PROBLEMS

ON
RECTILINEAR
MOTION
PROBLEM

1. The velocity of a particle which moves along the

s-axis is given by v  2  5t 3/ 2 (m/s). Evaluate the
displacement s, velocity v and acceleration a when
t = 4 s. The particle is at the origin s = 0 when t = 0.
(2/3)
SOLUTION
v  2  5t 3/ 2 (m/s),
calculate s, v and acceleration a when t = 4 s. The
particle is at the origin s = 0 when t = 0.

v  2  5t 3/ 2  f (t )

 
s t
ds  v , ds  vdt
    3/ 2
, ds 2 5t dt
dt 0 0
5/ 2
t
s  2t  5  2  2t  2t 5/ 2 , st 4  8  64  72 m
5

v  2  5t 3/ 2  f (t ) , vt 4  2  40  42 m / s

dv  a , , a  3 5t 1/ 2  7.5t 1/ 2
dt 2
at 4 15 m / s 2
PROBLEM

2. The velocity of a particle which moves along the

s-axis is given by s  40  3t 2 m/s, where t is in seconds.
Calculate the displacement Ds of the particle during
the interval from t = 2 s to t = 4 s. (2/6)
SOLUTION

s  40  3t 2 displacement Ds from t = 2 s to t = 4 s.
ds
s  v  40  3t 2
, v , ds  vdt
dt

 40  3t dt
s t 4
 ds 
2
0 t 2
4
3 t 3
s  40 t   40 (4)  43  40 (2)  23
3
2
160  64  80  8  24 m
Ds  24 m
PROBLEM

3. A ball is thrown vertically

upward with an initial speed
of 25 m/s from the base A of
a 15-m cliff. Determine the
distance h by which the ball
clears the top of the cliff
and the time t after release
for the ball to land at B. Also,
calculate the impact velocity
vB. Neglect air resistance and
the small horizontal motion of
the ball. (2/13)
SOLUTION
v0=25 m/s, determine distance h, time t after release for the ball to land at
B and impact velocity vB
C
A - C v 2  v0  2 a ( s  s0 ) ag 
2
,
v 2  v0  2 g ( y  y0 ) , 252  2 (9.81) (15  h  0)
2

625  294 .3 19 .62h , 330 .7 19 .62h

h 16 . 86 m

A - B

y  y0  v0t  1 gt 2 , 15  0  25 t  1 (9.81)t 2
2 2 y
4.905 t 2  25 t 15  0 , t1  4.40 s , t2  0.69 s
x
v  v0  gt , vB  25  9.81 (4.40)  18 .16 m / s ()
PROBLEM
4. In the pinewood-derby event shown, the car is
released from rest at the starting position A and
then rolls down the incline and onto the finish line
C. If the constant acceleration down the incline is
2.75 m/s2 and the speed from B to C is essentially
constant, determine the time duration tAC for the
race. The effects of the small transition area at B
can be neglected. (2/14)
SOLUTION
time duration tAC for the race
A B a AB  cst  2.75 m / s 2 , vA  0
1
s AB  s A  v At AB  a ABt AB 2
2
1 1
s AB  a ABt AB 2  3  (2.75 )t AB 2 , t AB  1.477 s
2 2
vB 3
v B2 3
vdv  ads ,  vdv   2.75 ds ,  2.75 s 0
, v B2  2(2.75 )(3)  16 .5
0 0 2
v B  4.06 m / s ,
B C a BC 0 , v B  vC
1
s BC  s B  v B t BC  a BC t BC 2
2
4  4.06 t BC , t BC  0.985 s

ttotal t AB  t BC  1.477  0.985  2.462 s

PROBLEM
5. A particle starts from rest at x = -2 m and moves
along the x -axis with the velocity history shown. Plot
the corresponding acceleration and the displacement
histories for the 2 seconds. Find the time t when the
particle crosses the origin. (2/29)
SOLUTION
time t when the
particle crosses
the origin
0  0.5 s
t, s
1 2
s  s0  v 0 t  at
2 a, m/s2
1 6
s  2  (6)( 0.5) 2
2 v
0 t, s
st 0.5  1.25 m
-4
from 0.5 s

