KINEMATICS: ∆𝒙 𝒅𝒙

ONE DIMENSIONAL MOTION 𝒗𝒙 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = = 𝒗(𝒕)

∆𝒕→𝟎 ∆𝒕 𝒅𝒕
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO) Average acceleration: the change in velocity divided by
• Describe the motion of a body in terms of position, the time interval during which that change occurs.
velocity, and acceleration.
• Relate displacement and time to velocity and ∆𝒗 𝒗𝒇 − 𝒗𝒊
acceleration. ⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒆 =
𝒂 =
• Apply calculus in deriving motion equations.
∆𝒕 𝒕𝒇 − 𝒕𝒊
• Interpret motion graphs.
Instantaneous acceleration: the limit of the average
Kinematics - is the science of describing the motion of acceleration as approaches zero.
objects using words, diagrams, numbers, graphs, and
∆𝒗 𝒅𝒗
equations. 𝒂𝒙 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = = 𝒂(𝒕)
∆𝒕→𝟎 ∆𝒕 𝒅𝒕
One dimensional motion – is a motion along a straight
line. 𝒅𝒙
𝐝𝐯 𝒅 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝟐 𝒙
𝒂= = =
Position: the location of the particle with respect to a 𝐝𝐭 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
chosen reference point that we can consider to be the
1. A particle moves along the x-axis. Its position varies
origin of a coordinate system.
with time according to the expression (𝑡) = −4𝑡 + 2𝑡 2 ,
Distance: is a scalar quantity and it is the length of a where x is in meters and t is in seconds.
path followed by a particle. a.) Determine the displacement of the particle in the
time intervals t = 0 to t = 1 s and t = 1 s to t = 3 s.
Displacement: - is a vector quantity and it is the change
between the starting point and final point.

∆𝒙 = 𝒙𝒇 − 𝒙𝒊

Speed is the rate of change of a distance.

Velocity is the rate of change of a displacement.

Average speed: a scalar quantity, defined as the total b.) Calculate the average velocity during these two time
distance traveled divided by the total time interval intervals.
required to travel that distance.

𝒅 𝒅
𝒗𝒂𝒗𝒆 = =
∆𝒕 𝒕
Average velocity: the particle’s displacement divided by
the time interval during which that displacement
occurs. c.) Find the instantaneous velocity of the particle at t =
2.5 s.
∆𝒙 𝒙𝒇 − 𝒙𝒊
⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒆 =
𝒗 =
∆𝒕 𝒕𝒇 − 𝒕𝒊
Instantaneous velocity: the rate of motion of a particle
or object at a given time.

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2. The velocity of a particle moving along the x-axis
varies according to the expression 𝑣𝑥 = 40 − 5𝑡 2
where t is in seconds.
a.) Find the average acceleration in the time interval
t=0s to t=2s .
b.) Determine the acceleration at t=2s.
c.) Determine the average velocity in the time interval
t=0s to t=2s .
3. Find the displacement, average velocity, and average
speed of the car between position A and F as described
by the table.
PHYS001C-PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS by PMSJR/RVC/CMC
KINEMATIC EQUATIONS
The kinematic equations are a set of equations
that can be utilized to predict unknown information
about an object's motion if other information is known.
Each of the kinematic equations include four variables.
If the values of three of the four variables are known,
then the value of the fourth variable can be calculated.
In this manner, the kinematic equations provide a
useful means of predicting information about an
object's motion if other information is known.
Kinematics Equation 1:
Kinematics Equation 2:
Kinematics Equation 3:
where: ∆𝑥 = 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡.
𝑡 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑑.
𝑎 = 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡.
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡.
𝑣𝑖 = 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡.
Page 2
1. A bus is moving at 25 m/s when the driver steps on
the brakes and brings the bus to a stop in 3.0 s. What is
the acceleration of the bus while braking?
2. A golf ball rolls up a hill toward a miniature-golf hole.
Assign the direction toward the hole as being positive. If
the ball starts with a speed of 2.0 m/s and slows at a
constant rate of 0.50 m/s2, what is its velocity after 2.0
s?
3. A race car accelerates uniformly from 18.5 m/s to
46.1 m/s in 2.47 seconds. Determine the acceleration of
the car and the distance traveled.
4. Lawrence is approaching a stoplight moving with a
velocity of +30.0 m/s. The light turns yellow, and
Lawrence applies the brakes and skids to a stop. If
Lawrence’s acceleration is -8.00 m/s2, then determine
the displacement of the car during the skidding process
and the time the car will stop.
PHYS001C-PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS by PMSJR/RVC/CMC
5. A car traveling at a constant speed of 45.0 m/s passes
a trooper on a motorcycle hidden behind a billboard.
One second after the speeding car passes the billboard,
the trooper sets out from the billboard to catch the car,
accelerating at a constant rate of 3.00 m/s^2. How long
does it take her to overtake the car?
FREELY FALLING BODIES
Free fall is the motion of an object under the
influence of only gravity. The velocity change is the
same in each time interval, so the acceleration is
constant. Aristotle thought that heavy bodies fall faster
than light ones, but Galileo showed that all bodies fall at
the same rate. If there is no air resistance, the
downward acceleration of any freely falling object is g =
9.8 m/s2 = 32 ft/s2. An object is in free fall even when it
is moving upward. Refer to the figure for up-and-down
motion.
Page 3
KINEMATIC EQUATIONS FOR FREELY FALLING BODIES 4. A stone thrown from the top of a building is given an
initial velocity of 20.0 m/s straight upward. The building
𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊 + 𝒈𝒕 (𝟏) is 50.0 m high, and the stone just misses the edge of the
roof on its way down, as shown in the figure.
𝒈𝒕𝟐
∆𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒕 + (𝟐)
𝟐

