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Chapter 2
Motion in a Straight Line
The study of motion of objects along a straight line is also known as
rectilinear motion .
Average Velocity and Average Speed
Average Velocity
Average velocity is defined as the ratio of total displacement to the total time interval.
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Average velocity=
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥
𝐱 𝟐 −𝐱 𝟏 ∆𝐱
𝐯̅ = =
𝐭 𝟐 −𝐭 𝟏 ∆𝐭
where x1 and x2 are the positions of the object at time t1 and t2
Average speed
Average speed is defined as the ratio of total path length (distance travelled) to the
total time interval.
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡
Average speed=
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥

Uniform motion
If an object moving along the straight line covers equal distances in equal intervals of
time, it is said to be in uniform motion along a straight line .
In uniform motion velocity of the object remains constant.

Instantaneous Velocity and Speed

Instantaneous velocity
The average velocity tells us how fast an object has been moving over a
given time interval but does not tell us how fast it moves at different
instants of time during that interval. For this, we define instantaneous
velocity or simply velocity v at an instant t.
The velocity at an instant is called instantaneous velocity and is defined as
the limit of the average velocity as the time interval Δt becomes
infinitesimally small
𝚫𝐱 𝐝𝐱
v = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 =
𝚫𝐭→𝟎 𝚫𝐭 𝐝𝐭
𝐝𝐱
v = 𝐝𝐭
dx
is the differential coefficient of x with respect to t .It is the rate of
dt
change of position with respect to time.
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Determining velocity from position-time graph. Velocity at t = 4 s is the
slope of the tangent to the graph at that instant.

We see from Table 2.1 that as we decrease the value of ∆t from 2.0 s to
0.010 s, the value of the average velocity approaches the limiting value
𝐝𝐱
3.84 m s–1 which is the value of velocity at t = 4.0 s, i.e. the value of
𝐝𝐭

at t = 4.0 s.

Instantaneous speed
Instantaneous speed or simply speed is the magnitude of velocity.
For example, a velocity of 24 m s –1 and a velocity of – 24 m s –1 — both
have an associated speed of 24.0 m s -1 .
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Example
The position of an object moving along x-axis is given by x = a + bt2 where
a = 8.5 m, b = 2.5 m s–2 and t is measured in seconds.
(a)What is its velocity at t = 0 s and t = 2.0 s.
(b) What is the average velocity between t = 2.0 s and t = 4.0 s ?

(a) x = a + bt 2
𝐝𝐱 𝐝
v= = (a + bt 2 ) = 2bt
𝐝𝐭 𝐝𝐭
At t = 0 , v = 0
At t = 2 , v = 2 x 2.5 x 2 = 10 m s-1

x2 −x1 x4 −x2
(b) v̅ = =
t2 −t1 4−2
a+16b−a−4b
=
2
12b 12 x 2.5
= = =15 m s-1
2 2

Acceleration
Suppose the velocity itself is changing with time. In order to describe its
effect on the motion of the particle, we require another physical quantity
called acceleration. The rate of change of velocity of an object is called
acceleration.
Average Acceleration
The average acceleration a over a time interval is defined as the change of
velocity divided by the time interval .
𝐯𝟐 −𝐯𝟏 ∆𝐯
𝐚̅ = =
𝐭 𝟐 −𝐭 𝟏 ∆𝐭

▪ Unit of acceleration is ms-2 , [a] =LT-2

▪ Acceleration is a vector quantity.
▪ If velocity is increasing with time, acceleration is +ve.
▪ If velocity is decreasing with time, acceleration is -ve.
▪ -ve acceleration is called retardation or deceleration.
Uniform acceleration
If the velocity of an object changes by equal amounts in equal intervals of
time, it has uniform acceleration.

Instantaneous acceleration
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The acceleration of a particle at any instant of its motion is called
instantaneous acceleration. It is defined as the limit of the average
acceleration as the time interval Δt becomes infinitesimally small.
𝚫𝐯 𝐝𝐯
a = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐝𝐭
𝚫𝐭→𝟎 𝚫𝐭
𝐝𝐯
a = 𝐝𝐭
ⅆ𝟐 𝒙
or a = ⅆ𝒕𝟐
Position-time graph for motion with
(a)positive acceleration (b) negative acceleration c)zero acceleration

Velocity–time graph for motions with constant acceleration

(a)Motion in positive direction with positive acceleration

(b) Motion in positive direction with negative acceleration

(c)Motion in negative direction with negative acceleration

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(d)Motion of an object with negative acceleration that changes direction at

time t1.
(Between times 0 to t1, its moves in positive x - direction and between t1 and t2 it
moves in the opposite direction.)

Importance of Velocity - time graph for a moving object

An interesting feature of velocity - time graph for any moving object is that
the area under the velocity - time graph is equal to the displacement of the
particle.

Proof for this statement :-

In uniform motion, velocity is the same at any instant of motion. Therefore,
the velocity - time graph is a straight line parallel to the time axis.

Area =uT = Displacement

i.e.,the area under the velocity - time graph is equal to the displacement of
the particle.

Kinematic Equations for Uniformly Accelerated Motion

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Consider a body moving with uniform acceleration . The velocity – time
graph is as shown in figure

(1) Velocity – time relation

From the graph , acceleration = slope
BC
a=
AC
v−u
a=
t
v-u = at
v = u +at -------------------- (1)
or (v = v0 +at)
(2) Position-time relation
Displacement = Area under the graph
s = Area of + Area of
s = ut + ½ (v-u) t
But from equation (1)
v -u = at
s = ut + ½ at x t
s = ut + ½ at2 ------------------(2)
or (s=v0 t +½ at2)

(3)Position – velocity relation

Displacement = Average velocity x time
v+u v−u
s=( )( ) 2 a
v2 −u2
s=( )
2a
v 2 − u2 = 2as
𝐯 𝟐 = 𝐮𝟐 + 2as ----------------(3)
Or (𝐯 𝟐 = 𝐯𝟎 𝟐 + 2as )
Stopping distance of vehicles
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When brakes are applied to a moving vehicle, the distance it travels before
stopping is called stopping distance.
𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2as
0 = 𝑢2 + 2as
−𝑢2 = 2as
−𝒖𝟐
s= 𝟐𝒂

Motion of an object under Free Fall

Free fall is a case of motion with uniform acceleration.
Since the acceleration due to gravity is always downward, a=–g =–9.8ms–2
The object is released from rest at y = 0. Therefore, u = 0
Then the equations of motion become
v=0–gt = -9.8 t
y = 0 – ½ g t2 = -4.9 t2
v 2 = 0 – 2 g y = -19.6 y
(a)Variation of acceleration with time

(b)Variation of velocity with time

(c)Variation of distance with time

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Example
A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 20 m s–1 from the top
of a multistorey building. The height of the point from where the ball is
thrown is 25.0 m from the ground.
(a) How high will the ball rise ? and
(b) how long will it be before the ball hits the ground? Take g = 10 m s–2

Example
Galileo’s law of odd numbers :“The distances traversed, during equal
intervals of time, by a body falling from rest, stand to one another in the
same ratio as the odd numbers beginning with unity [namely, 1: 3: 5:
7…...].” Prove it.
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Answer: Let us divide the time interval of motion of an object under free
fall into many equal intervals τ and find out the distances traversed during
successive intervals of time. Since initial velocity is zero, we have
y = - ½ g t2

We find that the distances are in the simple ratio 1: 3: 5: 7: 9: 11… as

shown in the last column. This law was established by Galileo Galilei.

Seema Elizabeth
HSST Physics
MARM Govt HSS Santhipuram
Thrissur