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KINEMATICS

Kinematics is the branch of mechanics dealing with the motion of the bodies without
reference to either mass or force causing it.
A body is said to be at rest, When it is not changing its position with time, with respect to
the surrounding.
A body is said to be in motion. If it is changing its position with time, with respect to the
surroundings.
Uniform Velocity: If a body travels equal distances in equal intervals of time, however
small these intervals may be along a straight line in a particular direction; then it is said to
be moving with uniform velocity .
Acceleration: Acceleration in the rate of change of velocity of a particle.
Acceleration = Change velocity/Time.

Uniform Acceleration: If equal changes in velocity take place in equal intervals of time
however small these intervals of time may be then the body is said to be moving with
uniform acceleration.

Equation of motion of uniformly accelerated body along a straight line.

Let 'u' be its initial velocity i.e., the velocity at the start of the study of motion at t = 0
Let 'v' be its final velocity i.e., the velocity after time 't' has passed.
'a' its uniform acceleration and 's' is the distance travelled by it in time 't'
Particle: A Particle is a small portion matter without extent. Mathematically, it is denoted
by a point.
Scalar: Physical Quantity which has only magnitude and direction is known as vector
quantity.
ex: Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration, Force, Weight etc.
Distance and Displacement: The total length of the path of a particle. During its motions
is called the distance covered by it.
Suppose a particle has changed its position suppose a particle has changed from A
(initial Position) to the position B (Final Position) form following diagram.

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This may take place along any of the path shown. The distance travelled by the particle
along each path in different.
Distance in measured only in term of magnitude (length) and hence it is a scalar quantity.
Here the references to direction is no necessary.

Displacement: In the above figure, the straight path from A to B is called displacement. It is
the shortest distance between the initial and final positions of the particle.
Displacement is the change of position of a particle, measured along a straight line from
the initial to final position.
The change of position would have occurred by travelling along any of the paths. But the
magnitude of the displacement is always the length of the straight line joining initial and final
positions along which the particle may or may not have travelled and thus displacement is
independent of the path or distance travelled.
The Magnitude of displacement is length along a straight line. So the units of distance
and displacement are the same.
Speed and Velocity: Speed of a moving particle is the distance travelled in unit time. It
gives us no idea of the direction in which the particle is moving. Hence speed is a scalar
quantity.
If the speed of a body is considered along a straight line in a particular direction, then it
is called velocity.
Instantaneous Speed and Instantaneous Velocity

Instantaneous speed: If a particle travel a distance s in a time t, Where s and t are

infinitesimally small the ratio S/t in the average speed during the interval t. If the ratio
approaches a limit v as t tends to zero. (represented as t 0) then this limit is the
instantaneous speed of the particle
v = Lt
s
v = LT
t 0 t
Instantaneous Velocity: If a particle from A to B in the following figure, along the path ACB
during a short intervals of time t, the distance s travelled by the particle in r. As t
becomes smaller and smaller, the point B approaches coincides with the arc ACB. In the
limit as t 0
A

.
r
C

A
B
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r
The magnitude of t approaches the instantaneous velocity v of the particle and the
direction of the displacement coincides with the tangent to the path at A.
r
The limit of t as t 0 is called the instantaneous velocity v of the particle at A
r dr
=
t 0 t
dt

v = LT

If the instantaneous velocity at every point is constant during the motion of a particle, the
particle is serial to be moving with uniform velocity.

i) Motion of a stone thrown by a boy

ii) A bullet fired from a pistol
iii) A shot put thrown by an athlete

ex:

Projectiles:
A Projectile is an object which is given an initial velocity and is then allowed to move
under the action of gravity.

A projectile is an object in flight through the atmosphere or space, which is no longer

being propelled by any fuel. Thus a rocket is not a projectile central its propellant fuel burnt
out. The science of the motion.

