= -9.80 m/s2
Free Fall – an object
thrown downward
a = g = -9.80
m/s2
Initial velocity 0
With upward
being positive,
initial velocity will
be negative
Free Fall -- object thrown
upward
Initial velocity is v=0
upward, so positive
The instantaneous
velocity at the
maximum height is
zero
a = g = -9.80 m/s2
everywhere in the
motion
Thrown upward, cont.
The motion may be symmetrical
Then tup = tdown
Then v = -vo
The motion may not be
symmetrical
Break the motion into various parts
Generally up and down
Non-symmetrical
Free Fall
Need to divide the
motion into
segments
Possibilities include
Upward and
downward portions
The symmetrical
portion back to the
release point and then
the non-symmetrical
portion
Combination Motions
