2.

4 Motion with Constant Acceleration

• The simplest accelerated motion is straight-line
motion with constant acceleration.
• For this case, velocity changes at the same rate
throughout the motion.
• Such motions occur frequently in nature and also
in human technology.
• We will derive key equations for straight-line
motion with constant acceleration.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• The motion diagram shows the position, velocity,
and acceleration at five different times for a
particle moving
with
constant
acceleration.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• Since acceleration ax is
constant, the ax-t graph
shows a horizontal line.

• The graph of velocity vs.

time has a constant slope
because the acceleration
is constant.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• We replace average acceleration aav-x by the
constant (instantaneous) ax,
v2 x − v1x
ax = (2.7)
t2 − t1

• Now we let t1 = 0 and t2 be any arbitrary later time

t. We use υ0x for the x-component at the later time t
is υx. Then Eqn 2.7 becomes
vx − v0 x
ax = or
t −0
υ x = v0 x + a xt ( 2.8)
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• Next, we derive an equation for the position of x of
a particle moving with constant acceleration.
• Firstly, we use Eqn 2.2, the initial position where
time t = 0 and denoted by x0.
• The position at the later time t is simply x. Thus for
time interval ∆t = t − 0 and ∆x = x − x0,
x − x0
υav − x = ( 2.9)
t
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• We can also obtain a second expression for υav-x
that is valid for constant acceleration only.
υ0 x − υ0
υav − x = ( 2.10)
2

• Substitute Eqn 2.8 into above equation,

1
υav − x = ( υ0 x + υ0 x + a x t )
2
1
= υ0 x + a x t ( 2.11)
2
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• Finally, equating Eqns 2.9 and 2.11 and simplifying
the result:
1 2
x = x0 + υ0 xt + a xt ( 2.12)
2

• Just as change in velocity of particle equals the

area under ax-t graph, the displacement equals the
area under νx-t graph.
• This method is always valid even if the acceleration
is not constant.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• Taking derivative of Eqn 2.12:
dx
υ x = = υ0 x + a xt
dt
• Differentiating again,
dυ x
= ax
dt
• In many problems, it is useful to have a relationship
between position, velocity, and acceleration that
does not include time.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• Solving Eqn 2,8 for t, then substitute resulting
expression into Eqn 2.12,
υ x − υ0 x
t=
ax
2
 υ x − υ0 x  1  υ x − υ0 x 
x = x0 + υ0 x   + a x  
 ax  2  ax 
2a x ( x − x0 ) = 2υ0 xυ x − 2υ0 x + υ x − 2υ0 xυ x + υ0 x
2 2 2

• Simplifying,
υ x = υ0 x + 2a x ( x − x0 )
2 2
(2.13)
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• Equating Eqns 2.9 and 2.10, multiply through by t,

 υ0 x + υ x 
x − x0 =  t (2.14)
 2 

• Eqns 2.8, 2.12, 2.13 and 2.14 are the equations of

motion with constant acceleration.
• These equations can be used to solve ANY
kinematics problems involving straight-line motion
of a particle with constant acceleration.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
• Graph shows the coordinate x as a function of time
for motion with constant acceleration.
• Characteristics:
– A parabola
– Intercept x0 at t = 0
– Slope of tangent
at t = 0 equals ν0x
– Slope of tangent
at t equals νx
Motion with Constant Acceleration

dv
a  dv  adt. If we integrate both sides of the equation we get:
dt
 dv   adt  a  dt  v  at  C. Here C is the integration constant.
C can be determined if we know the velocity v0  v(0) at t  0:
v(0)  v0  (a )(0)  C  C  v0  v  v0  at (eq. 1)
dx
v  dx  vdt   v0  at  dt  v0 dt  atdt. If we integrate both sides we get:
dt
at 2
 dx   v0 dt a  tdt  x  v0t  2  C . Here C  is the integration constant.
C  can be determined if we know the position xo  x(0) at t  0:
a
x(0)  xo  (v0 )(0)  (0)  C   C   xo
2
at 2
x(t )  xo  v0t  (eq. 2)
2
 at 2
v  v0  at (eq. 1) ; x  x0  v0t  (eq. 2)
2
If we eliminate the time t between equation 1 and equation 2 we get:
v 2  v02  2a  x  x0  (eq. 3)
Below we plot the position x(t ), the velocity v(t ), and the acceleration a versus time t:

at 2
x  x0  v0t 
2
The x(t) versus t plot is a parabola that
intercepts the vertical axis at x = x0.

v  v0  at
The v(t) versus t plot is a straight line with
slope = a and intercept = v0.

The acceleration a is a constant.