𝒗𝒇 𝟐 = 𝒗𝒊 𝟐 + 𝟐𝒈∆𝒚 (𝟑)

1. Luke drops a pile of roof shingles from the top of a

roof located 8.52 meters above the ground. Determine
the time required for the shingles to reach the ground.

2. Rex throws his mother's crystal vase vertically

upwards with an initial velocity of 26.2 m/s. Determine
a.) Using 𝑡𝐴 = 0 as the time the stone leaves the
the height to which the vase will rise above its initial
thrower’s hand at position 𝐴, determine the time at
height.
which the stone reaches its maximum height.

b. ) Find the maximum height of the stone.

3. The boy drops the ball from a roof of the house which
takes 3 seconds to hit the ground. Calculate the velocity c.) Determine the velocity of the stone when it returns
to the height from which it was thrown.
before the ball crashes to the ground. How high is the
roof?

d.) Find the velocity and position of the stone at t = 5.00

s.

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 KINEMATICS:
TWO AND THREE DIMENSIONAL MOTION

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO)

 Find the position, velocity and acceleration
using unit vectors
 Describe and compare the motion of a body
thrown horizontally to that of in free fall
 Derive working equations for horizontally- Instantaneous Velocity: the derivative of the position
launched projectile vector with respect to time and direction at any point in
a particles path is along a line tangent to the path at
 Study the elements of projectile motion
that point.
 Determine the relationship of the angle of
projection on the range at a given initial
⃗
∆𝒓 𝒅𝒓
velocity. ⃗ = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒗 =
∆𝒕→𝟎 ∆𝒕 𝒅𝒕
Motion in Two Dimensions
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚
Kinematic variables in one dimension ⃗ =
𝒗 𝒊̂ + 𝒋̂
 Position: x(t) m 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
 Velocity: v(t) m/s
⃗ =𝒗
𝒗 ⃗ 𝒙 𝒊̂ + 𝒗
⃗ 𝒚 𝒋̂
 Acceleration: a(t) m/s2
Average acceleration: change in its instantaneous
Kinematic variables in three dimensions
velocity vector divided by the time interval ∆𝑡 during
 Position: 𝑟(𝑡) = 𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑧𝑘̂ , 𝑚 which changes occurs
 Velocity: 𝑣 (𝑡) = 𝑣𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑣𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑣𝑧 𝑘̂ , 𝑚/𝑠
 Acceleration: 𝑎(𝑡) = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ , 𝑚/𝑠 2 ⃗
∆𝒗 ∆𝒗𝒙 ∆𝒗𝒚
⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈 =
𝒂 = 𝒊̂ + 𝒋̂
∆𝒕 ∆𝒕 ∆𝒕
Position vectors : the position of an object is described
by its position vector - always points to particle from ⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈 = 𝒂
𝒂 ⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈𝒙 𝒊̂ + 𝒂
⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈𝒚 𝒋̂
origin.
Instantaneous acceleration: The derivative of the
velocity vector with respect to time.