1.375

1.250
v
s  s 0  v0 t x, m

0.97
0  1.25  3t
0.5
t s 0  0.417 s
0 t, s
ttotal0.5 0.4170.917 s 1 1.5 1.75 2
-1.25
-2
PROBLEM
6. Car A is travelling at a constant speed vA = 130 km/h
at a location where the speed limit is 100 km/h. The
police officer in car P observes this speed via radar. At
the moment when A passes P, the police car begins to
accelerate at the constant rate of 6 m/s2 until a speed
of 160 km/h is reached, and that speed is then
maintained. Determine the distance required for the
police officer to overtake car A. Neglect any
nonrectilinear motion of P. (2/23)
vA = 130 km/h (constant), at the moment when A passes P, P begins to accelerate at constant rate of 6
m/s2 until a speed of 160 km/h is reached, then maintained, determine distance required for P to
overtake A.

130 km/ h  36.11 m / s , 160 km/ h  44.44 m / s

For A x A  vot  36.11t
For P vP  v o  at  , 44.44  6t  , t   7.407 s
x  v ot  1 at 2  1 6(7.407) 2 164.59 m x (m)
xP=f(t)
2 2 713.43 xA=f(t)
then aP  0
xP  x0  vo (t  7.407) 164.59 t (s)

164.59  44.44(t  7.407) v (m/s)

44.44 vP
When P catches A xA= xP
36.11 vA
36.11t 164.59  44.44(t  7.407) t (s)
 44.44t 164.577 a (m/s2)
164.577  8.33t , t 19.757 s 6

x  713.43 m aP
t (s)
7.407 19.757 aA
PROBLEM

7. A retarding force is applied to a body moving in a

straight line so that, during an interval of its motion, its
speed v decreases with increased position coordinate s
according to the relation v 2  k / s , where k is a constant.
If the body has a forward speed of 50 mm/s and its
position coordinate is 225 mm at time t = 0, determine
the speed v at t = 3s. (2/30)
Due to a retarding force, speed v decreases with increased position coordinate s according to
v2  k / s , (k constant). If v = 50 mm/s (frw), s = 225 mm at t = 0, determine v at t = 3s

v k /s
2
v  k / s   1/ 2
, 502  k
225
, k  562500
s t
ds  v , ds  ds  ds  dt 1
 ds   dt
1/ 2
s
dt v f ( s ) k 1/ 2 / s1/ 2 k 1/ 2 225 0
s t
2
s 0 dt , 750t  3 s 225
3/ 2 s
1/ 2
ds  k 1/ 2

225

 3375 1125t s  3375 1125t 

3/ 2 2/3
s ,
s1/ 2  3375 1125t 
2 / 3  1/ 21/ 3
and
vk  v  750 / 3375 1125t 
1/ 2 1/ 2 1/ 3
/s
at t  3 s  v  750 / 3375 11253
1/ 3

v  39.69 m / s
PROBLEM
8. The cone falling with a speed v0 strikes and penetrates
the block of packing materials. The acceleration of the cone
after impact is a = g – cy2, where c is a positive constant and
y is the penetration distance. If the maximum penetration
depth is observed to be ym, determine the constant c. (2/45)
SOLUTION

vinitial  v0 , a  g  cy 2  f ( y ) ,
v final  0 , ymax  ym , c  ?

vdv  ady

 g  cy dy
0 ym
 vdv 
2
v0 0
3 3
1 2 cym 2 cy
 v0  gym  , v02  m
 2 gym
2 3 3
3 2 6 3  v02  2 gym 
3
cym  v0  gym , c
2 2 2  3
ym 

PROBLEM
9. The brake mechanism shown in the figure is composed
of a piston moving in a fixed cylinder filled with oil. When
the brake pedal is pressed while the vehicle moves with a
speed v0, the piston moves, oil passes through the
channels inside the piston and the vehicle slows down in
proportion to its speed, a=-kv. Determine a) v in terms of
t, b) x in terms of t, c) v in terms of x. Also construct the
related graphics. piston

oil
 initial speed v0, a=-kv. Determine a) v in terms of t, b) x in terms of piston
t, c) v in terms of x. Also construct the related graphics

a) v=f(t)=?

