Chapter 9.

Motion Along A Straight Line

[PAPER 2, SECTION C, 10 Marks]
9.1 BASICS : Displac!"#, $l%ci#& a"' Acclra#i%"
s = displacement (distance measured from a certain point + direction)
v = velocity of moving object [usually towards the right is considered positive]
a = acceleration of moving object
s ( )*#+ ['isplac!"# is ,s,all& -i." as a ),"c#i%" %) #i!]
. ( ) /*#+ (
ds
dt
a ( ) 0*#+ (
dv
dt
1"'rs#a"'i"- k&2%r's i" 3,s#i%"s a"' a"s2ri"- #c4"i3,s
N%# : 1s,all& #4 3,s#i%" asks a5%,# 6.l%ci#&0 5ca,s i# i".%l.s 'i))r"#ia#i%" #% %5#ai"
6acclra#i%"0 a"' i"#-ra#i%" #% '#r!i" #4 6'isplac!"#0 *'is#a"c #ra.ll'+.
No. Keywords Meaning Examples / Remarks
1. Initial o At the eginning
o !hen t " #
1.1 Initial displa$ement % t " #& s " '..
1.( Initial )elo$ity % t " #& ) " '..
1.* Initial a$$eleration % t " #& a " '..
(. +arti$le ret,rns to starting
point -
s " #
.andidates are re/,ired to determine the
#i! 0or ea$h sit,ation.
!ith this time t& $andidates are then
asked to determine another /,antity.
1s,ally $andidates are also asked to
sket$h the graph showing the motion o0
the parti$les.
*. +arti$le passes thro,gh - s " #
2. +arti$le a$hie)es
maxim,m / minim,m
displa$ement
) " #
3. +arti$le a$hie)es
maxim,m / minim,m
)elo$ity
a " #
4. +arti$le $hanges dire$tion
o0 motion
) " #
5. +arti$le stops
instantaneo,sly '..
) " #
6. +arti$les mo)es with
$onstant )elo$ity '
a " #
Motion Along A Straight Line
1
9.1 Displac!"#
7i8 !hen a parti$le mo)es along a straight line& its displa$ement 7s8 0rom a 0ixed point - $hanges with time t.
!e write % s " 07t8
7ii8 I0 the dire$tion towards the right is $onsidered positi)e& then
7a8 p%si#i. displa$ement means the parti$le is on the right side of O&
78 "-a#i. displa$ement means the parti$le is on the left side of O&
7$8 7r% displa$ement means the parti$le is at O.
9
1
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line passing
thro,gh -. Its displa$ement& s metres& 0rom - at t
se$onds a0ter passing thro,gh - is gi)en y
s = 4t t
2
.
7a8 :ind the displa$ement o0 the parti$le when
7i8 t " #&
7ii8 t " 1&
7iii8 t " *&
7i)8 t " 3
;ket$h the displa$ement<time graph o0 the
motion o0 the parti$le 0or # 3 t
78!hen is the parti$le back at O once again=
A
1
9
(
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line passing
thro,gh -. Its displa$ement& s metres& 0rom - at t
se$onds a0ter passing thro,gh - is gi)en y
s = t
2
+ 3t 10 .
:ind
7a8 the initial displa$ement&
78 the displa$ement when t " *&

7$8 the distan$e tra)elled in the 0o,rth se$ond.
7d8 the total distan$e tra)elled in the 0irst 2
se$onds.
A
(

