Displacement

Denition of Displacement Displacement is the change in position. Displacement (NOT in Data booklet) Displacement is
s = s 2 s 1

(1)

where s2 is the nal position, and s1 the initial position of the object. Note that the symbol (Greek letter capital delta) means the change in. Displacement is a vector quantity (it has magnitude and direction). The SI unit of displacement is one metre (1 m).

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Instantaneous Velocity
Instantaneous velocity is the velocity at a certain moment of time. Often, we just say velocity, when we mean instantaneous velocity. Denition of Velocity Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with time. Velocity is a vector quantity. The SI unit of velocity is one metre per second (1 m s1). If we know the position of a moving object as a function of time, we can determine the instantaneous velocity from the graph: the slope of the tangent line on the position graph, is the instantaneous velocity of the object at that point.
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Instantaneous Speed
Speed is the magnitude of velocity. Instantaneous speed is the speed at a certain moment of time. Often, we just say speed, when we mean instantaneous speed. Denition of Speed Speed is the rate of change of distance with time. Speed is a scalar quantity. The SI unit of speed is one metre per second (1 m s1).

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Instantaneous Acceleration
Instantaneous acceleration is the acceleration at a certain moment of time. Often, we just say acceleration, when we mean instantaneous acceleration. Denition of Acceleration Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. Acceleration is a vector quantity. The SI unit of acceleration is one metre per second squared (1 m s2). If we know the velocity of a moving object as a function of time, we can determine the instantaneous acceleration from the graph: the slope of the tangent line on the graph is the instantaneous acceleration of the object at that point.
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2.1.3 Uniformly Accelerated Motion

m s1 v
1.0

A)
0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2

B)

C)

t 0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5

Figure : The acceleration of a cart on an inclined plane for three inclinations. In each case, the velocity versus time graph is a straight line.
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2.1.3 Uniformly Accelerated Motion

When a cart moves down an incline, its velocity v is directly proportional to time t . This is an example of uniformly accelerated motion. Uniformly Accelerated Motion In uniformly accelerated motion the acceleration is constant. Acceleration in Uniformly Accelerated Motion (NOT in Data booklet) When an object accelerates uniformly from initial velocity u to nal velocity v in time t , its acceleration is v u a= (2)
t

Exercise 1. Calculate the acceleration of the cart in A), B) and C).

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Area Under a Velocity vs Time Graph

v

t
Figure : Velocity v of an object as a function of time t .

The area of each rectangle is A i = v i t , which has the unit of distance. Because in uniform motion the distance travelled is si = v i t , the area of a rectangle A i approximates the actual distance si travelled by the object at speed v i in time t .
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Area Under a Velocity vs Time Graph

v

t
Figure : Velocity v of an object as a function of time t .

Calculating the total area of the rectangles approximates the area under the graph.
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Kinematic Equations in (constant acceleration) Data Booklet

Average Velocity v av

All kinematic equations in the data booklet apply to uniformly accelerated motion only. That is, to cases where acceleration is constant. We begin by dening the average velocity, which is not the data booklet. Average Velocity (NOT in Data booklet) The average velocity in uniformly accelerated motion is
u+v v av = 2

(3)

where u is the initial velocity of the object, and v the nal velocity.

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Kinematic Equations in (constant acceleration) Data Booklet

Distance Travelled and Position s (constant acceleration)

Distance Travelled in Uniformly Accelerated Motion v without changing its direction, If an object travels at average velocity v av = u + 2 during time interval t it covers a distance
u+v s = v av t = t 2 where u is the initial velocity of the object, and v the nal velocity.

(4)

Position in Uniformly Accelerated Motion If an object starts at the origin, and accelerates at constant acceleration, after time t its position is
1 2 s = ut + at 2

(5)

where u is the initial velocity of the object. Note! Initial velocity u and acceleration a in Equation 5 are vectors. Their signs depend on the direction of motion.
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Kinematic Equations in (constant acceleration) Data Booklet

Final Velocity and Speed in Uniformly Accelerated Motion

Final Speed v in Uniformly Accelerated Motion If an object starts accelerating from the initial speed u , and accelerates the distance s with acceleration a , the square of the nal speed of the object is
v 2 = u 2 + 2as .

(6)

Often, it is useful to know the relation between the nal velocity v , initial velocity u and acceleration a in uniformly accelerated motion. Final Velocity v in Uniformly Accelerated Motion If an object starts accelerating from the initial speed u , and accelerates time t with acceleration a , the nal velocity of the object is
v = u + at .
u Note The equation is derived from a = v , and is not included in the Data t booklet.
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(7)

2 Kinematics: Relative Motion

2.1.9 Relative Velocity

The velocity of a moving object depends on the reference frame with respect to the velocity is measured. For example, a student is at rest with respect to the classroom, but orbits the Sun at the speed of 30 km s1. Relative Velocity Let the velocity of object A be # v A, and the velocity of object B be # v B, with respect to a frame of reference. Then, the velocity of object A with respect to object B is denoted by # v AB, and dened by # v AB = # v A # vB (8)

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