1

Kinematics of a Particle
The subject of dynamics is classified into the following two branches:
1. Kinematics: In studying the kinematics, we only describe the motion of the particle
without considering the forces that act upon it, i. e, we study the variations of the
particle` s position, velocity, and acceleration with the time.

2. Kinetics: In kinetics, all the forces that act upon the particle are considered. We
first apply Newton`s second law of motion or the principle of work and energy to
determine the acceleration or the velocity of the particle, respectively, then, we
complete the analysis of the motion by studying the kinematics.

Rectilinear Motion
In rectilinear motion, the particle moves along a straight line, which is considered to be the
x axis. The kinematics of the motion is described as follows:

The position ( x ):

The position of the particle is defined by the distance x between the particle and a fixed
origin O on the straight line. The position may be positive (if the particle is to the right of
the origin ) or negative ( if it is to the left ). The position x varies with the time during the
motion, i. e,

x=(t)

where ( t ) is a certain function of the time t.

The velocity ( v ):
The instantaneous velocity of the particle ( its velocity at any instant ) is defined by the rate
of change of its position with respect to the time, i. e,

v=

dx
dt

The acceleration ( a ):
It is defined as the time rate of change of the particle`s velocity, i. e,

a=

dv
dt

In some cases, as we will see later, it will be necessary to substitute the acceleration in
the following mathematical form:

a=v

dv
dx

Which is derived as follows :

a=

dv dv dx

=
dt dx dt

a = v

dx
=v
dt

dv
dx

The displacement ( x ) :
The displacement of a particle during a certain time interval is defined as the change of
its position. If at a certain instant ti the corresponding position is xi and at another
instant tf ( tf > ti ) the corresponding position is xf then, the displacement that happened
during the time interval ( t = tf ti ) will be x = xf xi. The displacement x may be
positive or negative.

The distance traveled ( D ) :

The distance traveled during a time interval t is defined by the total length of the path
over which the particle travels. To determine the distance traveled during a certain time
interval t from t = ti up to t = tf, the following steps must be followed:
a- determine the position xi that corresponds to ti and xf that corresponds to xf.
b- substitute v = 0 into the relation ( v , t ) to determine the solutions of this algebraic
equation ( v = 0 ) , say t1 , t2,.
c- determine the corresponding positions that correspond to the instants t1, t2 , , that
are contained inside the time interval t.
d- plot, on the straight line, the values of the position x that correspond to the instants
ti , tf, t1, as shown and calculate the path length between each two successive
instants.
D = d1 + d2 + d3.

t2
x2

ti

t1

tf

xi

x1

xf

d1
d2
d3

Types of applications:
1. Differentiation problems:
Given: The relation between the position and the time ( x , t ).
Required: The velocity v and the acceleration f at any instant.

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Method of solution: By differentiating ( x , t ) we obtain (v , t ), then differentiating ( v ,
t ), we obtain ( a , t ).
Example ( 1 ):
A particle is moving along a straight line such that its position is given by :
x = t3 6t2 + 9t

m, where t is in seconds. Determine the distance traveled during the

first 2 seconds.

Solution:
x = t3 6t2 + 9t
v = dx / dt = 3t2 12t + 9
the distance traveled is determined as follows :
x0 = 0

x2 = ( 2 )3 6 ( 2 )2 + 9( 2 ) = 2 m

when v = 0 :
3t2 12t + 9 = 0

t2 4t + 3 = 0

(t1)(t3)=0

t = 1 sec or

t = 3 sec

the solution t = 3 sec. is outside the time interval from t = 0 to t = 2 sec., then we determine
the position x1 only.

x1 = 1 6 + 9 = 4 m

D=4+2=6m
t=0
x=0

t = 2 sec.

t = 1 sec.
x = 4m

x = 2m
4m
2m

2. Integration problems:
In the integration problems, the acceleration is given and the required is the position ( x
, t ), then we must execute two integration steps. To determine the constants of
integration, additional data must be given. Almost the initial conditions x0 , v0 are
given. According to the given data of the problem, the integration problems are
classified into four cases :
a Given: ( a , t ) and the initial conditions x0 , v0.
Required : ( x , t )
Method of solution : substitute a = dv / dt in the relation ( a , t ) , the first integration
step results in ( v , t ) , then substitute v = dx / dt in the relation ( v , t ) and integrate
again , the relation ( x , t ) will be obtained.
Example ( 2 ) :
A particle moves along a straight line such that its acceleration is given by:
a = 2t 6 m / s2, where t is in seconds. If the motion is started from the origin with a
velocity of 5 m / sec., determine the distance it travels during the first 6 seconds.
Solution:
a = dv / dt = 2t 6
v

dv = ( 2t 6 ) dt

dv = (2 t 6 )dt
5

v 5 = t2 6t

v = t2 6t + 5

dx / dt = t2 6t + 5

dx = ( t2 6t + 5 ) dt

dx = (t

6 t + 5 dt

t3
x=
3

- 3 t2 + 5 t

To determine the distance traveled during the interval from t = 0 up to t = 6 sec.:

x6 = ( 6 )3/3 - 3( 6 )2 + 5( 6 ) = - 6 m

x0 = 0
when v = 0 :

t2 6t + 5 = 0

( t 1 )( t 5 ) = 0
t = 1 sec.

x1 = 1/3 3 + 5 = 7/3 m
t = 5 sec.

or

t = 5 sec.

