Motion in One Dimension

Our focus on this topic will be to describe motion. We will begin by defining quantities that we are going to
use to describe motion then derive the mathematical expressions to describe motion of an boject.
A. Displacement.

1. The displacement of an object is defined as the change in its

position.

2. It is given by the difference between its final and initial coordi-

nates:
∆x ≡ xf − xi = displacement. (-1)

3. Displacement is a vector quantity =⇒ has direction and magni-

tude:
∆~x ≡ ~xf − ~xi . (-2)

Example 1. A car starts at a position 30 m from a stop

sign and continues past the stop sign until it comes to rest 120 m
past the sign. What is its displacement?
x

STOP

xi O xf
xi = -30 m xf = 120 m
∆x = xf − xi = 120 m − (−30 m) = 120 m + 30 m = 150 m

Note that since 150 is positive, the car is moving in the positive
x direction.

-1
–2 IT-122 Physics

4. Unit vectors:
a) Actually in Example (III-1), displacement should have
been represented as a vector ∆~x instead of a scalar ∆x
(note that using vector notation in one dimension is actu-
ally not needed since we always know that we will alway
be along the x, or some other, axis).

b) A unit vector has a magnitude of unity (i.e., 1) and a

direction =⇒ it conveys the directional information of a
vector quantity.
i) Cartesian x-direction: ~i or x̂.

ii) Cartesian y-direction: ~j or ŷ.

iii) Cartesian z-direction: ~k or ẑ.

iv) Polar r-direction: r̂.

v) Polar θ-direction: θ̂.

c) In this class we will use the “hat” notation (i.e., x̂) for
the unit vectors for Cartesian coordinates instead of the
ijk notation in order to make it consistent with what we
will use for polar coordinates. (Note that your textbook
does not use the unit vector notation.)

d) As such, we can write a vector in component form:

~ = Ax x̂ + Ay ŷ + Az ẑ ,
A (3)
whereas your textbook writes a vector as the sum of its
Cartesian vector components (the vector arrow is not writ-
ten in your textbook but it is implied):
~=A
A ~x + A
~y + A
~z .
 3

Once again, we shall be using the first version of vector

components in this course. In Eq. (III-3), Ax , Ay , and Az
are all scalars =⇒ they only contain the vector’s magni-
tude of the given vector component.

e) In Example (1), we could have solved the problem us-

ing vector notation:

∆~x = ~xf − ~xi = (120 m) x̂ − (−30 m) x̂ = (150 m) x̂ .

B. Average Velocity.

1. The average velocity, v, is defined as the displacement divided

by the time interval during which the displacement occurred:
∆x xf − xi
v= =
∆t tf − ti
or in vector notation:
∆~x ~xf − ~xi
~v = = . (-4)
∆t tf − ti

2. The average velocity of an object during the time interval ti to

tf is equal to the slope of the straight line joining the initial and
final points on a graph of the position of the object plotted versus
time.

Example 2. In Example (III-1), assume it takes 5 seconds

to move ∆x. What is the car’s average velocity?

∆x xf − xi 120 m − (−30 m) 150 m

v = = = =
∆t tf − ti 5 s−0 s 5s
= 30 m/s in the positive x direction.
–4 IT-122 - Physics

3. When plotting the value of a variable as a function of some other

variable, the path on that plot that the object takes is called a
trajectory.

Example 3. From the graph below, calculate the average

velocity of the trajectory plotted.
x slope of connecting line
is average velocity

f
3m

i
2m

1m

1s 2s 3s t

xf − xi 3 m −2 m 1 m
v = = =
tf − ti 3 s−1 s 2s
= 0.5 m/s in the positive x direction.

C. Instantaneous Velocity.

1. The instantaneous velocity, ~v , is defined as the limit of the

average velocity as the time interval ∆t becomes infinitesimally
small.
 –5

a) In equation form:

∆~x d~x
~v ≡ lim ≡ , (-5)
∆t→0 ∆t dt
where the d~x/dt notation is from calculus and is the time
derivative of vector x. Note that we will not be using
calculus in this course, I just introduce it here to give you
a flavor of physics at the next level.

b) The notation lim means that the ratio ∆x/∆t is to be

∆t→0
evaluated as the time interval, ∆t, gets shorter and shorter
approaching zero.

c) Graphically, the slope of the tangent line on the position-

time curve is defined to be the instantaneous velocity at
that time.

∆x

slope of this line

is average velocity

t
∆t
6 1T-122 - Physics

P
∆x

slope of this line

is average velocity

t
∆t

slope of dashed line is

instantaneous velocity

↑ t
lim
∆t → 0

2. The instantaneous speed of an object, which is a scalar quan-

tity, is defined as the absolute magnitude of the instantaneous
velocity. Hence from this definition, speed can never be nega-
tive.

