SPH4U

UNIT REVIEW: KINEMATICS AND SPECIAL RELATIVITY

A. MOTION TERMINOLOGY

Understand the appropriate use of each of the following terms, as well as the symbols.
Scalar Vector
Distance (two meanings: space between an object and a point OR length of path travelled by an object)
Position

Displacement (i) displacement OR ii) total displacement )

Speed Velocity
Acceleration Uniform/constant motion
Uniform acceleration

Use the diagram to answer problems 1 and 2.

1. You walk from school, to the library, and back home after school one day.
a) What distance have you walked since leaving school? (1900 m)
b) What is your net (or total) displacement after leaving school? (500 m [W])
c) If the trip took you 35 minutes, calculate your speed. (0.90 m/s)
d) If the trip took you 35 minutes, calculate your velocity. (0.24 m/s [W])

2. You walk from home, to the mall, and back home.

a) What distance have you travelled? (2000 m)
b) What is your net (or total) displacement? (0 m [E])

We can analyze constant motion using the equation . Use this equation to solve the
following:

3. How many minutes does it take a turtle, moving at 4.0 cm/min to travel 128 cm? (32 min)

4. A raft drifts eastward in a river. In 4.0 min, the boat has drifted 862 m. Calculate the raft’s
average velocity. (3.6 m/s [E])

5. A skater skates west 70.0 m across a frozen river when she realizes she has dropped her scarf!
She skates back East 30.0 m to pick up her scarf, then 30.0 m West back to the other side of the
river.
a) If she skates for a total of 8.0 min, what is the skater’s average velocity? (0.146 m/s [W])
 b) How does this compare with the skater’s average speed? (0.271 m/s [W])

B. 1D MOTION AND MOTION GRAPHS

In order to complete the problems, you need to know how to do the following:
● create a graph
● read and plot ordered pairs
● calculate the slope of a line segment
● calculate the area of basic shapes including triangles, rectangles and trapezoids

1. Position-time graphs:
Know how to read a graph to determine an object’s position at a specific time
Determine an object’s displacement between two times
Calculate the slope to determine an object’s velocity
( can be found from the slope of a secant and can be found from the slope of a tangent)

2. Velocity-time graphs:
Know how to read a graph to determine an object’s velocity at a specific time
Determine an object’s acceleration by calculating the slope
Determine an object’s displacement in an interval by calculating the area under the curve
Determine an object’s position for a trip by keeping a running total of the displacements

3. Acceleration-time graphs:
Know how to read a graph to determine an object’s acceleration
Determine an objects change in velocity by calculating the area under the curve

1. The graph below represents the motion of an object over a recorded time interval.

Using methods of graphical analysis wherever possible, determine:

a) the object’s displacement relative to its starting position at t = 6.0 s. (5.0 m [S])
b) the object’s average velocity between t = 0.0 s and t = 6.0 s. (0.83 m/s [S])
 c) the object’s average speed between t = 0.0 s and t = 6.0 s. (7.1 m/s)
d) Including t = 0.0 s, how many times during the entire recorded time interval is the object
at its starting position? (3 times)
e) During which interval is the object’s acceleration the greatest? What is the value of the
acceleration during this interval? (between 6.5 s and 7.0 s; 30 m/s2 [N])
f) Plot the corresponding position-time graph.
g) Plot the corresponding acceleration-time graph.

2. For each of the motion graphs shown below:

a) provide a detailed description of the motion

b) Perform the appropriate calculations in order to generate the remaining graphs

*assume all objects start at the specified point.

C. EQUATIONS OF UNIFORM ACCELERATION

Recognize when an object is undergoing constant motion it maintains a constant velocity and
we may only use: to analyze the motion

If an object is undergoing uniform (or constant) acceleration, we must use one of the following
equations to analyze the motion:

Note: you DO NOT need to memorize these equations, they will be provided. However, you DO need to understand
how to use these equations to solve problems.

Things to remember:

If we are solving problems in 1D, we must ensure that all directions are the same before using
our formula. To change a direction to its opposite, we must use the opposite (ie. negative) number.