, x5 = ( 5 )3/3 - 3 ( 5 )2 + 5 ( 5 ) = - 25/3 m

t = 6 sec.
x6 = -6m

x5 = 25/3

t = 1sec.

t=0
x0 = 0
32/3

x1 = 7/3
7/3

7/3

D = 7/3 + 32/3 + 7/3 = 46/3 = 15.33 m

b- Given : ( a , x ) + v0 , x0

Required: ( x , t )
Method of solution : substitute a = vdv / dx in the relation ( a , x ), the first integration
step will result in ( v , x ), then substitute v = dx / dt in the relation ( v , x ) and integrate
again , the relation ( x , t ) will be obtained.

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Example ( 3 ) :
A car starts from rest and moves along a straight line with an acceleration of
a = 3x-1/3 m / s2 , where x is in meters. Determine the velocity and the position of the car
after 6 seconds.
Solution:

a = vdv / dx = 3 x - 1/3
v

vdv = 3 x - 1/3 dx

v
0

d v = 3 x - 1/3 dx

v2/2 = 3(3/2) x 2/3

v2 = 9 x 2/3

v = 3 x1/3

the positive sign is chosen because a + as

x 0 , so the motion starts in the

positive direction and continues in the same direction.

( v , x ).

v = 3x1/3 = dx / dt ,
0

x x-1/3 dx = 3 0 t dt

when t = 6 sec. :

x-1/3 dx = 3 dt

( 3/2 ) x2/3 = 3t

x = ( 12 )3/2 = 41.6 m,

x2/3 = 2t

x = ( 2t )3/2

v = 3x1/3 = 3 ( 41.6 )1/3 = 10.4 m/s

c: Given : ( a , v ) + v0 , x0
Required : ( x , t )
Solution : substitute a = dv/dt or a = vdv/dx
integrate twice to obtain ( x , t ).

according to the required relations and

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Example ( 4 ) :
A particle is moving along a straight line such that it starts from the origin with a velocity
of 4 m / sec. If it begins to decelerate at the rate of a = - 2v m / s2, where v is in m / s,
determine the distance it travels before it stops.
Solution :

a = dv/dt = - 2v
4

v dv/v = - 2 0 t dt

v = 4 e-2t
0

dv/v = - 2dt
,

v = dx/dt = 4 e-2t

x dx = 0 t 4 e-2t d.

ln v ln 4 = -2t = ln ( v / 4)

x = -2 ( e-2t - e0 )

x = 2 ( 1 e-2t ).
4 e-2t= 0

when v = 0 :

x = D = 2m
d Given : a = constant + v0 , x0
Required : ( v , t ) , ( x , t ) or/and ( x , t )
Solution : substitute directly in the following relations of constant acceleration motion :

v = v0 + at

x x0 = v0t + a t2 ,

v2 = v02 + 2a ( x x0 )

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Example ( 5 ) :
A car has an initial velocity of 25 m/s and moves with a constant deceleration of 3 m/s2.
Determine the velocity of the car after 4 seconds. What will be the displacement of the car
during this time interval .
Solution :

x0 = 0 , a = constant = - 3 m/s2

v0 = 25 m/s ,
v = v0 + at

v = 25 + ( - 3 ) * 4 = 13 m/s.

x x0 = x = vot + at2 = 25* 4 + ( -3 ) ( 4 )2 = 76 m.

Example (6 ):
A particle moves along a straight line with an acceleration a = - 4x m/s2

where x is in

meters. The initial conditions of the motion are : x0 = 0 , v0 = 4 m/s. Find the relations ( v , t )
, ( x , t ).
Solution :
v

vdv
a=
= 4 x
dx

v = 4 cos 2 t

Q v 0 = +4 m / s
x

dx
v = 2 4 x =
dt

x
) = 2t
2

v 2 = 16 4 x 2 = 4 4 x 2

sin 1 (

vdv = 4 xdx

v2 42
x2
= 4

2
2
2

v = 2 4 x 2

. v , t )

dx
4 x

x = 2 sin 2 t

= 2 dt
0

( x , t )

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Another solution :

Q a = 4 x = 2 x

where

= 2 rad / sec

The motion of the particle is a simple harmonic motion . The general solution of the simple
harmonic motion is :

x = A cos t + B sin t

x = A cos 2 t + B sin 2 t

(1)

v = 2 A sin 2 t + 2 B cos 2 t

(2)

Where A and B are constants to be determined .