a  dv  f (v) ,  kv  dv , dv  kdt
dt dt v
v t
dv  k dt v
v v 0  ln v  kt , oil
vo v0
0

ln v
e vo
 e kt  v  v0 e kt
t
b) x=f(t)=?
x
v  dx  f (t ) , dx  v e kt , dx  v e kt dt v0
dt dt 0 0
k
 
x t
v0 kt t v0 kt
 0  dt
kt
dx  v e  x e   e 1
0 0
k 0 k
t
x
v0
k

1 e kt  e ax

e dx  a
ax
initial speed v0, a=-kv. Determine a) v in terms of t, b) x in terms of piston
t, c) v in terms of x. Also construct the related graphics

c) v=f(x)=?

vdv  adx  f (v)dx   kvdx oil

v x
v dv
v
 kdx  dv  kdx ,  dv  k  dx
v0 0

v  v0  kx , v  v0  kx v

v0

x
v0
k
PROBLEM
10. A bumper, consisting of a nest of three springs, is used to
arrest the horizontal motion of a large mass which is traveling
at 40 m/s as it contacts the bumper. The two outer springs
cause a deceleration proportional to the spring deformation.
The center spring increases
the deceleration rate when
the compression exceeds 0.5
m as shown on the graph.
Determine the maximum
compression x of the outer
springs. (2/55)
SOLUTION v0=40 m/s , maximum compression x of the outer springs
0 x

 vdv   adx ,  vdv   adx  area under a  x curve

40 0

z

2000
, z
2000
x  0.5
x  0.5 0.5 0.5

z 2000

x
SOLUTION
v0=40 m/s , maximum compression x of the outer springs
0 x

 vdv   adx ,  vdv   adx  area

40 0 z
under a  x curve

1
 40     1000(0.5)  
2 1 1 2000 
( x  0.5)( x  0.5)  1000( x  0.5)
2 2 2 0.5 

 1600  2 250  2000( x  0.5) 2  1000( x  0.5) 
1600  500  4000x 2  x  0.25  2000 x  1000
 
4000x 2  4000x 1000

4000 x 2  2000 x  1100  0

x 2  0.5 x  0.275  0
x1  0.831 m x1  0.331 m
PROBLEM
11. The preliminary design for a rapid-transit system calls for
the train velocity to vary with time as shown in the plot as the
train runs the 3.2 km between stations A and B. The slopes of
the cubic transition curves (which are of form a+bt+ct2+dt3) are
zero at the end points. Determine the total run time t between
the stations and the maximum acceleration. (2/58)

130
SOLUTION
slopes of a+bt+ct2+dt3 form curves zero at end points, determine total run time t
between the stations and the maximum acceleration

v  f (t )  a  bt  ct 2  dt 3
initial and final conditions give the constants

v0  0 at t  0  a0
dv
 a  b  2ct  3dt 2  0 (at t  0 , t  15 s )  b0
dt
then, 2ct  3dt 2  0
2c(15)  3d (15) 2  0
30c  675d  0 , 130

675d
c  c  22.5d
30
SOLUTION
vt 15  130 km / h  36 .11 m / s  ct 2  dt 3
 c(15 ) 2  d (15 ) 3  225 c  3375 d
36 .11  225 (22 .5d )  3375 d  1687 .5d
  
5062.5d
130

d  0.0214 m / s 4 , c  0.481 m / s 3
v  f (t )  0.481t 2  0.0214 t 3
dv
a  f (t )   2(0.481)t  3(0.0214 )t 2  0.963 t  0.0642 t 2
dt
the distance the train travels in the first and last 15 seconds

 
s 15
ds
 v  f (t )  ds   0.481t 2  0.0214 t 3 dt ,
dt 0 0
15
3 4
0.481t 0.0214 t
s   271 m
3 4
0
SOLUTION
when the speed is constant, the train travels 3200 – 2(271)=2658 m
1 2
s  s 0  v0t  a t , 2658  36 .11t , t  73 .61 s
2
total run time

ttotal  2(15)  73 .61  103 .61 s

130

Maximum acceleration
da
a  f (t )  0.963 t  0.0642 t 2
0
dt
da
 0.963  2(0.0642 )t  0 , t  7.5 s
dt
amax,t 7.5  0.963 (7.5)  0.0642 (7.5) 2  3.61 m / s 2