Kinematics

Kinematics (Greek knein, to move) is a branch of

mechanics which describes the motion of objects without
the consideration of the masses or forces that bring about
the motion.
Kinematics studies how the position of an object changes
with time.
Position / Displacement is measured with respect to a set
of coordinates.
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement.
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
1
Find the velocity from the s – t graph.
s/m
40 Velocity = slope of s – t graph

30 = (s2 – s1)/(t2 – t1)

= (40 – 0)/(4 – 0)
20
= 10 ms-1
10

0 1 2 3 4
t/s

2
Find the velocity from the s – t graph.
Velocity = slope of s – t graph
s/m
=?
40 Slope of a
curve?
30
20 You must learn
limit and
10 differentiation.

0 1 2 3 4
t/s

3
Limit
 Principal = $1 Interest rate = 100% p.a.
 Find the total amount of money after 1 year.

(1) Interest compounded yearly. $2

(2) Interest compounded half-yearly. $ 2.25
(3) Interest compounded quarterly. $ 2.44140625
(4) Interest compounded monthly. $ 2.61303529
(5) Interest compounded daily. $ 2.714567475

Total amount = 1(1+1/n)n

Maximum amount = lim 1(1+1/n)n = 2.718281828 … = e

n→∞
4
 Slope of a curve (limit and differentiation)

y Slope is changing along a curve.

i.e. slope at P ≠ slope at Q
Q
Dy Slope at P
P = lim Dy/Dx
Dx Dx → 0

= dy/dx
x

5
 Velocity = rate of change of displacement

Displacement s Velocity = slope of s – t graph

= lim Ds/Dt
Dt → 0
Ds
Dt = ds/dt

Time t Average velocity = Ds/Dt

6
 Acceleration = rate of change of velocity

velocity v Acceleration = slope of v – t graph

= lim Dv/Dt
Dt → 0
Dv
Dt = dv/dt
Average acceleration = Dv/Dt

Time t

7
Summary
 Velocity
= rate of change of displacement
= ds/dt
 Acceleration
= rate of change of velocity
= dv/dt
 Other examples:
rate of change of weight = dW/dt
rate of change of volume = dV/dt

8
Displacement s

v>0 v=0
v>0

v=0
v<0

Time t

9
10
Equations for uniform acceleration

 a = (v – u)/t ⇒ v = u + at --- (1)

 Average velocity = (u + v)/2
s/t = (u + v)/2
s = (u + v)t/2 --- (2)
 s = (u + u + at)t/2 ⇒ s = ut + ½ at2 --- (3)
 s = (u + v)[(v – u)a]/2 ⇒ 2as = v2 – u2 --- (4)

11
Displacement = Area under v – t graph
 Area under v – t graph = sum of all rectangles
= lim SvDt
Dt → 0
t2
=∫vdt v
t1

t1 t2
t
Dt

12