9
*
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line passing
thro,gh -. Its displa$ement& s metres& 0rom - at t
se$onds a0ter passing thro,gh - is gi)en y
s = 80t 4t
2
.
7a8 !hen is the parti$le
7i8 *## m to the right o0 - =
7ii8 3## m to the le0t o0 - =
7iii8 passing thro,gh - again=
78 :ind the time inter)al when
7i8 the parti$le mo)es to the right
7ii8 the displa$ement is negati)e.
(Assume motion to the right is positive
A
*
.
Motion Along A Straight Line
(
9.2 $l%ci#&
7i8 >elo$ity is the rate o0 $hange o0 displa$ement with respe$t to time.
s = f(t! v = f "(t "
ds
dt
? differentiate s on$e@
7ii8 I0 the dire$tion o0 motion towards the right is $onsidered positi)e& then
7a8 p%si#i. )elo$ity means the parti$le is moving to#ards the right&
78 "-a#i. )elo$ity means the parti$le is moving to#ards the left!&
7$8 7r% )elo$ity means the parti$le is stationar$.
9
1
Ahe )elo$ity& v ms
<1
& o0 a parti$le mo)ing along a
straight line is gi)en y v = % + 4t t
2
at time t
se$onds a0ter passing thro,gh a 0ixed point -.
:ind
7a8 the initial )elo$ity&
78 the )elo$ity when t " (s&
7$8 the time when the parti$le stops
instantaneo,sly&
7d8 the inter)al when the parti$le moves towards
the left.
A
1
9
(
Ahe )elo$ity& v ms
<1
& o0 a parti$le mo)ing along a
straight line is gi)en y v = t
2
&t + 8 at time t
se$onds a0ter passing thro,gh a 0ixed point -.
:ind
7a8 the initial )elo$ity&
78 the )elo$ity when t " *s&
7$8 the time when the parti$le stops
instantaneo,sly&
7d8 the inter)al when the parti$le mo)es to the
le0t.
A
(
9
*
Ahe )elo$ity& v ms
<1
& o0 a parti$le mo)ing along a
straight line is gi)en y v = 20 + 8t t
2
at time t
se$onds a0ter passing thro,gh a 0ixed point -.
:ind
7a8 the initial )elo$ity&
78 the initial a$$eleration&
7$8 the maxim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le
7d8 the inter)al when the parti$le mo)es to the
right.
7e8 the distan$e tra)eled in the 0irst * se$onds.
A
*
Motion Along A Straight Line
*
9.8 Acclra#i%"
7i8 A$$eleration is the rate o0 $hange o0 )elo$ity with respe$t to time.
s = f(t! v = f "(t "
ds
dt
& a "
dv
dt
? differentiate v on$e& or s t#i'e B@
7ii8 P%si#i. a$$eleration means the )elo$ity o0 the parti$le is in'reasing&
N-a#i. a$$eleration means the parti$le is slo#ing do#n!&
7r% a$$eleration means the parti$le is mo)ing with ()*+O,- velo'it$.
9
1
Ahe a$$eleration& a ms
<(
& o0 a parti$le mo)ing
along a straight line is gi)en y a = 12 4t!
where t is the time in se$onds a0ter passing
thro,gh a 0ixed point -. Ahe )elo$ity o0 the
parti$le is 12 ms
<1
when it passes thro,gh -.
:ind
7a8 the initial a$$eleration&
78 the )elo$ity when t " (s&
7$8 the time when the parti$le stops
instantaneo,sly&
7d8 the maxim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le.
A
1
9
(
Ahe a$$eleration& a ms
<(
& o0 a parti$le mo)ing
along a straight line is gi)en y a = & 2t!
where t is the time in se$onds a0ter passing
thro,gh a 0ixed point -. Ahe )elo$ity o0 the
parti$le is 19 ms
<1
when it passes thro,gh -.
:ind
7a8 the initial a$$eleration&
78 the maxim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le&
7$8 the a$$eleration o0 the parti$le when it stops
instantaneo,sly&
7d8 the total distan$e tra)elled in the 0irst 6
se$onds.
A
(
9
*
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line and passes
thro,gh a 0ixed point O& with a )elo$ity o0 (2
ms
<1
. Its a$$eleration& a ms
<(
& t s a0ter passing
thro,gh - is gi)en y a " 1# C (t. Ahe parti$le
s#%ps a0ter p se$onds.
:ind
7a8 the initial a$$eleration o0 the parti$le&
78 the maxim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le&
7$8 the )al,e o0 p&
7d8 the total distan$e tra)elled y the parti$le.
A
*
Motion Along A Straight Line
2
./- +ormat 0uestions
9
1
(
#
#
2
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line 0rom a
0ixed point +. Its )elo$ity& > ms
<1
& is gi)en y
v = 2t (3 t & where t is the time& in se$onds&
a0ter lea)ing the point +.
(Assume motion to the right is positive
:ind
7a8 the maxim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le&
78 the distan$e tra)elled d,ring the third se$ond&
7$8 the )al,e o0 o0 t when the parti$le passes the
point + again&
7d8 the time etween lea)ing + and when the
parti$le re)erses its dire$tion o0 motion.
A
1
9
1
(
#
#
4
A parti$le mo)es in a straight line and passes
thro,gh a 0ixed point -. Its )elo$ity& ) ms
<1<&
is
gi)en y ) " t
(
C 6t D 13& where t is the time& in
se$onds& a0ter lea)ing -.
(Assume motion to the right is positive
7a8 :ind
7i8 the initial )elo$ity o0 the parti$le&
7ii8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the
parti$le mo)es towards the le0t&
7iii8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the
a$$eleration o0 the parti$le is positi)e.