(2-9)
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
1.2 (Analyzing Motion Using Graphs)
1.3 (Analyzing Motion from Graphs)

1.4 (Predicting Motion from Graphs)

1.5 (Problem-Solving Strategies for Kinematics)

1.6 (Skier Races Downhill)

1.8 (Seat Belts Save Lives)

Applet 1.9 (Screeching to a Halt)

1.11 (Car Starts, then Stops)

1.12 (Solving Two-Vehicle Problems)

1.13 (Car Catches Truck)

1.14 (Avoiding a Rear-End Collision)

2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Problem-solving strategy (Motion with constant
acceleration)
• IDENTIFY:
• In most straight-line motion problems, you
can use the constant-acceleration equations.
• Occasionally, however, you will encounter a
situation in which the acceleration isn’t
constant. In such a case, you’ll need a
different approach (see Section 2.6).
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Problem-solving strategy (Motion with constant
acceleration)
• SET UP:
• You must decide at the beginning of a
problem where the origin of coordinates is
and which axis direction is positive. These
choices are usually a matter of convenience.
It is easiest to place the particle at the origin
at time t = 0; then x0 = 0. It is always helpful to
make a motion diagram showing these
choices and some later positions of the
particle.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Problem-solving strategy (Motion with constant
acceleration)
• SET UP:
• Remember that your choice of the positive
axis direction automatically determines the
positive directions for velocity and
acceleration. If x is positive to the right of the
origin, then νx and ax are also positive toward
the right.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Problem-solving strategy (Motion with constant
acceleration)
• SET UP:
1. Restate the problem in words first, then
translate this description into symbols and
equations. When does the particle arrive at a
certain point (what is the value of t)? Where is
the particle when its velocity has a specified
value (what is the value of x when νx has the
specified value)?
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Problem-solving strategy (Motion with constant
acceleration)
• SET UP:
• Make a list of quantities such as x, x0, νx, ax,
and t. In general, some of them will be known
and some will be unknown. Write down the
values of the known quantities, and decide
which of the unknowns are the target
variables. Be on the lookout for implicit
information.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Problem-solving strategy (Motion with constant
acceleration)
• EXECUTE:
1. Choose an equation from Eqns. 2.8, 2.12,
2.13, and 2.14 that contains only one of the
target variables.
2. Solve this equation for the target variable,
using symbols only.
3. Substitute the known values and compute the
value of the target variable.
4. Sometimes you will have to solve 2
simultaneous equations for 2 unknown
quantities.
2.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Problem-solving strategy (Motion with constant
acceleration)
• EVALUATE:
1. Take a hard look at your results to see
whether they make sense. Are they within the
general range of values you expected?
Example 2.4 Constant-acceleration calculations
A motorcyclist heading east through a small Iowa
city accelerates after he passes the signpost
marking the city limits. His acceleration is a constant
4.0 m/s2. At time t = 0 he is 5.0 m east of the
signpost, moving east at 15 m/s. (a) Find his
position and velocity at time t = 2.0 s. (b) Where is
the motorcyclist when his velocity is 25 m/s?
Example 2.4 (SOLN)
Identify:
The statement of the problem tells us explicitly that the
acceleration is constant, so we can use the constant-
acceleration equations.
Set Up:
We take the signpost as the origin of coordinates
(x = 0), and choose the positive x-axis to point east. At
the initial time t = 0, the initial position is x0 = 5.0 m and
the initial velocity is ν0x = 15 m/s. The constant
acceleration is ax = 4.0 m/s2. The unknown target
variables in part (a) are the values of the position x and
the velocity νx at the later time t = 2.0 s; the target
variable in part (b) is the value of x when νx = 25 m/s.
Example 2.4 (SOLN)
Execute:
(a) We can find the position at t = 2.0 s by using Eqn
2.12, which gives position x as a function of time t:
1 2
x = x0 + υ0 xt + a xt
2
(
1
)
= 5.0 m + (15 m/s )( 2.0 s ) + 4.0 m/s 2 ( 2.0 s ) 2
2
= 43 m
We can find the velocity at this same time by using
Eqn 2.8, which gives velocity νx as a function of time
t: υ x = υ0 x + a xt
( )
= 15 m/s + 4.0 m/s2 ( 2.0 s ) = 23 m/s
Example 2.4 (SOLN)
Execute:
(b) From our soln to part (a), we see that the velocity is
νx = 25 m/s at a time later than 2.0 s and at a point
farther than 43 m from the signpost. From Eqn. 2.13
we have υ 2 = υ 2 + 2a ( x − x )
x 0x x 0