An object can be projected either horizontally or obliquely (making an angle with the
Horizontal)

Horizontal Projection:
When a rifle is kept horizontally and fired, the bullet leaving the rifle will have two
velocities which are independent of each other.
i. The Uniform horizontal Velocity
ii. Vertical Velocity which is non-uniform due to acceleration due to gravity.
The horizontal velocity will be uniform when the air resistance is neglected.
The path taken by a projectile (called trajectory) is a parabola. This symmetric about y-axis.
Oblique Projection: If a body is projected with a velocity u at an angle s with the horizontal
as in the following diagram, the velocity can be resolved into two components
i) A Horizontal component ux = ucos
ii) A vertical component uy = usin

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B
C

vx=ux

vy

vx=ux

vx=ux

uy
vy

The horizontal component ux is not affected by the acceleration due to gravity and
remains constant, if the air resistance in neglected.
Time taken to attain maximum height by the projectile t1 =
u2 sin2
Maximum height attained (h) h =
2g

Time to flight (t) t =

2usin
g

Horizontal Range: RANGE =

u2 sin 2
g

Maximum horizontal range Maximumrange =

u2
g

First Equation: Acceleration = Change of Velocity / time

v u
t
or at = v u
or v = u + at
a=

Second equation: S = ut + 1/2 at2

Third equation : v2 u2 = 2as

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usin
g

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Distance Travelled in the nth second (Dn) = u + a(n 1/2)

The body moving under gravity will be subjected to uniform acceleration due to gravity 'g'.
Thus 'a' in above equation is replaced by 'g'. The bodies are moving vertical distnace(s)
is replaced by 'h'. Therefore the equations of motion a body moving under gravity are
given by
Bodies moving towards earth
a) V = u + gt
b. h = ut + 1/2 gt2
c. v2 u2 = 2gh

Bodies moving away

a. v = u gt
b. h = ut 1/2 gt2
c. v2 u2 = 2gh

If bodies are at rest then initial velocity (u) = 0

Equation of motion for a freely falling body the initial velocity 'u' = 0
v = gt .....................(1)
h = 1/2 gt2..............(2)
v2 = 2gh .................(3)

Equation of motion when body goes upwards its final velocity (v) = 0
Maximum height reached by the body, (Final Velocity) v = 0

h =

u2
2g

u2
=h
2g

using, v2 u2 = 2gh
(O)2 u2 = 2gh
or + u2 = + 2gh

Time of Ascent: The time taken by a body thrown up to reach maximum height 'h' is called
its time of Ascent.
t1 = u/g
Time of Descent: The time taken for a freely falling body to touch the ground is called 'time
of descent''
t2 = u/g
Time of flight (t): Time of flight in the time for which a body remains in the air and is given
by the sum of time of ascent and time of descent.
t = t1 + t2
=

u u
+
g g

t=

2u
g

For a freely falling body initial velocity (u) is zero.

For a freely falling body, the final velocity, (v) using
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v2

u2

= 2gh
v2 (0)2 = 2gh
or v2 = 2gh
or

v = 2gh

Very short Answer Questions

1. Write the equations of motion for a freely falling body.
- i) V = gt
ii) h = 1/2 gt2
iii) v2 = 2gh

2. Write the equation of motion for a body thrown upwards.

- i) u = gt
ii) h = ut 1/2 gt2
iii) u2 = 2gh

3. For a freely falling body 'g' is taken as positive. Why?

- In case of freely falling body, the direction of motion of body and the direction of
acceleration due to gravity (g) are same hence 'g' is taken as positive.

4. For a body thrown up 'g' is taken as negative. why?

- For a body thrown up, the direction of motion of body and direction of acceleration due
to gravity (g) are opposite. Hence 'g' is taken as negative.

5. Define the time of ascent.

- The time taken by the body thrown up to reach its maximum height is known as time of
ascent.

6. What is meant by time of descent?

- The time taken by the freely falling body to touch the ground is called time of descent.
7. Define time of flight?
- The time for which the body remains in air is called time of flight. It is equal to the sum
of time of ascent and time of descent.
i.e. t = 2u/g
Short Answers Questions
1. Define acceleration
- Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity
i.e. Acceleration = Change of Velocity/ Time
2. When the body is said to be in rest?
- A body said to be at rest, when it is not changing its position with time with respect to the
surroundings.
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1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Essay Questions
Obtain a formula to find the maximum height reached by a body when it is
projected vertically upwards with a velocity 'u'
A body is projected vertically upwards with an initial velocity 'u'
as the body moving upwards a = g
as the body thrown up, final velocity (v) = 0
Considering v2 u2 = 2gh
Substituting the values, (O)2 u2 = 2gh
(or) u2 = 2gh
(or) u2 = 2gh
(or) h = u2/2g

Hence maximum height attained by the body is directly proportional to the square of the
initial velocity.