∆𝒗 𝒅𝒗
⃗ = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒂
𝒂 ⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 =
∆𝒕→𝟎 ∆𝒕→𝟎 ∆𝒕 𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒗𝒙 𝒅𝒗𝒚
⃗ =
𝒂 𝒊̂ + 𝒋̂
Displacement vector: difference between its final 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
position vector and its initial position vector but making
⃗ = 𝒂𝒙 𝒊̂ + 𝒂𝒚 𝒋̂
𝒂
use of the full vector notation rather than positive and
negative signs to indicate the direction of motion.

∆𝒓 ⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝒓𝟐 − ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝒓𝟏  The direction of the velocity can change, even
⃗ = (𝒙𝟐 𝒊̂ + 𝒚𝟐 𝒋̂) − (𝒙𝟏 𝒊̂ + 𝒚𝟏 𝒋̂)
∆𝒓 though the magnitude is constant
∆𝒓⃗ = ∆𝒙𝒊̂ − ∆𝒚𝒋̂  Both the magnitude and the direction can
change
Average velocity: the displacement vector of the Motion in two dimensions
particle divided by the time interval Motions in each dimension are independent
⃗
∆𝒓 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 components
⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈 =
𝒗 = 𝒊̂ + 𝒋̂ 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎̂𝑡
∆𝒕 ∆𝒕 ∆𝒕 1
𝑟 − ⃗𝑟𝑖 = ⃗⃗𝑣⃗𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈 = 𝒗
𝒗 ⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈𝒙 𝒊̂ + 𝒗
⃗ 𝒂𝒗𝒈𝒚 𝒋̂ 2

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Constant acceleration equations 2. A golf ball is hit off a tee at the edge of a cliff. Its x
𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝒊𝒙 + 𝒂𝒙 𝒕 𝒗𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊𝒚 + 𝒂𝒚 𝒕 and y coordinates as functions of time are given by the
1 2 1 following expressions:
∆𝒙 = 𝒗𝒙𝒊 𝒕 + 2 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 ∆𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊𝒚 𝒕 + 2 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2
𝑥 = (18.0 𝑚/𝑠)𝑡
𝒗𝒇𝒙 𝟐 = 𝒗𝒊𝒙 𝟐 + 𝟐𝑎𝑥 ∆𝑥 𝒗𝒇𝒚 𝟐 = 𝒗𝒊𝒚 𝟐 + 𝟐𝑎𝑦 ∆𝑦 𝑦 = (4.00 𝑚/𝑠)𝑡 − (4.90 𝑚/𝑠 2 )𝑡 2

Constant acceleration equations hold in each a.) Write a vector expression for the ball’s position as a
dimension function of time, using the unit vectors î and ĵ.
 𝑡 = 0 beginning of the process;
 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ where 𝑎𝑥 and 𝑎𝑦 are constant;
 Initial velocity ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑗̂ b.) The velocity vector as a function of time
 initial displacement ⃗𝑟𝑖 = 𝑟𝑖 𝑖̂ + 𝑟𝑖 𝑗̂

To determine the magnitude of a vector and its

direction: c.) The acceleration vector as a function of time. Next
use unit–vector notation to write expressions.
⃗ | = √𝑨𝒙 𝟐 + 𝑨𝒚 𝟐
𝑨 = |𝑨
𝑨𝒚
𝜽 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 | | d.) The position, the velocity, and the acceleration of
𝑨𝒙
the golf ball, all at t = 3.00 s.
1. A particle starts from the origin at t = 0 with an initial
velocity having an x component of 20 m/s and a y
component of -15 m/s. The particle moves in the xy
plane with an x component of acceleration only, given
by ax=4.0 m/s2.

a.) Calculate the velocity and speed of the particle at t =

5.0s. Evaluate the speed of the particle as the 3. A web page designer creates an animation in which a
magnitude of ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝒗𝒇 . dot on a computer screen has a position of
𝑟 = [4.0𝑐𝑚 + (2.5𝑐𝑚/𝑠 2 )𝑡 2 ]𝑖̂ + (5.0𝑐𝑚/𝑠)𝑡 𝑗̂
a.) Find the magnitude and direction of the dot’s
average velocity between t = 0 and t =2s.

b.) Determine the x and y coordinates of the particle at

any time t and its position vector at this time. b.) Find the magnitude and direction of the dot’s
instantaneous velocity at t = 0, t = 1s, and t = 2.0s.