3. From this point forward, the word “velocity” will mean instan-
taneous velocity and the word “speed” will mean instantaneous
speed.
 –7

D. Acceleration.

1. The average acceleration, a, during a given time interval is

defined as the change in velocity divided by that time interval
during which the change occurs:

∆~v ~vf − ~vi

~a = = . (-6)
∆t tf − ti

Example III–4. A parked car is hit head on by another car.

Three seconds after the collision, the car that was parked is now
traveling a 8 km/hr. What is the average acceleration of this car in
SI units?
x1i=0, ti=0, v1i=0
v2i

2 1

O BEFORE x
x1f=?, tf=3 s,
v1f=8 km/hr
v2f = 0

2 1

O AFTER x

~v1f − ~v1i (8 km/hr) x̂ − 0 x̂ 8 km 1

~a = = = x̂
tf − ti 3 s−0 s 3 hr s
km 1 1 hr km
= 2.667 · x̂ = 7.407 × 10−4 2 x̂
s hr 3600 s s
3
km 10 m m
= 7.407 × 10−4 2 · x̂ = 7.407 × 10−1 2 x̂
s 1 km s
2 2
= (0.7407 m/s ) x̂ = (0.7 m/s ) x̂ .

(Remember, round the number such that it is consistent with the

significant digits of the input numbers.)
–8 IT-122 - Physics

2. The instantaneous acceleration of an object at a certain time

equals the slope of the velocity-time graph at that instant in time
(i.e., tangent line of v(t) at that point).
v

instantaneous
acceleration
vf P

average
acceleration
vi

ti tf t
∆~v d~v d d~x d 2~x
!
~a ≡ lim ≡ = = 2 , (-7)
∆t→0 ∆t dt dt dt dt
where the d 2~x/dt2 is the double derivative of the displacement
with respect to time from calculus.

E. One-Dimensional (1-D) Motion with Constant Acceleration.

1. Equations of 1-D motion:

a) Let initial conditions be described with the subscript “◦”
=⇒ x◦ , v◦ , & t◦ = 0 (from this point forward, with a few
exceptions, we will set the initial time to zero).

b) Let the final conditions be arbitrary =⇒ no subscript is

written: x, v, & t.
∆v
c) For constant acceleration =⇒ (i.e., the slope) is con-
∆t
stant (i.e., it does not change with time).
average acceleration = instantaneous acceleration
 –9

i) Velocity (i.e., instantaneous velocity from acceler-

ation definition):
vf − vi v − v◦ v − v◦
a= = =
tf − ti t−0 t
or
at = v − v◦ ,
and finally,

v = v◦ + at for constant “a”. (III-8)

ii) Average velocity:

v◦ + v
v= for constant “a”. (III-9)
2

iii) Displacement:
x − x◦
v= , let x◦ = 0 ,
t
x
then v = , or x = vt and
t
1
x= (v◦ + v) t . (-10)
2

Substituting Eq. (III-8) for v gives

1
x = (v◦ + at + v◦ ) t
2
1
= (2v◦ + at) t
2
1
!
= v◦ + at t
2

1
x = v◦ t + at2 for constant “a.” (-11)
2
–10 IT-122 - Physics

iv) Velocity (i.e., instantaneous velocity, yet another

way):
— Take Equation (III-8) and solve for t:

v = v◦ + at
⇓
v − v◦
at = v − v◦ =⇒ t =
a

— Plug this value of t into Equation (III-10):

1 1 v − v◦
!
x = (v + v◦ ) t = (v + v◦ )
2 2 a
(v + v◦ ) (v − v◦ ) v − vv◦ + v◦ v − v◦2
2
x = =
2a 2a
2 2
v − v◦
x =
2a
2ax = v − v◦2
2

or

v2 = v◦2 + 2ax for constant “a.” (12)

d) Summary:

Equation Information Given by Equation

v = v◦ + at Velocity as a function of time.

v2 = v◦2 + 2ax Velocity as a function of displacement.

x = v◦ t + 21 at2 Displacement as a function of time.

x = 21 (v + v◦ ) t Displacement as a function of time & velocity.