2. Show that the time of ascent in equal to the time of descent.

a. The time taken by a body thrown up to reach maximum height 'h' is called its time of
ascent (t1)
b. At maximum height, its velocity (v) = 0
c. Using V = u gt,
d. Substituting, v = 0
we get u = gt
(or) t = u/g
i.e. t1 = u/g..........................................(1)

e. The time taken by freely falling body to touch the ground is called the time descent (t2)
f. At maximum height 'h', initial velocity (u) = 0
g. Considering h = ut + 1 / 2gt 22

(or)

t 22 =

2h
t2 =
g

2h
g

................................(2)

u2
h. But we know that h =
2g

substituting this in (2)

t2 =

2 u2

g 2g

(or)
u2 u
h= 2 =
g
g

..........................................(3)

i. From (1) and (3) we observe that time of ascent is equal to time of descent.
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3. Derive a formula for the velocity on reaching the ground when a body is dropped
from height h
a. For a freely falling body, its initial velocity u = 0
b. Let the time taken to reach the ground be 't' and final velocity be v.
c. Using equation of motion v2 u2 = 2gh
d. Substituting the values
v2 0 = 2gh
(or) v2 = 2gh
(or)

v = 2gh

ii) Time of Ascent (t1) = u/g

= 10/10
= 1 sec

u2
102
= 5m
(h) = =
2g 2 10

maximum height reached

Problems with Solutions

1. A stone is thrown vertically up with an initial velocity of 10 ms1. Find maximum
height reached and the time of ascent.
(Take g = 10ms2)
- As the stone thrown vertically final velocity v = 0
v=0
u = 10ms1
i) g = 10ms2

2. A ball is thrown up and attains maximum height of 80 m. Find its initial speed?
(Take g = 10ms1)
- Maximum height reached = 80m
g = 10ms1
consider formula for maximum height reached
h = u2/2g
80 = u2/2 10
(or) u2 = 80 2 10
u = 1600

u = 40 ms1
3. A stone is dropped from the top of a building and is found to reach ground in 1
second. Find the height of the building. (Take g = 10ms 2)
- For a freely falling body, initial velocity (u) = 0
Time of descent (t) = 1 sec
using h = ut + 1/2 gt2
h = 0(1) + 1/2 (10) (1)2
(or) h = 1/2 10
h = 5m
Hence height of building = 5m
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I. Choose the correct Answers

1. When a body thrown up, its final velocity is
b) 9.8 m/s2
c) 9.8 m/s
a) 9.8 m/s2

d) 0

2. Maximum height reached

a) t =

2h
g

u2
b) h =
2g

c) h =

u2
b) 2g

c)

2u
d) h = g

u
g

3. Time of flight
2g
u

d)

u
g

2u
a)
g

4. When a body is dropped from a height its final velocity is

b) v = gh

5. Unit of acceleration is
a) ms1
b) ms2

c) v= 2gh

a) v = 2gh

c) ms2

d) v= gh

d) ms1

5.
6.
7.

III.
1.
1.
2.
3.
4.

4.

Fill in the blanks

When a body moves towards the earth acceleration due to gravity is taken as ____
When a body is projected upwards the acceleration due to gravity is taken as ______
When a body is dropped from a height 'h', the velocity of the body on reaching the earth
is ______
Maximum height reached by a body when it is projected upwards with a velocity 'u' is
_____
Time of ascent is directly proportional to ______
For a body moving under the influence of gravity, time of ascent is equal to ______
A body projected vertically upwards with a initial velocity of 40 m/s. The maximum height
reached by the body is _____ (g = 10ms 2)

II.
1.
2.
3.

6. A body is projected vertically upwards with a velocity 20 m/s. The maximum height
reached by the body is (Take g = 10)
a) 20m
b) 200 m
c) 40 m
d) 10 m

Match the following

Group A
Time of Ascent
()
Time of descent ()
Time of flight
()
Maximum height ()

5. Final velocity

()

Group B
A. h = u2/2g
B. 2u/g
C. u/g
D. gt
E. v = 2gh
F. 2h / g
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Answers
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

d
b
a
a
b
a

II.
1. Positive
2. Negative

u2
2g

4. h =

3. v = 2gh

K
A

C
F
B
A
E

III.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

5. initial Velocity
6. Time of descent
7. 800 m/s

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