[5marks]
78 ;ket$h the )elo$ity<time graph o0 the motion
o0 the parti$le # 3 t [2marks]
7$ 8 $al$,late the total distan$e tra)eled d,ring
the 0irst 3 se$onds a0ter lea)ing -. [3
marks]
A
(

9
*
(
#
#
6
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line and passes
thro,gh a 0ixed point& -. Its )elo$ity& ) ms
<1<
& is
gi)en y v = 12 + 4t t
2
& where t is the time& in
se$onds& a0ter passing thro,gh -. Ahe parti$le
stops instantaneo,sly at a point 9.
:ind
7a8 the a$$eleration& in ms
<(
& o0 the parti$le at 9
?* marks@
78 the maxim,m )elo$ity& in ms
<1
& o0 the
parti$le& ?3 marks@
7$8 the total distan$e& in m& tra)eled y the
parti$le in the 0irst E se$onds & a0ter passing
thro,gh -. [4 marks]
A
*
9
2
;
+
M
t
h
i
s
y
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line and passes
thro,gh a 0ixed point& -. Its )elo$ity& ) ms
<1<
& is gi)en
y v = 3t
2
12t 1 1% & where t is the time& in se$onds&
a0ter passing thro,gh -.
(Assume motion to the right is positive
:ind
7a8 the initial a$$eleration o0 the parti$le& ?2 marks@
78 the minim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le& ?2
marks]
7$8 the total distan$e tra)elled y the parti$le 0rom the
point - ,ntil it a$hie)es maxim,m speed& ?4 marks@
A
2
Motion Along A Straight Line
3
e
a
r
=
7d8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the parti$le mo)es
towards the le0t [2 marks]
9. M%#i%" Al%"- A S#rai-4# :i" [Pas#;<ar =,s#i%"s]
1. ./- 2003 /2 012
A parti$le mo)es in a straight line and passes thro,gh a 0ixed point O& with a )elo$ity o0 (2 ms
<1
. Its
a$$eleration& a ms
<(
& t s a0ter passing thro,gh - is gi)en y a " 1#<(t. Ahe parti$le stops a0ter k s.
7a8 :ind 7i8 the maxim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le&
7ii8 the )al,e o0 k [! marks]
78 ;ket$h a )elo$ity<time graph 0or # t k
Fen$e& or otherwise& $al$,late the total distan$e tra)eled d,ring that period. [4marks]
2Ans#ers3 44! 12! 4325