Note: In the above equations, “a” is constant and the

motion is in a straight line starting at the origin (x◦ = 0)
 –11

at t◦ = 0. If the initial position and time are not zero, the

equations of motion take the following form:
Equation Function

v = v◦ + a(t − t◦ ) v(t)

v2 = v◦2 + 2a(x − x◦ ) v(x)

x = x◦ + v◦ (t − t◦ ) + 12 a(t − t◦)2 x(t)

x = x◦ + 21 (v + v◦ ) (t − t◦ ) x(v, t)

2. Problem-Solving Strategy for Accelerated Motion in 1-D:

a) Make sure all of the units of the parameters in the problem
are consistent.

b) Choose a coordinate system (and draw a picture).

c) Make a list of all of the quantities given in the problem

and a separate list of those to be determined.

d) Select those equations that will allow you to determine

the unknown parameters (i.e., variables).

e) Make sure your answer is consistent with the diagram

drawn in part (b).

Example –5. A car starts from rest at a stop sign and accel-
erates (at a constant rate) to the posted speed limit of 50 km/hr.
The car reaches the speed limit after traveling 107 m. What is the
average velocity and acceleration of the car? How long does it take
you to reach the speed limit?
a) Units consistent? NO!
–12 IT-122 Physics

x = 107 m & v = 50 km/hr. We want SI units, so change km

into m:
km m
v = 50 · 103 = 5.0 × 104 m/hr.
hr km
Change hours to seconds:
m 1 hr
v = 5.0 × 104 · = 13.89 m/s = 14. m/s.
hr 3600 s
b) Choose a coordinate system (and draw picture):

vo = 0 v = 50 km/hr

x
xo = 0 x = 107 m
to = 0 t=?

c) Quantities given:

t◦ = 0, x◦ = 0, v◦ = 0, v = 14. m/s, x = 107 m

Unknown quantities:
t, v, a.

d) Choose equations:
v◦ + v
v = (for v)
2
v2 2
= v◦ + 2ax (for a)
v = v◦ + at (for t)

e) Calculate results and check with figure:

v◦ + v 0 + 14. m/s 14
v= = = m/s
2 2 2

v = 7.0 m/s
 –13

v2 = v◦2 + 2ax =⇒ 2ax = v2 − v◦2

v2 − v◦2
a =
2x
(14. m/s)2 − 02 142 m2s−2
a = =
2(107 m) 214 m
−1 −2
= 9.16 × 10 m s

a = 0.92 m/s2

v − v◦
v = v◦ + at =⇒ at = v − v◦ =⇒ t =
a
14 m/s − 0 m s−1
t= = 15.22
0.92 m/s2 m s−2

t = 15 s

3. Freely Falling Bodies.

a) Galileo Galilei is the father of experimental physics =⇒
carried out a variety of experiments in mechanics, the
study of motion.
i) Near the surface of the Earth, bodies fall at the
same rate of acceleration independent of the body’s
mass.

ii) Air resistance can affect the rate at which a body

falls.

iii) Note that Galileo is also the first person to ob-

serve celestial objects in the sky with a telescope
=⇒ hence is also the father of observational as-
tronomy.
–14 IT -122 Physics

b) Bodies in free fall:

i) A freely falling body is an object moving only un-
der the influence of gravity, regardless of its initial
motion.

ii) Objects thrown upward or downward and those

released from rest are all falling freely once they
are released (even if they are initially going up).

iii) Once a body is in free fall, all objects have an ac-

celeration downward =⇒ this free-fall acceleration
is called the surface gravity ~g .

iv) A gravitating body’s surface gravity depends upon

the total mass and size of the gravitating body.

v) The Earth’s surface gravity at sea-level is

g = 9.80 m/s2 = 980 cm/s2 = 32 ft/s2 .

(13)

vi) Actually, bodies dropped in the Earth’s atmo-

sphere will experience a frictional force from air re-
sistance in addition to the gravitational force. In
this course, we will ignore air resistance (but it is
important in reality).

Example 6. A model rocket is launched straight upward

with an initial speed of 50.0 m/s. It accelerates with a constant up-
ward acceleration of 2.00 m/s2 until its engines stop at an altitude
of 150 m. (a) What can you say about the motion of the rocket
after its engines stop? (b) What is the maximum height reached
 –15

by the rocket? (c) How long after lift-off does the rocket reach its
maximum height? (d) How long is the rocket in the air?

a) What can be said about the motion of the rocket after the
engines stop?

