Kinematics:

Motion Along
A Straight Line
GENERAL PHYSICS 1
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• identify the kinematic variables (distance, time, velocity, and
acceleration) in a given set of conditions of a particle in
motion;
• construct graphs given sets of values;
• solve simple problems involving uniform motion and uniformly
accelerated motion; and
• value the importance of graphs by understanding the pattern it
conveys especially in telling patterns and relationships.
 ARE YOU MOVING OR NOT?

Let us consider this event. You were standing at the road side when a Ceres bus
passed by. You noticed your classmate Pedro was sitting inside the bus travelling from
Dumaguete City to Mabinay.
You observed and surely your common sense will tell that Pedro was in motion.
Hence, you can say that motion is a change in position or location of a particle as
a function of time.
 ARE YOU MOVING OR NOT?

Let us look at the same event inside the Ceres bus where Pedro is seated.
Is Pedro in motion?
Technically Pedro is not in motion. He is just sitting down. His position or location has not
changed as a function of time. To an inside observer, Pedro is not in motion.
If Pedro is not in motion but the bus is in motion, then it is possible that Pedro will be left
from the bus.
 What is motion?

Motion is a change in position or location of a

particle as a function of time from a reference point
of observation.
 Motion

The concept of motion is operationally observed.

In kinematics where motion is described, it becomes imperative that the
variables affecting motion in one dimension be identified and properly defined.

The kinematic variables are as follows:

1. Distance – this is actual path covered by a moving particle measured in
meters.
Displacement – this is apparent change in location/position of a moving
particle with reference to its point of origin. It is also measured in meters.
2. Time – this is the interval between two events or observations of a moving
particle in a straight line. It is measured in seconds.
 Motion

The concept of motion is operationally observed.

In kinematics where motion is described, it becomes imperative that the
variables affecting motion in one dimension be identified and properly defined.

The kinematic variables are as follows:

3. Velocity – this is the change in position (displacement) of a particle as a
function of time. It is measured in meters per second.
Speed – this is the distance travelled as a function of time. It is also
measured in meters per second (m/s).
4. Acceleration – This is the change in velocity/speed per unit time of the
moving particle. It is measured in meters per squared second.
 Motion

In Physics, there are usually two major components in presenting principles.

The first is the conceptual component, and the second is its mathematical
component.

For example, at the Earth’s surface, we say that all objects fall when
dropped from a certain height. This concept is described as gravitational force.
But when we start quantifying this force, we express this equal to its mass
(m) multiplied by gravitational acceleration (g) of the Earth near its surface which
is equal to 9.8 m/s2. Hence, we say that F = ma.
Mathematics supports the concept, and it makes Physics easier to explain to
a certain degree.
 Motion

Try to picture a car that is moving at a constant (positive) acceleration,

meaning there is a constant change in velocity per unit time.

After some time, you will expect that the car will be increasing its velocity
unless the conditions are changed.
This situation involve time, distance, initial and instantaneous velocities,
which affect the distance covered. This is the conceptual component of this
situation.
 Motion

Expressing the event in its mathematical component, we invoke one of the

kinematic equations as stated below:

The equation above is the mathematical description of the conceptual

physical situation in the kinematics of a particle. This will allow
quantitativepredictions and anticipatory picture of the events hereafter some
time.
 Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
It is a common knowledge that graphs always represent variables that would
like to show useful information and its relationships. These relationships usually
have physical meaning which will address various components in any learning
activity.
A. Velocity versus Time
 Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
It is a common knowledge that graphs always represent variables that would
like to show useful information and its relationships. These relationships usually
have physical meaning which will address various components in any learning
activity.
A. Velocity versus Time
The area in the graph can be solved by multiplying its length by its width.
Hence, if we use the formula, Area = length shown as time (s) x width shown
as velocity (m/s) = m or simply its displacement.
Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
 Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
B. Acceleration versus Time
Using a similar line of thought as above, the graph below will be obtained.

The area in the above graph can be solved by multiplying its length by its
width. Hence, if we use the formula, Area = length shown as time(s) x width
shown as acceleration = m/s or its velocity.
Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
 Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
C. Position versus Time
This time we apply the concept of the slope of the line generated between
these two variables of a moving particle which are position and time. The slope
(m) of the generated line or curve will be obtained by dividing the y component
with the x component. Using the Cartesian coordinate system, the following
figure can be obtained:
 Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
Slope = y component (m) ÷ x component (s) = m/s, or the velocity (m/s)
 Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
D. Velocity versus Time
Using the slope (m) of the generated line from this relationship will yield
acceleration. Similar procedure will be used in representing the interpretation.

Slope (m) = y component ÷ x component = velocity (m/s) ÷ time (s) = m/s2

This will give us the physical quantity called acceleration in (m/s2)
Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
Graphical Representations and
Interpretations of Motion
 Motion Along a Straight Line

Distance and Displacement

The object’s position is its location with respect to a chosen reference

point. Distance is a scalar quantity that refers to “how much ground an object
has covered” during its motion. Displacement is a vector quantity that refers
to “how far out of place an object is”; it is the object's overall change in
position.
 Motion Along a Straight Line

Distance vs Displacement
 Motion Along a Straight Line

Average Speed
 Motion Along a Straight Line

Average Velocity
 Motion Along a Straight Line

Negative Velocity
The average velocity is negative during a time interval if the particle
moves in the negative x-direction for that time interval.