(. ./- 2004 /201%
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line 0ro a 0ixed point +. Its )elo$ity& > ms
<1
& is gi)en y
v = 2t(& t& where t is the time& in se$onds& a0ter lea)ing the point +.
"Ass#me motion to the right is $ositive%
:ind
7a8 the maxim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le& [3 marks]
78 the distan$e tra)eled d,ring the third se$ond& [3 marks]
7$8 the )al,e o0 o0 t when the parti$le passes the point + again& [2marks]
7d8 the time etween lea)ing + and when the parti$le re)erses its dire$tion o0 motion.
[ 2marks]
2Ans#ers3 18!
1
15
*
! 4! &5
8. ./- 200% /201%
Giagram elow shows the positions and dire$tions o0 motion o0 two oHe$ts& + and 9& mo)ing in a straight
line passing two 0ixed points& A and I respe$ti)ely. -He$t + passes the 0ixed point A and the oHe$t 9
passes the 0ixed point I sim,ltaneo,sly. Ahe distan$e AI is (6 m

Ahe )elo$ity o0 +& )
p
ms
<1
& is gi)en )
p
" 4D2t<(t
(
& where t is the time& in se$onds A& a0ter it passes A while
9 tra)els with a $onstant )elo$ity o0 <( ms
<1
& -He$t + stops instantaneo,sly at the point .& 7Ass,me that
the positi)e dire$tion o0 motion is towards the right8
:ind&
7a8 the maxim,m )elo$ity& in ms
<1<&
o0 +& [3 marks]
78 the distan$e& in m& o0 . 0rom A& [4 marks]
7$8 the distan$e& in m& etween + and 9 when + is at the point .. [3 marks]
Motion Along A Straight Line
4
2Ans#ers3 8! 18! 45
>../- 200& /2 012
A parti$le mo)es in a straight line and passes thro,gh a 0ixed point -. Its )elo$ity& ) ms
<1<&
is gi)en y ) "
t
(
<4t D 3& where t is the time& in se$onds& a0ter lea)ing -. 7Ass,me motion to the right is positi)e8
7a8 :ind
7i8 the initial )elo$ity o0 the parti$le&
7ii8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the parti$le mo)es towards the le0t&
7iii8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the a$$eleration o0 the parti$le is positi)e.
[5marks]
78 ;ket$h the )elo$ity<time graph o0 the motion o0 the parti$le # 3 t [2marks]
7$ 8 $al$,late the total distan$e tra)eled d,ring the 0irst 3 se$onds a0ter lea)ing -.[3 marks]
2 Ans#ers3 3& 1 3 t < < & tJ* & 1*@
?. ./- 2006 /2012
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line and passes thro,gh a 0ixed point& -. Its )elo$ity& ) ms
<1<
& is gi)en y
v = t
2
&t + 8& where t is the time& in se$onds& a0ter passing thro,gh -
?Ass,me motion to the right is positi)e@
:ind
7a8 the initial )elo$ity& in ms
<1
?& mark@
78 the minim,m )elo$ity& in ms<
1
?3 marks@
I the range o0 )al,es o0 t d,ring whi$h the parti$le mo)es to the le0t. ?2 marks@
7d8 the total distan$e& in m& tra)eled y the parti$le in the 0irst 2 se$onds ?2 marks@
2Ans#ers3 8 ms
11
! 11 ms
11
! ( 2 t < < ! 8 m5
9. ./- 2008 /2012
A parti$le mo)es along a straight line and passes thro,gh a 0ixed point& -. Its )elo$ity& ) ms
<1<
& is gi)en y
v = 10 + 3t t
2
& where t is the time& in se$onds& a0ter passing thro,gh -. Ahe parti$le stops instantaneo,sly
at a point R.
:ind
7a8 the a$$eleration& in ms
<(
& o0 the parti$le at R ?* marks@
78 the maxim,m )elo$ity& in ms
<1
& o0 the parti$le& ?3 marks@
7$8 the total distan$e& in m& tra)elled y the parti$le in the 0irst E se$onds & a0ter passing
thro,gh -. ? 4 marks@

