1ST TERM SS2 PHYSICS NOTE

CALCULATIONS USING THE EQUATION OF MOTION

A car moves from rest with an acceleration of 0.2 m/s2. Find its velocity when it has covered
distance of 50m

u= 0m/s

a= 0.2m/s2

s= 50m

v=?

v2 =u2 + 2as = (0)2 + 2 ( 0.2 x 50) = 20

v= √20 = 2√5m/s

A car travels with a uniform velocity of 108km/hr .How far does it travels in ½ minutes?

Solution

v=108km/hr t= ½ minutes distance = ?

v = 108 km/hr = 108 x1000/ 3600

v= 30m/s t= ½ 60 = 30secs

speed = distance / time

Distance = speed x time = 30 x 30 = 900 m

CLASS ACTIVITIES

(1) A train slopes from 108 km/hr with a uniform retardation of 5 m/s2 . How long will it take to
reach 18 km/hr and what is the distance covered ?
(2) An orange fruit drops to the ground from the top of a tree 45m tall .How long does it take to
reach the ground (g= 10m/s2)?

(3) A car moving with a speed of 90 km/h was brought uniformly to rest by the application of
brake in 10s. How far did the car travel after the far did the car travel after the brakes were
applied. Calculate the distance it covers in the last one second its motion.

FURTHER ACTIVITIES

A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly until it reaches a velocity of 30m/s after 5secs . It
travels with this uniform velocity for 15secs and it is then brought to rest in 10 secs with a
uniform acceleration. Determine

(a) the acceleration of the car

(b) the retardation

(c) the distance covered after 5 secs

(d) the total distance covered.

SOLUTION

V (m/s)

U=0

V = 30

T= 5

a. ACCELERATION = = 30-0/5 = 6m/s2

b. RETARDATION =CB = 0 – 30 / 10 = – 3m/s2

c. The distance covered after 5sesc

The area is given by area of the triangle

=½bh
= ½ (5) 30

= 75m

iv The total distance covered = area of the trapezium OABC

= ½ (AB + OC ) X h

= ½ (15 + 30 ) 30

= 45 x 15

= 675 m

CLASS WORK

A lorry starts from rest and accelerates uniformly until it reaches a velocity of 50 m/s after 10
secs . It travels with uniform velocity for 15 secs and is brought to rest I 5secs with a uniform
retardation .

Calculate :

a) The acceleration of the lorry

b) The retardation

c) The total distance covered

d) The average speed of the lorry

MOTION UNDER GRAVITY

 When air resistance is negligible, even a feather and an apple fall with the same
acceleration, regardless of their masses.

Case One. For a body projected from a tower or plane of height h.

1. The body covers both horizontal Sx( also known as the range , R) and vertical Sy
( height) distance.
Gravity has no effect on the horizontal distance covered but on the vertical distance, hence

Sx = R= ut…………………… #

Sy = ut + 1/2gt2 but u = 0

Sy = ½ gt2 ……………………. #

Case two: For a body thrown vertically upward from the ground to a maximum height h and
back to the ground.

At maximum height v = 0

Time taken to maximum height is same time taken from maximum height to the ground.

Time to maximum height (t)

V = u – gt

0 = u – gt

u = gt…………….. #
Maximum height attained

V2 = u2 – 2ghmax

0 = u2 – 2ghmax

u2 = 2ghmax ………………….. #

Case three for a body projected from the top of a tower to a maximum height h

At maximum height h, v=0

Time (t) to maximum height

V = u – gt

0 = u –gt

U = gt

Time from maximum height h to the ground

Total distance travelled = h + h1

h + h1 = ut + 1/2gt2

CALCULATIONS

1. A ball is thrown vertically into the air with an initial velocity, u. What is the greatest height
reached?

Solution

V2 = u2+ 2as
U= u , a = -g , v = 0

02 = u2 + 2 (-g) s

2gs = u2

s = u2 /2g

2. A ball is released from a height of 20m .Calculate

(i) the time it takes to fall

(ii) the velocity with which it hits the ground

a= +g, u=0, s =20m t = ?

t = √2s/g

t = √ 2 x20 /10

t = 2 secs

v = u + gt

v= gt

v = 10 x2

v = 20 m/s

WEEK FOUR

PROJECTILES AND FALLING BODIES

A PROJECTILE is an object or body launched into the air and allowed to move on its own or
move freely under gravity.

A projectile motion is one that follows a curved or parabolic path .It is due to two independent
motions at right angle to each other These motions are

i. a horizontal constant velocity

ii. a vertical free fall due to gravity

Projectile is a two dimensional motion of an object thrown obliquely into the air, the part
followed by a projectile is called a trajectory

The following are examples of projectile motion

i. A throw rubber ball rebouncing from a wall.

ii. An athlete doing the high jump.

iii. A stone released from a catapult.

iv. A bullet fired from a gum.

v. A cricket ball thrown against a vertical wall.

TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECTILE

1. Time of flight (T):The time of flight of a projectile is the time required for the
projectile to get to maximum height and return to the same level from which it projected.

2. The maximum height (H):is defined as the highest vertical distance reached and is
measured from the horizontal projection plane.

3. The range (R): is the horizontal distance from the point of projection of a particle to
the point where the particle hit the projection plane again.

Uy = U sin θ (vertical component)

Ux = U cos θ (Horizontal component)

t = time to reach the greatest height (s)

V = u + at v =o, a = -g

0 = u sin θ – gt

t = U sin θ/g………………………………………….. 1

DETERMINATION OF TIME OF FLIGHT (T), RANGE (R) AND MAXTMUM

HEIGHT

T = Time of flight (s)

Vertically S=U sin θ t – 1/2 gt2

0 = U sin θ – ½ gt2

½ gt2 = U sin θ t

T = 2U sin θ/g ………………….. 2

Horizontally, considering the range covered

R= U2 sin 2θ /g………………………………. 3

For maximum range θ = 450

Sin2θ = sin 2 (45) = sin 900 = 1

R= U2/g

R max = U2/g ……………………………………………. 4

For maximum height H ,

H = U2 sin2θ / 2g…………………………………………… 5

APPLICATION OF PROJECTILES

1. To launch missiles in modern warfare

2. To give athletes maximum take-off speed at meets

In artillery warfare, in order to strike a specified target, the bomb must be released when
the target appears at the angle of depression p given by :

Tan φ =1/u √gh/2

EXAMPLES

1. A stone is shot out from a catapult with an initial velocity of 30m at an elevation of 60,
find:

a. the time of flight

b. the maximum height attained

c the range

T = 2U sin θ /g

T= 2 x 30 sin 600. / 10

T= 5.2s

The maximum height,

H=U2 sin2 θ / 2g

H = 302 sin2 (60) / 20 = 33.75 m

The range ,R =U2 sin 2θ /g

R = 302 sin 2(60) / 10

= 90 sin 120

= 77.9 m

2. A body is projected horizontally with a velocity of 60m/s from the top of a mast 120m
above the grand, calculate

(i) Time of flight, and

(ii) Range

i. s = ut +1/2gt2

a=g, u=o

120= ½ (10)t2

t2 = 24

t = √24

t =4.9s

(b) Range =u cosθ x T.

but in this case θ =o

cos o =1

R =ut

= 60 x 4.9

=294m

4 A stone is projected horizontally with a height of 10m from the top of a tower. With
what speed does the stone strike the ground?

T = √ 2h/g =√2×50/10 =10

R = ut = 10√10 m

V2=u2 + 2gh

=02 + 2 x 10 x 50 (U= 0 when it strikes the ground)

=0 +1000

V = √1000

V =33.33m/s

5. A projectile is fired at an angle of 60 with the horizontal with an initial velocity of

80m/s. Calculate:

i the time of flight

ii. the maximum height attained and the time taken to reach the height

θ = 60

u =80m/s

T =? H =? T =? R=?

T = 2U sin θ /g

T = 2×80 sin 60/10 = 13 .86 s

 H = u2 sin 2θ / 2g

H = 80 x 80 x sin² 60 / 20 =240 m

t = U sin θ / g

= 80 sin 60 / 10 = 6.93 s

R =U2 sin 2θ / g

= 802sin 2 (60) ) / 10

R = 640 sin 120 / 10 = 554.3m

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. A ball is projected horizontally from the top of a hill with a velocity of 30m/s. if it reaches the
ground 5 seconds later, the height of the hill is?

2. A stone is projected at an angle 60 and an initial velocity of 20m/s determine the time of
flight

3. A gun fires a shell at an angle of elevation of 30° with a velocity of 2x10³m/s, what are the
horizontal and vertical components of the velocity? What is the range of the shell? How high will
it rise?

4. A stone propelled from a catapult with a speed of 50m/s attains a height of 100m. Calculate.
(a)the time of flight (b). the angle of projection (c). the range attained.

5. A body starts from rest and accelerate uniformly at 5m/s2 until it attain a velocity of 25m/s.
Calculate the time taken to attain this velocity

6. A particle accelerates uniformly from rest at 6m/s2 for 8secs and then decelerates uniformly to
rest in the next 5 secs. Determine magnitude of the deceleration

7. A car takes off from rest and covers a distance of 80m on a straight road in10secs Calculate
its acceleration.

8. An object is released from rest at a height of 20m. Calculate the time it takes to fall to the
ground ( g= 10m/s2)
9. A body accelerates uniformly rest at the rate of 3m/s2 for 8 secs. Calculate the distance it
covers.

10. A particle start from rest and moves with constant acceleration of 0.5m/s2 .Calculate the time
taken by the particle to cover a distance of 25m .

11. A particle accelerate uniformly from rest at 6m/s2 for 8secs and then decelerates uniformly
to rest in the next 7secs .Determine the magnitude of the deceleration.