Instantaneous Velocity
Instantaneous velocity is the velocity at a specific instant or time or a
specific point in the path. It indicates what is happening at every point of time.
It is the limit of the average velocity as the interval approaches 0. It equals to
the instantaneous rate of change of position with time.
Motion Along a Straight Line
Motion Along a Straight Line
Motion Along a Straight Line
Motion Along a Straight Line

45.00 𝑚

45.00 𝑚 8.75 𝑚

8.75 𝑚 1 7.5
𝑚
𝑠
Motion Along a Straight Line
 Motion Along a Straight Line

Average vs. Instantaneous Acceleration

Recall that velocity is a vector—it has both magnitude and direction. This
means that a change in velocity can be a change in magnitude (or speed), but it
can also be a change in direction. For example, if a car turns a corner at
constant speed, it is accelerating because its direction is changing.
The quicker you turn, the greater the acceleration. There is acceleration
when the velocity changes either in magnitude (an increase or decrease in
speed), in direction, or both.
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time.
Motion Along a Straight Line
Motion Along a Straight Line
Motion Along a Straight Line
Motion Along a Straight Line

𝑚
1 .5 2
𝑠
Motion Along a Straight Line
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Sometimes an accelerating object will change its velocity by the same
amount each second. This is referred to as a constant acceleration since the
velocity is changing by a constant amount each second. An object with a
constant acceleration should not be confused with an object with a constant
velocity.
If an object is changing its velocity -whether by a constant amount or a
varying amount - then it is an accelerating object. An object with a constant
velocity is not accelerating.
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
To solve problems involving motion with constant acceleration, you use
the kinematic formulas. The kinematic formulas are a set of formulas that
relate the five kinematic variables listed below:
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Deriving the Kinematic Formulas

For Final Velocity

 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Deriving the Kinematic Formulas

For the Position

 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Deriving the Kinematic Formulas

For the Position

 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Deriving the Kinematic Formulas

Relationship for Position, Velocity, and Constant Acceleration

 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Deriving the Kinematic Formulas

Relationship for Position, Velocity, and Constant Acceleration

 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
How do you know which kinematic formula is used?
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
How do you know which kinematic formula is used?
Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Motion with Constant
Acceleration
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Freely Falling Bodies
Free fall is the motion of an object under the influence of only gravity. The
velocity change is the same in each time interval, so the acceleration is
constant.
Aristotle thought that heavy bodies fall faster than light ones, but Galileo
showed that all bodies fall at the same rate.
The constant acceleration of a freely falling body is called the acceleration
due to gravity, and we denote its magnitude with the letter g. We will frequently
use the approximate value of g at or near the earth’s surface:
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Freely Falling Bodies
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Freely Falling Bodies

At the highest point in its trajectory, the ball has

zero velocity, and the magnitude of velocity increases
again as the ball falls back toward the earth (see
Figure).
People mistakenly think the final velocity for a
falling object is zero because objects stop once they
hit the ground. In physics problems, the final velocity is
the speed just before touching the ground. Once it
touches the ground, the object is no longer in free-fall.
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Freely Falling Bodies

Since free fall is a special case of motion with constant acceleration, we

use the same kinematic formulas. However, this is motion along the vertical
axis. Hence, change the 𝑥 variables into 𝑦 and 𝑎𝑥 to −𝑔.
Motion with Constant
Acceleration
Motion with Constant
Acceleration
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration

*The negative sign means that *This means that the coin has a
the coin is 𝟒.𝟗 𝒎 below the downward velocity with a
origin. magnitude of 𝟗.𝟖 𝒎/s.
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration

*The negative sign means that *This means that the coin has a
the coin is 𝟏𝟗.𝟔 𝒎 below the downward velocity with a
origin. magnitude of 𝟏𝟗.𝟔 𝒎/𝒔.
 Motion with Constant
Acceleration

*The negative sign means that *This means that the coin has a
the coin is 44.1 𝑚 below the downward velocity with a
origin. magnitude of 29.4 𝒎/𝒔.
Seatwork
Seatwork
Seatwork

*The ball has an upward velocity with a *At 𝒕 = 𝟏.𝟎𝟎 𝒔, the ball is 𝟏𝟎.𝟏 𝒎 above the
magnitude of 𝟓.𝟐 𝒎/𝒔. starting point.
Seatwork

*At 𝒕 = 𝟒.𝟎𝟎 𝒔, the ball has passed its highest

*The ball is moving downward
point and is now 𝟏𝟖.𝟒 𝒎 below the starting
with a velocity of 𝟐𝟒.𝟐 𝒎/𝒔.
point.
Seatwork

*We get two values of 𝒗𝒚 because the ball passes through the 𝟓.𝟎 𝒎 point twice, once on the
way up (so 𝒗𝒚 is positive) and once on the way down (so 𝒗𝒚 is negative)
Seatwork
REFERENCES
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