Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

Province of Laguna

Chapter 2
Motion in One-Dimension
Lesson Outline
❑ Position, time, distance, ❑ Uniformly Accelerated Linear Motion
displacement, speed, average and ❑ Free Fall Motion
instantaneous velocity ❑ One-Dimension Acceleration Problems
❑ Average and Instantaneous
Acceleration
Distance vs. Displacement

Distance is the total length of the path traveled between two

positions

Displacement is the change in position of an object. In symbols,

displacement Δx is defined to be:
∆𝒙 = 𝒙𝒇 − 𝒙𝒐
Speed vs. Velocity

Speed is a scalar quantity. If an object takes a time interval t to

𝒅
travel a distance d, then 𝒗𝒂𝒗𝒆 =
𝒕

Velocity is a vector quantity. defined as displacement divided by

the travel time. In symbols, average velocity is
∆𝒙 𝒙𝒇 − 𝒙𝒐
𝒗ഥ 𝒂𝒗𝒆 = =
∆𝒕 𝒕𝒇 − 𝒕𝒐
Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. In symbols,

average acceleration 𝑎ത is:
∆𝒗 𝒗𝒇 − 𝒗𝒐
ഥ=
𝒂 =
∆𝒕 𝒕 𝒇 − 𝒕𝒐
Motion in One Dimension

The following are the fundamental quantities relevant to a motion

in one dimension:

Scalar Vector
Distance Displacement
Speed Velocity
Acceleration Acceleration
Uniform Motion along a Straight Line

This situation represents where the acceleration vector is

constant and lies along the displacement vector.

The following kinematic equations for motion with constant a are useful:

𝒙 = 𝒙𝒐 + 𝒗𝒕 𝟏 𝟐
𝒙 = 𝒙𝒐 + 𝒗𝒐 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕
𝒗 + 𝒗𝒐 𝟐
𝒗𝒂𝒗𝒆 = 𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝟐𝒐 + 𝟐𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒙𝒐 )
𝟐
𝒗 = 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒂𝒕
Position vs Time Graph

A car accelerates at 0.5 m/s2 for 60 seconds. It maintains its velocity for 180 seconds then
slows down for 30 seconds at -1.0 m/s2.
Velocity vs Time Graph

A car accelerates at 0.5 m/s2 for 60 seconds. It maintains its velocity for 180 seconds then
slows down for 30 seconds at -1.0 m/s2.
Acceleration vs Time Graph

A car accelerates at 0.5 m/s2 for 60 seconds. It maintains its velocity for 180 seconds then
slows down for 30 seconds at -1.0 m/s2.
Graphical Interpretations

The slope in a position vs. time graph

represents the velocity.

The slope in a velocity vs. time graph

represents the acceleration.

For constant-velocity motion, the p-t

graph is a straight line.

For constant-acceleration motion, the

v-t graph is a straight line.
Graphical Interpretations
Graphical Interpretations
Exercises 1.2 – Motion Graphs

A sprinter walks up to the starting blocks at a constant speed of 0.5 m/s for 60 s and
positions herself for the start of the race. She waits for another 90 s until she hears the
starting pistol go off, and then accelerates by 0.5 m/s rapidly until she attains a constant
velocity. She maintains this velocity for 300 s until she crosses the finish line, and then she
slows down to a walk for 60 s at -0.8 m/s. Sketch the velocity-time, position-time and,
acceleration-time graph to represent the sprinter’s motion. Determine the distance travelled,
velocity, and acceleration of the sprinter in each portion of his motion.
 Sample Problem 1.1

𝑡0 = 0 𝑠 𝑡𝑓 = 60 𝑠
𝑥0 = 0 𝑚 𝑥𝑓 = 2000 𝑚

𝑣𝑓 = ?
Sample Problem 1.4

On dry concrete, a car can decelerate at a rate of 7.00 m/s2, whereas on wet concrete it can
decelerate at only 5.00 m/s2. Find the distances necessary to stop a car moving at 30.0 m/s (about
110 km/h) (a) on dry concrete and (b) on wet concrete.
Exercises 1.3

1. A jogger runs down a straight stretch of road with an average

velocity of 4.00 m/s for 2.00 min. What is his final position,
taking his initial position to be zero?
2. An airplane lands with an initial velocity of 70.0 m/s and then
decelerates at 1.50 m/s2 for 40.0 s. What is its final velocity?
3. Dragsters can achieve average accelerations of 26.0 m/s2.
Suppose such a dragster accelerates from rest at this rate for
5.56 s. How far does it travel in this time?
4. Calculate the final velocity of the dragster in number 3 without
using information about time.
Free Fall Motion
The most familiar example of motion with (nearly)
constant acceleration is a body falling under the influence
of the earth’s gravitational attraction.

Kinematic Equations:

𝒗 = 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒂𝒕

𝟏 𝟐
𝐱 = 𝐱𝐨 + 𝐯𝐨 𝐭 + 𝐚𝐭
𝟐

𝐯 𝟐 = 𝐯𝐨𝟐 + 𝟐𝐚(𝐱 − 𝐱 𝐨 )

Multiflash photo of a freely falling ball.

Free Fall in Conceptual Approach
Sample Problem 1.5

A one-euro coin is dropped from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and falls freely from rest. What are its
position and velocity after 1.0 s, 2.0 s, and 3.0 s?
Sample Problem 1.6

A person standing on the edge of a high cliff throws a rock straight up with an initial velocity
of 13.0 m/s. The rock misses the edge of the cliff as it falls back to earth. Calculate the position and
velocity of the rock 1.00 s, 2.00 s, and 3.00 s after it is thrown, neglecting the effects of air resistance.
Sample Problem 1.7

What happens if the person on the cliff in Sample Problem 1.6 throws the rock straight
down, instead of straight up?
Sample Problem 1.8

A small rock is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 18.0 m/s from the edge of the roof of a 30.0-
m-tall building. The rock doesn’t hit the building on its way back down and lands in the street below.
Air resistance can be neglected.
(a) What is the speed of the rock just before it hits the street?
(b) How much time elapses from when the rock is thrown until it hits the street?
Exercise 1.4 – Free Fall

1. (a) If a flea can jump straight up to a height of 0.440 m,

what is its initial speed as it leaves the ground? (b) How long
is it in the air?
2. A juggler throws a bowling pin straight up with an initial speed
of 8.20 m s. How much time elapses until the bowling pin
returns to the juggler’s hand?
3. A 15-kg rock is dropped from rest on the earth and reaches
the ground in 1.75 s. When it is dropped from the same height
on Saturn’s satellite Enceladus, it reaches the ground in 18.6
s. What is the acceleration due to gravity on Enceladus?