Kinematics: Describing Motion

Kinematics describes the motion of objects. Some Definitions: Displacement ( ) - change in the objects position; measured in metres eg. A B distance travelled Its magnitude is the shortest distance from A to B. Velocity ( ) - change in the objects position over a time interval of 1 s; measured in m/s (rate of change of displacement) eg. Acceleration ( ) - change in the objects velocity over a unit length of time; measured in m/s2 (m/s/s) (rate of change of velocity) eg. Average Velocity and Instantaneous Velocity Average velocity is defined as the total displacement of the object over the time interval of that displacement. We need 2 points to determine the average velocity. In the special case of uniform motion, when the acceleration of the object is constant, Uniform motion is a straight line on a velocity-time graph (vf is final velocity, vi is initial velocity). Average since

Instantaneous Velocity is the velocity of the object at a specific moment in time. Being a vector, it has direction. Generally a positive value implies that this vector is in the direction of the positive x-axis (right) or the positive y-axis (up). If not stated, we will assume moving forward as the positive direction.

We need 1 point to determine the instantaneous velocity. We can determine the instantaneous velocity from the slope of the d-t graph at that moment: when , the object is not moving at that instant. Describing Motion with Graphs The Displacement-Time Graph

d(m) 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 A 2 4 6 E F 8 10 G 12 14 B C D t(s)

A. B. C. D. E. F. G.

At rest. Moving forward with a uniform velocity of +2 m/s. At rest. Moving backward with a uniform velocity of 1 m/s. Object continues moving backward, past the origin, at a uniform velocity of 1 m/s. Starting from rest Velocity increases as the object accelerates uniformly.

The Velocity-Time Graph v(m/s) 3 2 1 0 1 2 * t(s) 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

*virtually vertical, very steep slope In this specific motion, called uniform motion, the velocity changes at a constant rate - constant acceleration.

Uniform Motion 1. Zero acceleration - object moving with constant velocity or object at rest. 2. Non-zero acceleration - eg. acceleration due to gravity: Displacement and the Velocity-Time Graph v(m/s) t(s) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2 1

2 1 0

v(m/s) t(s) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Note: If the graph is below the time axis, the area between the line and the axis is a negative displacement. This means the object is travelling backward. Area Under a Curve

Area of Trapezoid ( )

Velocity from a Distance-Time Graph

0 Example 1: Determine the instantaneous velocity of the object at t = 2 s.

2 1 0

t(s) 1 2 3 4 5 (Note: this velocity is constant from 0 s to 3 s)

Example 2: Determine the instantaneous velocity at t = 3 s. TANGENT

5 4 3 2 1

t(s) 0 1 2 3 4 5

A tangent is a line which meets the curve at just one point in that vicinity. Vicinity: Slope at this point on the curve is given by the slope of the tangent.

tangent

Describing Motion with Equations Just as the slope on a d-t graph gives us the instantaneous velocity of the object, the slope on a v-t graph gives us its acceleration. Remember that acceleration is the change in velocity over a specific time interval:

Displacement can be determined by the area under the v-t graph since (for constant , ). For uniform motion (constant acceleration or constant velocity), the lines are straight on the v-t graph so ( )

From these two equations of motion, we can solve them simultaneously to derive the remaining two equations of uniform motion: ) ( ( )( ) ( )

( )

An Easy Equation of Motion Problem

Martin is able to run the 100 m dash in 13.5 s. Assuming he starts from rest and runs with constant acceleration (ie. uniform motion), calculate a) his acceleration Known Solution

Unknown Basic Equation

b) his velocity as he crosses the finish line Known Basic Equation Solution Unknown

Motion Problems with Multiple Parts Rock

The Coyote waits behind a rock as the Roadrunner runs past with a constant velocity of 21 m/s. Just as the Roadrunner runs past, the Coyote accelerates from rest at 3.0 m/s2. a) How long would it take the Coyote to catch up with the Roadrunner so that he is just on his tail? b) How far from the rock would the Coyote have gone? c) How fast is the Coyote moving at this point? Known Coyote: Roadrunner:

Solutions a) When the Coyote catches up to the Roadrunner, they will have travelled the same distance:

b) rock:

The Coyote would have gone 290 m from the

C 14 s

c)

The Coyote is moving at 42 m/s by this point:

Free-fall When an object is thrown up or down or just released, its motion is affected by the force of gravity. This force causes the object to accelerate with a value , where g is the acceleration due to gravity. Since this acceleration is constant (uniform motion) near the surface of the earth, we can use the equations of motion to solve free-fall problems. Example 3: A tennis ball is thrown upward and it takes 1.0 s for it to hit the ground 1.4 m below where it leaves the hand. Calculate the velocity of the ball as it leaves the hand. Known Basic Equation Solution Unknown

Example 4: You drop a penny into a well and you hear the penny hit the water 1.0 s after releasing the penny. How deep is the well? Penny: Sound:

Example 5: As you toss a tennis ball upward, it leaves your hand 2.0 m above the ground and remains in the air for 2.5 s. a) Calculate the velocity at which the tennis ball leaves your hand. Known Basic Equation Solution Unknown

b) Calculate the maximum height gained by the ball. Solution: At its maximum height, the ball will have a velocity of 0 m/s for a brief moment.

c) Calculate the time it takes for the tennis ball to reach the maximum height.

d) Calculate the velocity just as it reaches the ground.

Example 6: A lifesaving float is dropped from the helicopter rising at 0.50 m/s as shown. Calculate the speed at which it hits the water 8.0 m below. Assume air resistance is negligible.

Known Solution

Unknown Basic Equation

Page 84 Problem 25 (2 part problem) A driver of a car going 90.0 km/h suddenly sees the lights of a barrier 40.0 m ahead. It takes the driver 0.75 s before she applies the brakes, and the average acceleration during braking is -10.0 m/s2. a) Determine if the car hits the barrier. Does it stop within 40.0 m?

Known Solution

Unknown Basic Equation

Known Solution There is a collision!

Unknown Basic Equation

b) What is the maximum speed at which the car could be moving and not hit the barrier 40.0 m ahead? Assume the acceleration rate doesnt change.

Known

Unknown Basic Equations

Solution