2Ans 3 6ms
12
! 12.2% ms
11
! 66 173 m5
Motion Along A Straight Line
5
-otion Along A .traight 8ine (9:tra 9:er'ises +or ;O(
T&p I : @i." s ( )*#+
91. % A parti$le mo)es in a straight line and passes thro,gh a 0ixed point -. Its displa$ement& s m& 0rom -& is
gi)en y s = t
2
&t + 8& where t is the time& in se$onds& a0ter lea)ing -.
(Assume motion to the right is positive
:ind
7a8 Ahe initial displa$ement o0 the parti$le&
78 the )al,es o0 t when the parti$le passes thro,gh -&
7$8 the )al,e o0 t when the parti$le is 1m to the le0t o0 -&
7d8 the )al,e o0 t when the parti$le is 13m to the right o0 -&
7e8 the distan$e tra)eled y the parti$le in the third se$ond&
708 the total distan$e tra)elled in the 0irst 3 se$onds&
7g8 the initial )elo$ity o0 the parti$le&
7h8 the )elo$ity o0 the parti$le when t " 2&
7i8 the a$$eleration o0 the parti$le&
7H8 the displa$ement o0 the parti$le 0rom - when it stops instantaneo,sly.
<$pe 2 3 =iven v = f(t 2-ost 'ommonl$ as>ed ?uestions5
9 (. % A parti$le mo)es in a straight line and passes thro,gh a 0ixed point -. Its )elo$ity& ) ms
<1<&
is gi)en y
. ( #
2
A 12# B 20& where t is the time& in se$onds& a0ter lea)ing -.
(Assume motion to the right is positive
7a8 :ind
7i8 the initial )elo$ity o0 the parti$le&
7ii8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the parti$le mo)es towards the le0t&
7iii8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the a$$eleration o0 the parti$le is positi)e.
[5marks]
78 ;ket$h the )elo$ity<time graph o0 the motion o0 the parti$le # 1# t [2marks]
7$ 8 $al$,late the total distan$e tra)eled d,ring the 0irst 1# se$onds a0ter lea)ing -. [3 marks]
9* % A parti$le mo)es along a straight line and passes thro,gh a 0ixed point& +. Its )elo$ity& ) ms
<1<
& is gi)en
y v = 3 t(4 t& where t is the time& in se$onds& a0ter passing thro,gh +.
[Ass#me motion to the right is $ositive]
:ind
7a8 the maxim,m )elo$ity o0 the parti$le& [3 marks]
78 the distan$e tra)eled d,ring the third se$ond& [3 marks]
7$8 the )al,e o0 o0 t when the parti$le passes the point + again& [2marks]
7d8 the time etween lea)ing + and when the parti$le re)erses its dire$tion o0 motion.
[ 2marks]
2Ans#ers3 12 ms
11
! 11 m ! t = &s! # 2 t < < 5
T&p 8 : @i." a ( )*#+
92 . % A parti$le mo)es in a straight line and passes thro,gh a 0ixed point -. Its a$$eleration& a ms
<1<&
is
gi)en y a = 3 (& t& where t is the time& in se$onds& a0ter lea)ing -.
"Ass#me motion to the right is $ositive%
7a8 :ind
7i8 the initial a$$eleration o0 the parti$le&
7ii8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the parti$le mo)es towards the le0t&
7iii8 the time inter)al d,ring whi$h the a$$eleration o0 the parti$le is positi)e.
[5marks]
Motion Along A Straight Line
6
78 ;ket$h the )elo$ity<time graph o0 the motion o0 the parti$le # 1( t [2marks]
7$ 8 $al$,late the total distan$e tra)elled d,ring the 0irst 1( se$onds a0ter lea)ing -. [3 marks]
2Ans#ers3 18 ms
12
! t @ 12 ! 0 A t A & B 432m 5
Motion Along A Straight Line
E