To determine A and B , we substitute the initial conditions in the general solution .
When t = 0 , x = x0 = 0 . Substituting into eqn. ( 1 ) :
0=A*1 +0
When t = 0 ,
4 = 0 + 2B

A=0
v = v0 = 4 m/s . Substituting into eqn. ( 2 )
B=2

Substituting the values of A and B into the general solution , we obtain :

x = 2 sin 2 t

v = 4 cos 2 t

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SAMPLE PRPOBLEMS

7. Starting from the position x = +4 m, a particle moving in a straight line has

a velocity

v = 4 t ( t 1 ) (t 2 ) m / s , where

t is the time in seconds.

Determine the distance traveled by the particle:

during the first 1.5 seconds.

during the first 3 seconds.

SOLUTION
v = 4 t ( t 1)( t 2)
= 4t 3 12t 2 + 8t

..................(1)

With initial conditions :

t = 0 x = + 4 m .......................( 2)
dx
Q v = = 4 t 3 12t 2 + 8t
dt
x

dx = ( 4 t 3 12t 2 + 8t ) dt x 4 = t 4 4 t 3 + 4t 2
x = t 4 4 t 3 + 4t 2 + 4 ..............( 3)

Qa =

dv
= 12 t 2 24 t + 8 .......................( 4 )
dt
at v = 0 in ( 1 ) :

t = 0 ( initial moment )

, t = 1 sec

t = 2 sec

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x 1 = ( 1 )4 4( 1 ) 3 + 4 ( 1 ) 2 + 4 = 5 m

x 2 = ( 2 )4 4( 2 ) 3 + 4( 2 ) 2 + 4 = 4 m
a 1 = 12 ( 1 ) 2 24 ( 1 ) + 8 = 4 m / s 2 (reverse to left ) ,
a 2 = 12 ( 2 ) 2 24 ( 2 ) + 8 = + 8 m / s 2 ( reverse to right )

in ( 3 ) :

at : t = 1.5 sec

x 1.5 = ( 1.5 )4 4 ( 1.5 )3 + 4 ( 1.5 )2 + 4

x 1.5 = 4.56 m
at : t = 3 sec

in ( 3 ) :

x 3 = ( 3 )4 4 ( 3 ) 3 + 4 ( 3 ) 2 + 4
x 3 = 13 m
From the path plot showing the positions of the particle at the different
instants of time, the distance traveled by the particle during the first
1.5 seconds and during the first 3 seconds can be calculated as follows:
t=0 ,

t=1s

t=3 s
A

C
t=2s

4m
5m
13 m
4.56 m
t=1.5s

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D(T = 0 T = 1.5 ) = (5 4) + (5 4.56)

= 1.44 m ,

D( T = 0 T = 3 ) = (5 4) + (5 4) + (13 4) = 11 m

8. A particle moves along a straight line according to the relation between the
position x and the time t given by : x = 2 t3 24 t + 6 meters .Determine :

the time required till a velocity v = 72 m/s can be attained

the acceleration when v = 30 m / s
the distance traveled in the time interval t = 1 t = 4 sec
(Ans. : t = 4 sec ,

a = 36 m/s2

D = 122m)

SOLUTION
x = 2 t 3 24 t + 6
dx
v=
= 6 t 2 24
dt
dv
a=
= 12 t
dt

............................................................( 1 )
............................................................( 2 )
............................................................( 3 )

At v = 72 m/s in (2) : 72 = 6 t 2 24

t 2 = 16

t = 4 sec

At v = 30 m / s in (2) : 30 = 6 t 2 24

t2 = 9

t = 3 sec

in (3):
a = 12 ( 3 ) = 36 m / s 2

the distance traveled in the time interval t = 1 t = 4 sec :

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at v = 0 : in (2):

0 = 6 t 2 24

t = 2 sec ,

a = 12 ( 2 ) = + 24 m / s 2 ( reverse to the + ve direction )

at t = 1 : x = 2(1) 3 - 24(1) + 6

= - 16 m

at t = 2 : x = 2( 2) 3 - 24(2) + 6

= - 26 m

at t = 4 : x = 2(4) 3 - 24(4) + 6
D( t = 1 t = 4) = AB + BC

= + 86 m

= ( 26 16) + ( 26 + 86 )
= 122 m

t = 2s

t = 1s

t = 3s

t=0

(26-16)=10 m
16m
26m

26 + 86 = 112 m

C
86 m

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9. Starting from rest at x = + 8 m , a particle moves along a straight line

having an acceleration a = A 6 t 2 m / s 2 , where (t) in seconds. If after 1s
the velocity became v = + 30 m / s , determine the distance traveled in the
first five seconds.