The rocket will continue upward, but start to decelerate due to

the Earth’s gravitational field until the upward velocity reaches
zero. The rocket then begins to fall back to the ground with an
acceleration equal to the Earth’s surface gravity (i.e., 9.80 m/s2 ).

b) What is the max height?

y
* y1 = 150 m
t1 = ?, v1 = ?
y ymax
Step 2
a2 = -g = -9.80 m/s2

a1 = 2.00 m/s2
Engines shut off = y1

vo = 50.0 m/s
Step 1

yo = 0
a1 = 2.00 m/s2
to = 0
Rocket while
engines are on

Step 1:
As we will see in §IV of the notes, we use y for vertical displace-
ment. We first need to calculate the velocity of the rocket when
the engine is turned off: v1 −→ we are given a1 = 2.00 m/s2,
y1 = 150 m, v0 = 50.0 m/s, and we can set y◦ = 0 (i.e., the
ground) and t◦ = 0. Then we can determine v1 from the follow-
ing equation:

v12 = v◦2 + 2a1 y1

= (50.0 m/s)2 + 2(2.00 m/s2 )(150 m)
16 IT 122 Physics

= 2.50 × 103 m2 /s2 + 6.00 × 102 m2/s2

or
25.0 ×102 m2 /s2
6.00 ×102 m2 /s2
v12 = 31.00 ×102 m2 /s2
31.0 ×102 m2 /s2
3.10 ×103 m2 /s2
q
v1 = 3.10 × 103 m2 /s2 = 5.57 × 101 m/s = 55.7 m/s.
Now we need to calculate ymax ≡ y2.
Step 2:
We will need y1 , a2 , and v1 , also v2 = 0 (rocket comes to rest).
Our initial velocity is now v1 and our final velocity is v2 , so we
can write:

v22 = v12 + 2a2∆y = v12 + 2a2 (y2 − y1) ,

and note that ymax = y2 and that the acceleration is now the
downward acceleration due to gravity: a2 = −g = −9.80 m/s2 .

From v22 = v12 + 2a2 (y2 − y1 ), we solve for y2:

v22 − v12 v2 − v12
y2 − y1 = = 2
2a2 −2g
2 2
v − v2
y2 = ymax = y1 + 1
2g
(55.7 m/s)2 − 02
ymax = 150 m +
2(9.80 m/s2)
3.10 × 103 m2/s2
= 150 m +
1.96 × 101 m/s2
m2 s−2
= 150 m + 1.58 × 103−1
m s−2
2
= 150 m + 1.58 × 10 m = 150 m + 158 m

ymax = 308 m .
 –17

c) How long does it take to reach ymax ?

Step 1:
During this phase of our flight, we have t◦ = 0, v◦ = 50.0 m/s,
and v1 = 55.7 m/s. With these initial parameters, we can now
determine t1 , which is the time when the rocket reaches y1. Using
vf = vi + a(tf − ti ), we get v1 = v◦ + a1(t1 − t◦ ) = v◦ + a1 t1 for
Step 1 of out flight. Solving for t1 gives:
v1 − v◦
t1 =
a1
55.7 m/s − 50.0 m/s
=
2.00 m/s2
5.7 m s−1 s2
= = 2.85 = 2.9 s
2.00 m s−2 s

Step 2:
We can now solve for t2 , which is the time the rocket reaches y2 =
ymax . For this Step 2 of our flight, we have v2 = v1 + a2 (t2 − t1 ).
Solving for t2 we get
v2 − v1
t2 − t1 =
a2
v2 − v1
t2 = t1 +
a2
0 − 55.7 m/s
= 2.9 s +
−9.80 m/s2
−55.7 s2
= 2.9 s +
−9.80 s
= 2.9 s + 5.68 s = 8.58 s ,

hence
t2 = 8.6 s .
–18 IT-122 Physics

d) How long is the rocket in the air?

We just figured out how long it took to get to ymax , we now have
to find out how long it takes to fall, then add the two numbers
together.

Step 3:
Use y = y◦ + v◦ (t − t◦ ) + 21 a(t − t◦ )2 and solve for t. Note that for
this Step 3, using what we have calculated from Steps 1 and 2, we
are free t◦ = 0. The remaining known parameters are v◦ = 0 (the
velocity at the top of the trajectory = v at ymax = y2 from part
b), y = 0 (the ground), and a = −g (gravitational acceleration
is pointing downward with respect to y).

y
yo = ymax , vo = 0, to = 0
=⇒ Set up a new
problem!
Step 3

Want to solve for t,

a = -g
what we are given is shown
in the figure to the left.

y = 0, v = ?, t = ?
O

Carrying out the mathematics to determine the time needed to

reach the ground from our maximum height (t3 ), we get
1
y = ymax + v◦ (t − t◦ ) + a(t − t◦ )2
2
1
0 = ymax + 0 · (t − 0) − g(t − 0)2
2
 –19

1 2
= ymax − gt
2
1 2
gt = ymax
2
2ymax
t2 =
g
v v
u 2ymax 2 · 308 m
u u
u
t = t3 = t = u
9.80 m/s2
t
g
√
t3 = 62.9 s2 = 7.93 s

The total time in the air is then just the sum of the time found
in part (b) and the time found in part (c): ttotal = t2 + t3 , or

ttotal = 8.6 s + 7.93 s = 16.5 s .