An object in free-fall is simply undergoing 1D motion in the vertical plane, where acceleration
is 9.8 m/s2 [down]

Note: we will revisit the value of acceleration due to gravity and the concept of free fall again in the dynamics unit. You
do not need to worry about it at this point.

1. A cannonball accelerates from rest to a muzzle speed of 150 m/s in 0.040 s. Calculate its
acceleration. (3750 m/s2 [f])

2. A car is travelling at 25.0 m/s [S] and accelerates at 1.20 m/s2 [S] for 3.00 s. Calculate the final
velocity of the car. (28.6 m/s [S])

3. A car is travelling at 25.0 m/s [S] and accelerates at 3.50 m/s2 [N] for 3.00 s. Calculate the final
velocity of the car. (14.5 m/s [S])

4. A forensic scientist tests a gun’s muzzle velocity by firing a bullet into a vat of ballistics gel. If
the bullet comes to a complete stop 33 cm into the gel after 2.0 ms (or 0.0020 s), how fast was it
travelling before entering the gel? (330 m/s [f])

5. A coin is dropped from rest into a well that is 20.0 m deep.

a) How long does the coin fall until it hits the water? (2.0 s)
b) What is the speed of the coin at t = 0.50 s? (4.9 m/s [d])
6. As a traffic light turns green, a car at rest begins to move forward at a uniform acceleration of
3.1 m/s2 [E]. At the same time, a truck passes through the intersection travelling at a constant
velocity of 15 m/s [E].
a) Calculate the displacement of the car and the truck after 2.0 s and after 8.0 s. (at 2.0 s
6.2 m and 30 m; at 8.0 s 99.2 m and 120 m)
b) At what time (other than t = 0 s) do the vehicles pass each other? (approx. 9.7 s)
c) How far down the road do they pass each other? (145 m in front of the traffic light)

7. An object is pushed from rest across a sheet of ice, accelerating at 5.0 m/s2 over a distance of
80.0 cm. The object then slides with a constant speed for 4.0 s until it reaches a rough section
which causes it to stop in 2.5 s.
a) What is the speed of the object when it reaches the rough section? (2.8 m/s)
b) At what rate does the object slow down once it reaches the rough section? (1.1 m/s2)
c) What total distance does the object slide throughout its entire trip? (16 m)

8. A pedestrian is running at his maximum speed of 6.0 m/s trying to catch a bus that is stopped at
a traffic light. When he is 16 m from the bus, the light changes and the bus pulls away from the
pedestrian with an acceleration of 1.0 m/s2.
a) Does the pedestrian catch the bus and, if so, how far does he have to run? (If not, what is
the pedestrian’s distance of closest approach?) (yes after 4.0 s; they run 24 m)
b) How fast is the bus moving when the pedestrian catches it? (or at the distance of closest
approach) (4.0 m/s)
c) On a single set of axes, plot the corresponding position-time graphs of both the bus and
pedestrian to confirm your answer in (a).

D. 2D MOTION AND METHODS FOR VECTOR ALGEBRA

A vector can be modeled by a directed line segment. In order to be able to appropriately work
with 2D vectors, you must know the following:
● how to draw a vector to scale with appropriate angles.
● how to calculate the components of a vector.
● To add vectors, always begin with a diagram then utilize an appropriate method:
○ Scale diagram
○ Components
○ Trigonometry

We may add displacement vectors (calculating total displacement) or velocity vectors (relative
motion). For any of these, a rough sketch will be required.
Keep in mind (particularly for velocity vectors) that perpendicular vectors act independently of
one another.

