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HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Average Velocity and Instantaneous Velocity of an Object in Rectilinear Motion

An object that moves along a coordinate axis is said to be in rectilinear motion.
The displacement of such an object over a time interval is its net change in position on
the axis. Its average velocity is its net change in its position divided by the change in
time. If its position on the axis at time t is s(t), its displacement over a time interval of
duration t beginning at time t is s(t + t ) – s(t), its
s (t  t )  s (t )
average velocity =
t
s (t  t )  s (t )
instantaneous velocity= lim =s’(t)
t  0 t

Linear Motion
Suppose the point P is moving on a straight line in accordance with the function Linear
x = f(t) where t is the time
dx
Then, velocity v  x
dt

dv d 2x
Then, acceleration a  v   2  x
dt dt
In physics, we have 4 equations of linear motion with uniform acceleration; i.e. acceleration is constant a.

a
x  vo t  t 2
2
v  u  at
2
v 2  vo  2ax
vo  v
x( )t
2

Motion on a plane

Displacement x  ( x, y ) , distance | x | x 2  y 2

2 2
dx dy  dx   dy 
Velocity v  ( , ) , speed | v |     
dt dt  dt   dt 

2 2
d 2x d2y  d 2x   d 2 y 
acceleration a  ( 2 , ), | a |  2    2 
dt dt 2  dt   dt 
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 1 Calculating average velocity

A car accelerates from a stop sign and moves in a straight line, traveling s(t) = 2t2 feet in
t seconds for 0 ≤ t ≤ 20. Find the car’s displacement and average velocity over the time
interval [1, 10].
Solution The car has traveled s(1) = 2(1)2 = 2 feet after 1 second,
s(10) = 2(10)2 = 200 feet after 10 seconds.
Its displacement over the time interval [1, 10] is s(10) – s(1) = 200 – 2 = 198 feet,
and its average velocity is
change in position s(10)  s(1) 200  2 198
    22 ft/sec.
change in time 10  1 10  1 9

Example 2 Calculating average velocity

A rock thrown upward from ground level is at a height of s(t) = 96t – 16t2 feet above the
ground after t seconds for 0 ≤ t ≤ 6.
(a) Find its displacement and average velocity over the time interval [2, 5].
(b) Find its displacement and average velocity over the time interval [1, 5].
Solution The rock is in rectilinear motion. The vertical axis is typically regarded as having its
origin at ground level and its positive direction pointing upward.
(a) The height of the rock is s(2) = 128 feet after 2 seconds and s(5) = 80 feet after 5
seconds. Its displacement (net change in height) over the time interval [2, 5] is
s(5) – s(2) = 80 – 128 = –48 feet, and its average velocity is
change in height s(5)  s(2) 80  128
   16 ft/sec.
change in time 52 3
(b) The height of the rock is s(1) = 80 feet after 1 second and s(5) = 80 feet after 5
seconds. Its displacement over the time interval [1, 5] is s(5) – s(1) = 0 feet, and
its average velocity is
change in height s(5)  s(1) 80  80
   0 ft sec.
change in time 5 1 4
The result of Example 2a does not imply that the rock was falling during the entire time
interval [2, 5]. In fact, you can verify that s(3) = 144, so the rock was higher after 3
seconds than it was after 2 seconds. Similarly, the result of Example 2b does not imply
that the rock was motionless during the entire interval [1, 5].
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 3
The altitude of an object thrown vertically up with a velocity of 49 m/s is given by the formula
H  49t  4.9t 2
a) what is its velocity 6 seconds later
b) the highest altitude

c) the time for the object to return to ground and the velocity then.
Solution
a)
H(t)  49t  4.9t 2
H (t)  49  4.9(2)t  49  9.8t
H (6)  49  9.8(6)  9.8
velocity  9.8 m /s downward

b)

 highest point when velocity  0

H (t)  49  9.8t  0
49
t 5
9.8
H(5)  49(5)  4.9(5) 2  122.5 m

c)

 ground level when H  0

H(t)  49t  4.9t 2  0
t(10  t)  0
t  0 or 10
 return to ground level at t  10 second
 H (10)  49  9.8(10)  49
velocity  49 m /s downward


 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 4 Finding average velocities over several intervals

A rock thrown upward is at a height of s(t) = 96t – 16t2 feet above the ground after t
seconds for 0 ≤ t ≤ 6. Find the rock’s average velocity over each of the time intervals [2,
3], [2, 2.1], [2, 2.01], and [2, 2.001].
Solution First find the average velocity in a time interval [t, t + t ]. It is
  
s(t  t )  s(t ) 96t  t   16t  t   96t  t 2

2

t t


96t  96t  16t 2
 
 2tt  t 2  96t  16t 2 
t
96t  96t  16t 2  32tt  16t 2  96t  96t

t
96t  32tt  16t 2

t
t (96  32t  16t )

t
= 96 – 32t – 16 t ft/sec for t ≠ 0.

