MECHANICS

Kinematics of Particles:

Kinematics is the study of the geometry of motion; is used to

relate displacement, velocity, acceleration and time, without
reference to the cause of motion.

Motion in One Dimension

Basic References:
Tipler, P. and Mosca, G.(2004) Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Vth Ed. Freeman and
Company
Beer, F. and Jonhston, E. R. (2007) Vector Mechanics for Engineers. McGraw-Hill
 MECHANICS
Kinematics of Particles
Motion in One Dimension

Displacement, Velocity,
and Speed
Position, Displacement, Velocity and Speed Motion in One Dimension

Position xi. is defined

by a frame of reference

Displacement: The change in the position of particle, m

Velocity: The rate at which the position change, m/s

ds Traveled distance: s

dt total distance traveled
Average speed:
s
ratio of the total distance traveled
to the total time from start to finish
t
ds
Instantaneous speed
dt
Average and Instantaneous velocity. Motion in One Dimension

The
magnitude of
ds
 the
dt instantaneous
velocity is the
instantaneous
speed
Average and Instantaneous velocity. Motion in One Dimension

Speed, being a scalar quantity, is the rate at which an

object covers distance. The average speed is the

distance (a scalar quantity) per time ratio. Speed is

ignorant of direction. On the other hand, velocity is a

The
magnitude of
vector quantity; it is direction-aware. the
instantaneous
velocity is the
instantaneous
speed
 MECHANICS
Kinematics of Particles
Motion in One Dimension

Acceleration
Acceleration Motion in One Dimension

Acceleration is the rate of the change of instantaneous velocity

Average acceleration, m/s2

 
dx  
dv d dt d 2 x
 2 Instantaneous acceleration, m/s2
dt dt dt

Motion under constant acceleration, a = aav = constant; uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion

v  vo  at
v 2  vo2  2ax
1 2
x  x  xo  vt  at
2
Practical Case: Objects in Free- fall “falling freely under the influence of gravity only”
“Near the earth´s surface all unsupported objects fall vertically with constant
acceleration (provided air resistance is negligible) Gravity acceleration ~ 9,81 m/s2.
Derivations
Relative Motion of two particles Motion in One Dimension

xA xB Relative position coordinate xB / A  x B  x A

of B with respect to A

Relative velocity of B with respect to A vB / A  v B  v A

Relative acceleration of B with respect to A aB / A  aB  a A

Dependent motions
The motions of particles are linked,
they are not independent
Examples: Pulleys and objects linked
by inextensible strings
2 xB  x A  Constant
2 vB  v A  0
2 aB  a A  0
Problems

A student throws her cap straight upward with an initial speed of 14.7 m/s. (a) How long does it
take it highest point; (b) What is the distance to the highest point ? (c) Assuming the cup is
caught at the same height from which it was released, what is the total time the cap is in flight?
Problems

A ball is thrown
vertically upward from
the 12-m level in an
elevator shaft with an
initial velocity of 18
m/s. At the same
instant an open-
platform elevator
passes the 5-m level,
moving upward with a
constant velocity of 2
m/s. Determine (a)
when and where the
ball will hit the
elevator, (b) the
relative velocity of the
ball with respect to the
elevator when the ball