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Kinematics
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to the original position, the motion would never result in a
change in position.
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Example
Instantaneous Speed
Constant Speed
Moving objects don't always travel with erratic and changing
speeds. Occasionally, an object will move at a steady rate
with a constant speed. That is, the object will cover the same
distance every regular interval of time. If the speed is
constant, then the distance traveled every second is the
same.
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Acceleration
Acceleration is a vector quantity which is defined as
"the rate at which an object changes its velocity." An
object is accelerating if it is changing its velocity.
Constant Acceleration
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1-2s 15 m/s 15 m 20 m
2-3 25 m/s 25 m 45 m
3-4s 35 m/s 35 m 80 m
Calculating
Acceleration
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• when the object is slowing down it is given a negative
(–) direction
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Describing Motion with Position vs. Time
Graphs
The Meaning of Slope for a p-t Graph
Example 2
Consider a car moving with a
constant velocity of +5 m/s
for 5 seconds, stopping
abruptly, and then remaining
at rest (v = 0 m/s) for 5
seconds.
Note that for the first five seconds, the line on the graph
goes up 5 meters along the vertical (position) axis for every
1 second along the horizontal (time) axis. Note also that
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during the last 5 seconds (5 to 10 seconds), the line goes up
0 meters. That is, the slope of the line is 0 m/s — the same
as the velocity during this time interval.
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So that was easy — rise over run
is all that is involved.
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positive direction and speeding up, it is said to have a
positive acceleration.
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The Principle of Slope for a v-t
Graph
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Example 1
The velocity-time data and graph would look like the table
and graph below. Note that the line on the graph is
horizontal. That is, the slope of the line is 0 m/s/s. Here, it is
obvious that the slope of the line (0 m/s/s) is the same as the
acceleration (0 m/s/s) of the car.
Example 2
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Consider a car moving with a changing velocity. A car which
moves with a changing velocity has an acceleration.
The velocity-time data for this motion shows that the car has
an acceleration of +10 m/s/s. A graph of this velocity-time
data would look like the graph below. Note that the line on
the graph is diagonal — that is, it has a slope. The slope of
this line, when calculated, is 10 m/s/s. Once again, the slope
of the line (10 m/s/s) is the same as the acceleration (10
m/s/s) of the car.
Example 3
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slope of the line and the corresponding acceleration value
during each four-second interval.
Time (s)
Velocity
(m/s)
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 4
6 6
7 8
8 10
a. t = 0 - 1
second
b. t = 1 - 4
seconds
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c. t = 4 - 12 seconds
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Determining the Slope on a v-t Graph
The slope of the line on a velocity vs. time graph is equal to
the acceleration of the object.
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2. Determine the difference in y-coordinates of these two
points (rise).
5. Slope = rise/run.
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takes on the shape of a rectangle whose area can be
calculated using the appropriate equation.
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Calculating the Area of a
Triangle
The shaded triangle on the velocity-time
graph, has a base of 4 seconds and a
height of 40 m/s.
Area of triangle:
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Area of trapezoid:
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Rectangle: Area = (2 s) * (10 m/s) = 20 m
Trapezoid: Area = 20 m + 20 m = 40 m
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• between B and C, the train slows down. Slowing down
can also be called negative acceleration, or
deceleration. It is given a minus sign.
• triangle OAX;
• rectangle ABXY;
• triangle BCY.
What is:
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We can work out the speed at any instant by measuring the
gradient of the distance time graph. The curved line tells
us that the speed is changing.
Key Words
Speed, distance, velocity, displacement, acceleration,
time
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1. Distance is how far you travel between any two points
by any route. It is a scalar quantity.
2. Displacement is the minimum “as the crow flies”
distance between two points. It is a vector quantity,
so it has direction.
3. Speed is how fast you go, the rate of change of
distance.
4. Velocity is rate of change of displacement. It must
have a direction.
5. Acceleration can be used as both a vector and a
scalar quantity. It is the rate of change of speed or
velocity.
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t = time (seconds)
v - u is the change in velocity
1.
2.
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4.
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Introduction to Free Fall
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.
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Observe that the line on the graph is a straight, diagonal
line. A diagonal line on a velocity vs. time graph
signifies an accelerated motion. Since a free-falling object is
undergoing an acceleration of g = 10 m/s/s (approximate
value), you would expect that its velocity-time graph would
be diagonal. A closer look at the velocity-time graph reveals
that the object starts with a zero velocity (starts from rest)
and finishes with a large, negative velocity; that is, the
object is moving in the negative direction and speeding up.
An object which is moving in the negative direction and
speeding up is said to have a negative acceleration. Since
the slope of any velocity vs. time graph is the acceleration of
the object, the constant, negative slope indicates a constant,
negative acceleration.
How Fast?
The velocity of a free-falling object which has been dropped
from a position of rest is dependent upon the length of time
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for which it has fallen. The formula for determining the
velocity of a falling object after a time of t seconds is:
v=g*t
where g is the acceleration of gravity.
Example
t=6s
v = (10 m/s2) * (6 s) = 60 m/s
t=8s
v = (10 m/s2) * (8 s) = 80 m/s
How Far?
The distance which a free-falling object has fallen from a
position of rest is also dependent upon the time of fall. The
distance fallen after a time of t seconds is given by the
formula below:
d = 0.5 * g * t2
where g is the acceleration of gravity (approximately 10
m/s/s on Earth; its exact value is 9.8 m/s/s). The equation
above can be used to calculate the distance traveled by the
object after a given amount of time.
Example
t=1s
d = (0.5) * (10 m/s2) * (1 s)2 = 5 m
t=2s
d = (0.5) * (10 m/s2) * (2 s)2 = 20 m
t=5s
d = (0.5) * (10 m/s2) * (5 s)2 = 125 m
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2. A brick falls off the top of a wall under construction and
drops into a bed of sand 14.5 m below. It makes a dent in
the sand 185 mm deep. What is:
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1. Tiredness: Your brain thinks slower - you will not be
able to apply the brakes as quickly.
2. Alcohol : Being under the influence - even legally -
seriously alters how well you can judge hazards.
Your body also moves less accurately. Late or
missed braking results!
3. Drugs : Most drugs make you less alert and less
aware of hazards. Even legal pain-killers and hay-
fever tablets can seriously affect reaction times.
4. Distractions : In-car distractions (e.g. very loud
music, mobile phones, crying babies, etc.) take
your mind off the road ahead.
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distance is the thinking distance added to the braking
distance.
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