SOLUTION

a = A 6 t 2 ........................( 1 )
The initial conditions are:

t=0

vo = 0

t = 1s

v1 = + 30 m / s

Qa =

xo = + 8 m ;

dv
= A 6t 2
dt

(
)
dv = (A 6 t ) dt

dv = A 6 t 2 dt
v

v = A t 2 t 3 .................( 2 )
at t = 1 s v 1 = +30 m / s in ( 2 ) :
30 = A 2

A = 32 m / s 2 in ( 2 ) ; ( 1 ) :
v = 32 t 2 t 3 ......................................( 3 )
a = 32 6 t 2 ..........................................( 4 )

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Qv =

dx
= 32 t 2 t 3 dx = ( 32 t 2 t 3 ) dt
dt

dx = ( 32 t 2 t 3 ) dt
t4
x = 16 t
+8
2
2

...................................( 5 )

in (3)

at v = 0

2 t ( 16 t 2 ) = 0

t = 4 sec in ( 5 ) , ( 4 ) :
( 4 )4
x 4 = 16 ( 4 )
+ 8 = 136 m ,
2
2

a 4 = 64 m / s 2 ( reverse to left )
in (5) :

at t = 5 s

( 5 )4
x 5 = 16 ( 5 )
+ 8 = 95.5 m
2
2

Distance traveled in first 5 secnds = AB + BC = ( 136 8 ) + ( 136 95.5 ) = 168.5 m

136 m
t=0

t= 4s

8m
O

B
A

C
t=5 s
95.5 m

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10.

Starting from the position x = + 15 m with a velocity

a particle moves along a straight line

a = ( 8 t + 4 ) m / s2 ,

( x , t ) , and
a trip of (

( , t ) . Determine the velocity of the particle at the end of

28
m ) distance traveled .
3

a = 8 t + 4 .............................................( 1 )

The initial conditions are:

t = 0 x 0 = + 15 m ; v o = 8 m / s

dv
= 8t + 4
dt

dv = ( 8 t + 4 ) dt

dv = ( 8 t + 4 ) d

v = 4 t 2 + 4 t 8 ................................( 2 )

v=

dx
=4t2 +4t 8
dt

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having an acceleration

where (t) in seconds. Determine the relations

SOLUTION

Qa =

o= 8 m / s ,

dx = ( 4 t 2 + 4 t 8 )dt

dx = ( 4 t 2 + 4 t 8 ) dt
4
x = t 3 + 2 t 2 8 t + 15 ...................( 3 )
3

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at v = 0 in ( 2 ) :

4 ( t 1 )( t + 2 ) = 0 t = 1 sec , x 1 =

31
m , a 1 = = +12 m / s 2 (Reverse to right)
3

31 14
28
= m ; AB + BC =
3 3
3
28 14 14
BC =

= m
3
3 3

AB = 15

xC = x A = 15 m
Subistituting x = 15 in ( 3 ) :
4
4
4
15 = t 3 + 2 t 2 8 t + 15 t ( t 2 + 2 t 8 ) = 0 ( t 2 + 2 t 8 ) = 0
3
3
3

2 + 4 + 4 ( 8 )(
t=

4
2( )
3

4
)
3 = 1.81 s

in ( 2 )

t=1

31
m
3

14
m
3

v = 12.34 m / s

t=0

A
C

15m

14
m
3
tC =1.81s

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11. A space ship is directed towards March planet where the radius is
(6400

km)

and

the

gravitation

acceleration

on

its

surface

is ( g M = 3.7 m / s 2 ) . When the ship is at altitude of 10000 km the

velocity of the ship is 20000 Km / hr . Determine the ship velocity at the

moment when it strikes the surface of March planet.

v A = 20000 km / h

16400km
10000km

vB

SOLUTION

+
6400km

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a=

C
y2

..............( 1 ) ,

y A = 16400 km , v A = 20000 km / h , y B = 6400 km

3.7 ( 3600 )2
g March =
= 47952 km / h 2
1000
at B : y = 6400 km , f = g March = 47952 in ( 1 ) :

47952 =

C
( 6400 )2

C = 47952 ( 6400 )2 = 40960000km 3 / h 2

v

6400
B
vdv
C
dy
a=
= 2 vdv = C
2
dy
y
20000
16400 y

1 2
1
1
{ v B ( 20000 )2 } = 40960000{
}

2
16400 6400
v B = 31840 km / h