Solving for x and substituting in the known values, we

2 2
find υ x − υ0 x
x = x0 +
2a x
( 25 m/s ) 2 − (15 m/s ) 2
= 5.0 m +
(
2 4.0 m/s 2 )
= 55 m
Example 2.4 (SOLN)
Execute:
(b) Alternatively, we may use Eqn 2.8 to first find the
time when νx = 25 m/s: υ x = υ0 x + a xt so
υ x − υ0 x 25 m/s − 15 m/s
t= =
ax 4.0 m/s 2
t = 2.5 s
Then from Eqn. 2.12, we have
1 2
x = x0 + υ0 xt + a xt
2
1
( )
= 5.0 m + ( 15 m/s )( 2.5 s ) + 4.0 m/s 2 ( 2.5 s ) 2
2
= 55 m
Example 2.4 (SOLN)
Evaluate:
Do these results make sense? According to our results
in part (a), the motorcyclist accelerates from 15 m/s
(about 34 mi/h, or 54 km/h) to 23 m/s (about 51 mi/h,
or 83 km/h) in 2.0 s while traveling a distance of 38 m
(about 125 ft). Our results in part (b) tell us that after
an additional 0.5 s, the motorcyclist has moved an
additional 12 m (about 39 ft) and has accelerated to
25 m/s (56 mi/h, or 90 km/h). This is pretty brisk
acceleration, but well within the capabilities of a high-
performance bike.
Example 2.5 Two bodies with different accelerations
A motorist traveling with constant velocity of 15 m/s
(about 34 mi/h) passes a school-crossing comer,
where the speed limit is 10 m/s (about 22 mi/h). Just
as the motorist passes, a police officer on a
motorcycle stopped at the comer starts off in pursuit
with constant acceleration of 3.0 m/s2. (a) How much
time elapses before the officer catches up with the
motorist? (b) What is the officer's speed at that point?
(c) What is the total distance each vehicle has traveled
at that point?
Example 2.5 (SOLN)
Identify:
The police officer and the motorist both move with
constant acceleration (equal to zero for the motorist),
so we can use the formulas we have developed.
Set Up:
We take the origin at the corner, so x0 = 0 for both, and
take the positive direction to the right. Let xP (for police)
be the officer's position and xM (for motorist) be the
motorist's position at any time. The initial velocities are
νP0x = 0 for the officer and νM0x = 15 m/s for the
motorist; the constant accelerations are aPx = 3.0 m/s2
for the officer and aMx = 0 for the motorist.
Example 2.5 (SOLN)
Set Up:
Our target variable in part (a) is the time when the
officer catches the motorist; when the two vehicles are
at the same position. In part (b) we're looking for the
officer's speed ν (the magnitude of his velocity) at the
time found in part (a). In part (c) we want to find the
position of either vehicle at this same time. Hence we
use Eqn. 2.12 in parts (a) and (c), and Eqn. 2.8 in part
(b).
Execute:
(a) We want to find the value of the time t when the
motorist and the police officer are at the same
position: xM = xP.
Example 2.5 (SOLN)
Execute:
(a) Applying Eqn. 2.12 to each vehicle, we get
1
xM = 0 + υM0 xt + ( 0 ) t = υM0 xt
2
2
1 2 1
xP = 0 + ( 0 ) t + ( aPx ) t = ( aPx ) t 2
2 2
Since xM = xP at time t, we set these two expressions
equal to each other and solve for t:
1
υM0 xt = aPxt 2
2
2υM0 x 2(15 m/s )
t=0 or t= = 2
= 10 s
aPx 3.0 m/s
Example 2.5 (SOLN)
Execute:
(a) There are two times when both the vehicles have
the same x-coordinate. The first, t = 0, is the time
when the motorist passes the parked motorcycle at the
corner. The second, t = 10 s, is the time when the
officer catches up with the motorist.
(b) We want the magnitude of the officer's velocity νPx
at the time t found in part (a). Her velocity at any time
is given by Eqn. 2.8:
( )
υPx = υP0 x + aPxt = 0 + 3.0 m/s2 t

so when t = 10 s, we find νPx = 30 m/s.

Example 2.5 (SOLN)
Execute:
(b) When the officer overtakes the motorist, she is
traveling twice as fast as the motorist is.
(c) In 10 s the distance the motorist travels is
xM = υM0 xt = (15 m/s )(10 s ) = 150 m

and the distance the officer travels is

1
2
2 1
( )
xP = aPxt = 3.0 m/s 2 (10 s ) 2 = 150 m
2

This verifies that at the time the officer catches the

motorist, they have gone equal distances.
Example 2.5 (SOLN)
Evaluate:
Graphs of x vs. t for each vehicle
shown. We see that there are 2
times when the 2 positions are
the same. At neither of these
times do the 2 vehicles have the
same velocity. At t = 0, the officer is at rest; at t = 10 s,
the officer has twice the speed of the motorist. In real
pursuits the officer would accelerate to a speed faster
than that of the motorist, then slow down to have the
same velocity as the motorist when she catches him.
We haven't treated this case here because it involves a
changing acceleration.