Honors Physics

Mechanics for Physicists and Engineers

Agenda for Today

Advice
1-D Kinematics
Average & instantaneous velocity and acceleration
Motion with constant acceleration
Freefall

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 1

Kinematics Objectives

Define average and instantaneous velocity

Caluclate kinematic quantities using equations
interpret and plot position -time graphs
be able to determine and describe the meaning of the
slope of a position-time graph

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 2

Kinematics

Location and motion of objects is described using

Kinematic Variables:
Some examples of kinematic variables.
position
r
vector, (d,x,y,z)
velocity v
vector
acceleration
a
vector
Kinematic Variables:
Measured with respect to a reference frame. (x-y axis)
Measured using coordinates (having units).
Many kinematic variables are Vectors,
Vectors which means they
have a direction as well as a magnitude.
magnitude
Vectors denoted by boldface V or arrow above the variable

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 3

Motion

Position: Separation between an object and a

reference point (Just a point)
Distance: Separation between two objects
Displacement of an object is the distance between its
final position df and its initial position d i (d f - di)= d
Scalar: Quantity that can be described by a
magnitude(strength) only
Distance, temperature, pressure etc..
Vector: A quantity that can be described by both a
magnitude and direction
Force, displacement, torque etc.

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 4

Speed and Velocity

Speed describes the rate at which an object moves.

Distance traveled per unit of time.
Velocity describes an objects speed and direction.
Approximate units of speed
40 km/hr

25 miles/hr

11 m/s

100 km/hr

62 miles/hr

28 m/s

120 km/hr

75 miles/hr

33 m/s

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 5

Motion in 1 dimension

In general, position at time t1 is usually denoted d, r(t1) or x(t1)

In 1-D, we usually write position as x(t1 ) but for this level well
use d
Since its in 1-D, all we need to indicate direction is + or .

Displacement in a time t = t2 - t1 is
x = x2 - x1= d2 -d1

x
some particles trajectory
in 1-D

x2
x
x1
t1

t2

t
Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 6

1-D kinematics

Velocity v is the rate of change of position

Average velocity vav in the time t = t2 - t1 is:

vav

(d2 - d1 )
d

t 2 t1
t

x
d2
x
d1

trajectory
Vav = slope of line connecting x1 and x2.
t1 t t2

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 7

1-D kinematics...

Instantaneous velocity v is defined as the velocity at an instant of time (t= 0)

Slope formula becomes undefined at t = 0

vav

(d2 - d1 )
d

t 2 t1
t

so V(t2 ) = slope of line tangent to path at t2.

x2
x
x1

dx(t )
v(t )
dt
Calculus Notation
t1

t2

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 8

More 1-D kinematics

60

We saw that v = x / t
so therefore x = v t ( i.e. 60 mi/hr x 2 hr = 120 mi )
See text: 3.2
In calculus language we would
write dx = v dt, which we
t2
can integrate xto( t obtain:
2 ) x ( t 1 ) v ( t )dt
t1

Graphically, this is adding up lots of small rectangles:

v(t)

+ +...+
= displacement
t
Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 9

1-D kinematics...

Acceleration a is the rate of change of velocity

Average acceleration aav in the time t = t2 - t1 is:

a av

v (t 2 ) v (t1 ) v

t 2 t1
t

And instantaneous acceleration a is defined as:The

acceleration when t = 0 . Same problem as
instantaneous velocity. Slope equals line tangent to
path of velocity vs time graph.
dv (t ) d 2 x ( t )
a (t )

dt
dt 2

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 10

Problem Solving

Read !
Before you start work on a problem, read the problem
statement thoroughly. Make sure you understand what
information in given, what is asked for, and the meaning of all
the terms used in stating the problem.

Watch your units !

Always check the units of your answer, and carry the units
along with your numbers during the calculation.

Understand the limits !

Many equations we use are special cases of more general
laws. Understanding how they are derived will help you
recognize their limitations (for example, constant acceleration).

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 11

IV. Displacement during acceleration.

You accelerate from 0 m/s to 30 m/s in 3 seconds, how far

did you travel?
What if a car initially at 10 m/s, accelerates at a rate of 5
m/s2 for 7 seconds. How far does it move?
df=1/2at2 + vit + di
C. An airplane must reach a speed of 71 m/s for a
successful takeoff. What must be the rate of acceleration if
the runway is 1.0 km long?
d = (vf2 - vi2) /2a

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 12

Recap

If the position x is known as a function of time, then we can find both velocity v and acceleration a as a function of time!

x
x x( t )
vav

x (t 2 ) x (t1 ) x

t 2 t1
t

a av

v (t 2 ) v (t1 ) v

t 2 t1
t

t
t

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 13

Recap

So for constant acceleration we find:

x x 0 v 0t
v v 0 at

1 2
at
2

a const

From which we can derive:

v 22 v 12 2a( x 2 x 1 )
1
v av ( v 1 v 2 )
2

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 14

IV. Acceleration due to gravity

The acceleration of a freely falling object is 9.8 m/s2 (32 ft/s2)

towards the earth.
The farther away from the earths center, the smaller the value of
the acceleration due to gravity. For activities near the surface of
the earth (within 5-6 km or more) we will assume g=9.8 m/s2 (10
m/s2).
Neglecting air resistance, an object has the same acceleration on
the way up as it does on the way down.
Use the same equations of motion but substitute the value of g
for acceleration a.

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 15

Recap of kinematics lectures

Measurement and Units (Chapter 1)

Systems of units
Converting between systems of units
Dimensional Analysis
1-D Kinematics
Average & instantaneous velocity
and and acceleration
Motion with constant acceleration

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 16

Honors Physics : Lecture 1, Pg 17