1. A Frisbee player runs due East from the centre of a field for 18 m. Then they turn and travel
34 m [N70oW]. Determine the total displacement for the Frisbee player. Include a diagram with
your solution. (18 m [N50oW])

2. A boat sails 46 m [E20oS] then it travels 54 m [N24oW] and finally it travels 36 m [N]. Calculate
the total displacement of the boat. (73 m [E73oN])
3. A snail travels 185 mm [W25oS] then they travel 240 mm [N75oE] in 14 s.
a) Determine the snail’s total displacement. (66 mm [E14oS])
b) Calculate the snail’s average velocity. (4.7 mm/s [E14oS])

4.a) A 0.60 km wide river flows with a velocity of 20.0 km/h [E]. A boat leaves a dock travelling at
15 km/h in a due north direction. Calculate how long it will take the boat to cross the river, in
hours. (0.040 h)
b) How far downstream will the boat land? (0.80 km [E])
c) Calculate the resultant velocity at which an observer standing on the shore would see the
boat travelling. (Hint: be sure to include a direction!) (25 km/h [N53oE])

E. PROJECTILE MOTION

In addition to being familiar with the other topics from this unit, you should be familiar with:
● Definition of a projectile
● Horizontal (x-) component (definition, included variables, how to calculate component, which
formula(s) is/are appropriate)
● Vertical (y-) component (definition, included variables, how to calculate component, which formula(s)
is/are appropriate)

Things to remember:
If a projectile is launched horizontally: vx = vgiven, viy = 0 m/s [down], ay = 9.8 m/s2 [down]
If a projectile is launched at an angle: vx = vicosθ, viy = visinθ [up/down], ay = 9.8 m/s2 [down]

Tips:

If an object lands at its launch height:

If an object lands below its launch height:

If an object lands above its launch height:

To determine an object’s maximum height (upwards launch):

1. A ball rolls with a speed of 2.0 m/s across a level table that is 1.0 m above the floor. Upon
reaching the edge of the table, it follows a parabolic path to the floor. How far along the floor is the
landing spot from the table? (0.90 m)

2. A cannon shell is fired straight up in the air. Assume the shell is fired with an initial velocity of
325 m/s from a height of 2.4 m. Neglecting air resistance:
a) To what maximum height will the shell rise? (5389 m above launch height)
b) What is the shell’s acceleration at its maximum height? (9.8 m/s2 [down])
c) How long will the shell be in the air for? (Assuming it lands 2.4 m below its launch height)
(66 s)
d) What will be the shell’s final velocity immediately before hitting the ground?
(3.3x102 m/s [down])
3. A football is thrown with a velocity of 20.0 m/s [37o above the horizontal] from a height of 1.00 m
above the ground.
a) How long will the football be in the air for? (2.5 s)
b) How far will the football travel horizontally before hitting the ground? (41 m [f])
c) Calculate the maximum height of the football.
(7.4 m above the release height or 8.4 m above the ground)

4. A skier leaves the horizontal end of a ramp with a velocity of 25.0 m/s [E] and lands 70.0 m from
the base of the ramp. How high is the end of the ramp from the ground? (38.4 m above the
ground)

5. A child throws a stone at an initial velocity of 15 m/s [45o above the horizontal] from the top of a
cliff that is 12 m high.
a) How long is the stone in the air for? (3.0 s)
b) How far from the base of the cliff does the stone land? (32 m)
c) Calculate the final velocity of the stone just before it hits the water. (21 m/s [60o below the
horizontal])

6. A circus clown is fired from a cannon into a net that is situated 2.0 m above the cannon and
some distance from it. The cannon is elevated at 50.0o to the horizontal and the clown’s speed at
launch is 15 m/s. See the diagram below. (note the clown lands in the net on his downward
trajectory)

a) Find the horizontal distance from the cannon where the net needs to be placed in order for the
clown to land in it. (21 m)
b) Calculate the clown’s final velocity as he lands in the net. (14 m/s [45o below the horizontal])

7. A football quarterback attempts a pass to one of the receivers. As the ball is snapped, the
receiver leaves the line of scrimmage and runs directly down field. The quarterback releases the
ball 2.0 s later and from a position 3.0 m behind the line of scrimmage. He throws the ball with a
speed of 26 m/s at an elevation of 60° above the horizontal. The receiver makes a diving
reception, catching the ball just as it reaches the ground. See the diagram below.
a) What is the time of flight of the football? (4.7 s)
b) What is the average speed of the receiver? (8.7 m/s)

F. RELATIVE MOTION

In addition to being familiar with the methods for 2D vector addition and subtraction, you should
also be familiar with:
● How to use appropriate notation to differentiate between objects and frames of reference
● How to use the chain rule to determine appropriate variables

Things to remember:
If we are travelling upstream we are travelling against a current
If we are travelling downstream we are travelling with a current
If a wind is travelling from the west it is travelling towards the east (etc)

Tips:
Use the chain rule to determine the correct order for the vectors (this does not change for
boat/airplane problems).