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PROJECTILE MOTION Superposition of two motion:
 curved motion with constant acceleration. It is 1.) Constant velocity in the horizontal direction
two dimensional motion of a particle thrown 𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝑣𝑓𝑥
obliquely into the air.
 is an object thrown into the air upon which the 𝑎𝑥 = 0
only force acting is gravity. 2.) Constant acceleration in the vertical direction
 is any object which once projected continues in 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑔 = −9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
motion by its own inertia and is influenced only
by the downward force of gravity
3.) Initial Velocity
 The path of the projectile is always a parabola.
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
 The path followed by the projectile is termed as
the "trajectory of the projectile". 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

Example of Projectile Motion 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑗̂

1. An object thrown from a hill to the downward
direction.
4.) Final Velocity
2. An object thrown from the ground towards the sky
or in the upward direction. 𝑣𝑓𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥
3. An object thrown towards the sky but by making
some angle with horizontal surface . 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡

Horizontal and Vertical Components of a Projectile’s 𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑓𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑣𝑓𝑦 𝑗̂

Motion
 projectile travel with a parabolic trajectory due
5.) Maximum Height
to the influence of gravity.
- maximum value of the vertical distance attained
 there are no horizontal forces acting upon a
by the projectile .
projectile and thus no horizontal acceleration.
−𝑉𝑖 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
 the horizontal velocity of a projectile is constant 𝐻 = 𝑦𝑓 =
(considering air resistance is negligible) 2𝑎𝑦
 there is a vertical acceleration caused by
gravity; its value is 9.8 m/s2, downward. 6.) Time to reach maximum height
 the vertical velocity of a projectile changes by
9.8 m/s each second. −𝑣𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
 the horizontal and vertical components of a 𝑡=
𝑎𝑦
projectile motion are independent of each
other.
7.) Horizontal Range or Horizontal Displacement
A projectile has both the horizontal
- the distance from the point of projection to the
o𝒓 𝒙 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒕 (𝑽𝒙 ) and vertical or y component
point where the projection strikes the point in a
(𝑽𝒚 ) components of motion. Each component is
horizontal plane.
independent with each other.
−𝑉𝑖 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅 = 𝑥𝑓 =
𝑎𝑦

8.) Time of flight

– the time from the instant when it is projected to
the time when it strikes the point in a horizontal
plane passing through the point.

−2𝑉𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑇=
𝑎𝑦

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1. To start an avalanche on a mountain slope, an 3. A long jumper leaves the ground with an initial
artillery shell is fired with an initial velocity of 300 m/s velocity of 12 m/s at an angle of 28-degrees above the
at 55.0°above the horizontal. It explodes on the horizontal. a.) Determine the time of flight, b.) the
mountainside 42.0s after firing. What are the x and y
horizontal distance, c.) the peak height of the long-
coordinates of the shell where it explodes, relative to its
firing point? jumper, d.) the time it will reach the peak height, e.) the
Given: 𝑣𝑖 = 300𝑚/𝑠, 𝜃 = 55° , 𝑡 = 42.0𝑠 ; 𝑥𝑓 , 𝑦𝑓 =? x and y component at t=0.80s and f.) express the
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 300𝑐𝑜𝑠55° = 172.07𝑚/𝑠 velocity at t=0.80s in unit vector and determine its
𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 300𝑠𝑖𝑛55° = 245.75𝑚/𝑠 magnitude.
1
𝑥𝑓 = 172.07(42.0) + (0)(42.0)2
2
= 𝟕, 𝟐𝟐𝟔. 𝟗𝟒𝒎 𝒐𝒓 𝟕. 𝟐𝟑𝒌𝒎
1
𝑦𝑓 = 245.75(42.0) + (−9.8)(42.0)2
2 a.)Time of Flight
= 𝟏, 𝟔𝟕𝟕. 𝟗𝒎 𝒐𝒓 𝟏. 𝟔𝟖𝒌𝒎

2. A stone is thrown from the top of a building upward

at an angle of 30.0° to the horizontal with an initial
speed of 20.0 m/s as shown in figure. The height of the
b.) Horizontal Distance (Range)
building is 45.0 m.

c.) Peak Height (maximum height)

d.) Time to reach maximum height

a.) How long does it take the stone to reach the
ground?

e.) the x and y component at t=0.80s

b.) What is the speed of the stone just before it strikes

the ground?

f.) vector and magnitude at t=0.80s

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