For the interval [2, 3], t = 2 and t = 3 – 2 = 1.

The average velocity is 96 – 32(2) – 16(1) = 16 ft/sec.
For the interval [2, 2.1], t = 2 and t = 2.1 – 2 = 0.1.
The average velocity is 96 – 32(2) – 16(0.1) = 30.4 ft/sec.
For the interval [2, 2.01], t = 2 and t = 2.01 – 2 = 0.01.
The average velocity is 96 – 32(2) – 16(0.01) = 31.84 ft/sec.
For the interval [2, 2.001], t = 2 and t = 2.001 – 2 = 0.001.
The average velocity is 96 – 32(2) – 16(0.001) = 31.984 ft/sec.
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 5 The difference between average and instantaneous velocities

A car accelerates from a stop sign and moves in a straight line, traveling s(t) = 2t2 feet in
t seconds for 0 ≤ t ≤ 20.
(a) Find an expression for the car’s average velocity in a time interval
[t, t + t ].
(b) Find the car’s average velocity over each of the time intervals [5, 6],
[5, 5.1], [5, 5.01], and [5, 5.001].
(c) Find the car’s instantaneous velocity (speedometer reading) 5 seconds after it
leaves the stop sign.
Solution (a) The car’s average velocity over a time interval [t, t + t ] is
s(t  t )  s(t ) 2(t  t )2  2t 2

t t
2t 2  4tt  2t 2  2t 2

t
4tt  2t 2

t
= 4t + 2 t for t ≠ 0.
(b) The result of part (a) implies that the car’s average velocity over a time interval
of duration h, beginning at t = 5, is 20 + 2 t . The car’s average velocity over
several such intervals is shown in the following table.

interval value of t average velocity

[5, 6] 1 22
[5, 5.1] 0.1 20.2
[5, 5.01] 0.01 20.02
[5, 5.001] 0.001 20.002

(c) It is reasonable to regard an instant as a time interval of duration 0 and conclude

that the car’s speedometer reading at t = 5 is 20 ft/sec (about 13.6 miles per
hour).
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 6 A derivative as velocity and as acceleration

A dropped object on the moon falls P(t) = 0.8t2 meters in t seconds. What is the
acceleration due to gravity on the moon?
Solution The object’s downward velocity is P (t )  1.6t m/sec, and its downward acceleration is
P (t )  1.6 m/sec2. This is the acceleration due to gravity on the moon.

Example 7 A derivative as velocity and as acceleration

A car approaching a stop sign travels P(t) = 80t – 5t2 feet in t seconds after the brakes
are applied.
(a) What is the car’s initial velocity?
(b) What is the car’s rate of deceleration?
(c) How long does it take for the car to stop?
(d) How far does it travel in that time?
Solution To answer the questions, you will need the car’s velocity, P (t )  80  10t , and its
acceleration, P (t )  10 .
(a) The car’s initial velocity is P (0)  80 ft/sec.
(b) Because the acceleration is P (t )  10 , the car’s rate of deceleration is 10
ft/sec2.
(c) The car stops when its velocity is 0. Solving 80 – 10t = 0 gives a stopping time
of t = 8 sec.
(d) In 8 seconds, the car travels P(8) = 80(8) – 5(8)2 = 320 feet.
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Your Turn!
s(t) is the position at time t of an object moving on a coordinate axis. Find the object’s displacement
and average velocity over the time interval [4, 6].
Q1. s(t) = 2t + 7
Q2. s(t) = t2 – 6
s(t) is the position at time t of an object moving on a coordinate axis. Find:
a. an expression for the object’s average velocity over a time interval [t, t +Δt] for Δt ≠ 0
b. the object’s average velocity over each of the time intervals [3, 4], [3, 3.1], [3, 3.01], and [3,
3.001]
Q3. s(t) = t2 – 2t + 5
Q4. s(t) = 2t2 + 3t
Q5. s(t) = 10
Q6. s(t) = t3 – 12t
Q7. A car decelerating to a stop travels s(t) = 72t – 6t2 feet in t seconds after the brakes are applied.
Find the car’s displacement and average velocity during the first four seconds.

A1. 4; 2
A2. 20; 10
A3. a. 2t +Δt – 2
A4. a. 4t + 2Δt + 3
b. 5; 4.1; 4.01; 4.001 b. 17; 15.2; 15.02; 15.002
A5. a. 0
A6. a. 3t2 + 3tΔt +Δt 2 – 12
b. 0; 0; 0; 0 b. 25; 15.61; 15.0601; 15.006001
A7. 192 ft; 48 ft/sec