After substitution, the variables can then be manipulated in order to determine the desired variable.

1. A river flows eastward with 4.0 m/s. A motorboat heads downstream the river between two
towns which are 50 km apart along the south bank of the river. If the motorboat speed in still water
is 12 m/s, find:
a) the speed of the motorboat relative to the ground when traveling downstream (16 m/s [E])
b) the time required to cover the distances between the towns. (3.1x103 s; technically 3125 s)
c) The speed of the motorboat relative to the ground when travelling upstream. (8.0 m/s [W])
d) The time required to cover the distance between the towns upstream?
(3.2x103 s; technically 6250 s)

2. A river is 800 m wide and flows eastward at 10 m/s. Peter is driving a motorboat heading always
perpendicular to the current. The speed of the motorboat in still water is 20 m/s.
a) Draw a diagram to illustrate the situation.
b) What is the speed of the boat relative to the ground? (22 m/s)
c) How long did it take to cross the river? (40 s)
d) How far downstream does Peter reach on the opposite bank? (400 m)

3. Jane can swim at 5.0 m/s in still water. She wishes to swim across a river 200 m wide to a point
directly opposite from where she is standing. The river flows westward at 4.0 m/s and she is
standing on the South bank of the river.
a) Draw a diagram to illustrate the situation.
b) What is the speed of Jane relative to the ground? (3.0 m/s)
c) In what direction must Jane head? ([N53oE])
d) How long does it take Jane to cross the river? (67 s)

4. A plane is scheduled to travel from airport A to airport B where AB = 600 km [N60°E] . The
speed of the plane relative to air is 300 km/h and a strong wind of 100 km/h is blowing eastward.
Keep 2 significant digits for your answers.
 a) Draw a diagram to illustrate the situation.
b) In what direction should the pilot head the plane? ([N50oE])
c) What is the speed of the plane relative to the ground? (382 km/h)
d) How long will the trip last? (1.57 h)

G. SPECIAL RELATIVITY

● Understand that the speed of light is a constant of the universe that does not obey the
traditional (Newtonian) rules of relative motion
● In order to maintain the speed of light,
● Time may be dilated
● Length may be contracted
● The order of events may not be agreed upon if observed from different frames of
reference

Things to remember:
Measurements made within a frame of reference are referred to as proper measurements.
Measurements made within a different frame of reference that is in motion (with respect to the first)
experience relativistic effects

1. According to Bob, an observer on Earth, a rocket carrying Martha from Earth directly to the
planet Zorg travels at a speed of 0.80 c and takes 30 years to reach Zorg. Zorg is at rest relative to
the Earth.

a) What is the distance between Earth and Zorg, according to Bob? Express this distance in
light-years. (24 ly)
b) How long does Martha, the observer on the rocket, think the trip takes? (18 years)
c) What is the distance between Earth and Zorg, according to Martha? Express this
distance in light-years. (14.4 ly)

2. Planet X is 60 lightyears away from Earth. Assume that there is no relative motion between
Planet X and Earth (i.e., from the Earth, it appears that Planet X is at rest and vice versa).
a) How long does light take to reach Planet X from Earth? Answer in years. (60 years)
b) If you are travelling at 0.60c, according to an observer on Earth, how many years does it
take for you to make the journey to Planet X? That is, what is the time interval between the
time that you leave Earth and when you arrive at Planet X, according to the Earth-bound
observer? Answer in years. *Hint: time = distance / speed* (100 years)
c) When you complete your journey to Planet X, according to you, how much older are you
than when you left Earth? Answer in years (80 years)
d) According to you, how far apart are Planet X and Earth? Express your answer in units of
lightyears. (48 ly)