Chapter 2

Motion Along a Straight Line

 Linear motion

In this chapter we will consider moving objects:

• Along a straight line

• With every portion of an object moving in the same

direction and at the same rate (particle-like motion)
 Types of physical quantities

• In physics, quantities can be divided into such

general categories as scalars, vectors, matrices, etc.

• Scalars – physical quantities that can be described

by their value (magnitude) only

• Vectors – physical quantities that can be described

by their value and direction
 Distance, position, and displacement

• Distance (scalar) a total length of the path traveled

regardless of direction (SI unit: m)

• In each instance we choose an origin – a reference

point, convenient for further calculations

• Position of an object (vector) is described by the

shortest distance from the origin and direction
relative to the origin

• Displacement (vector) – a change from position xi to

position xf
x  x f  xi
 Velocity and speed

• Average speed (scalar) - a ratio of distance traveled

(over a time interval) to that time interval (SI unit: m/s)

• Average velocity (vector) - a ratio of displacement

(over a time interval) to that time interval
x x f  xi
vavg  
t t f  ti
• Instantaneous velocity (vector) – velocity at a given
instant
x dx
v  lim 
t 0 t dt
• Instantaneous speed (scalar) – a magnitude of an
instantaneous velocity
Velocity and speed
Velocity and speed
 Instantaneous velocity

• The instantaneous velocity is the slope of the line

tangent to the x vs. t curve

• This would be the green line

• The light blue lines show that as Δt gets smaller,

they approach the green line
 Acceleration

• Average acceleration (vector) - a ratio of change of

velocity (over a time interval) to that time interval (SI
unit = (m/s)/s = m/s2)
v v f  vi
aavg  
t t f  ti
• Instantaneous acceleration (vector) – a rate of
change of velocity at a given instant

d  dx  d x
2
v dv
a  lim     2
t  0  t dt dt  dt  dt
 Acceleration

• The slope (green line) of the velocity-time graph is

the acceleration

• The blue line is the average acceleration

 Chapter 2
Problem 15
An object moves along the x axis according to the equation x(t) = (3.00 t2 - 2.00
t + 3.00) m, where t is in seconds. Determine (a) the average speed between t =
2.00 s and t = 3.00 s, (b) the instantaneous speed at t = 2.00 s
and at t = 3.00 s, (c) the average acceleration between t = 2.00 s and t = 3.00 s,
and (d) the instantaneous acceleration at t = 2.00 s and t = 3.00 s.
 Case of constant acceleration

• Average and instantaneous accelerations are the

same

• Conventionally ti  0 t f  t
• Then

v v f  vi v f  vi
a  aavg   
t t f  ti t 0

 v f  vi  at
 Case of constant acceleration

• Average and instantaneous accelerations are the

same

• Conventionally ti  0 t f  t
• Then
x x f  xi x f  xi
vavg     x f  xi  vavg t
t t f  ti t 0
v1  v2 vi  v f vi  (vi  at ) at
vavg     vi 
2 2 2 2
2
at
 x f  xi  vi t 
2
 Case of constant acceleration
2
at
x f  xi  vi t 
2
dx
v
dt
v f  vi  at

dv
a
dt
Case of constant acceleration
 Case of constant acceleration

To help you solve problems

Equations Missing variables

v f  vi  at x f  xi

at 2
x f  xi  vi t  vf
2
v f  vi  2a( x f  xi )
2 2
t

(vi  v f )t
x f  xi  a
2
at 2
x f  xi  v f t  vi
2
 Chapter 2
Problem 28
A particle moves along the x axis. Its position is given by the equation x = 2 + 3t
- 4t2, with x in meters and t in seconds. Determine (a) its position when it
changes direction and (b) its velocity when it returns to the position it had at t =
0.
 Case of free-fall acceleration

• At sea level of Earth’s mid-latitudes all objects fall

(in vacuum) with constant (downward) acceleration of

a = - g ≈ - 9.8 m/s2 ≈ - 32 ft/s2

• Conventionally, free fall is along a vertical (upward)

y-axis

v f  vi  gt
2
gt
y f  yi  vi t 
2
 Chapter 2
Problem 38
A ball is thrown directly downward, with an initial speed of 8.00 m/s, from a
height of 30.0 m. After what time interval does the ball strike the ground?
 Alternative derivation

Using definitions and initial conditions

dv dx
a 
dt  dv   a dt v 
dt  dx   vdt

we obtain
2
at
x f  xi  vi t 
2
Graphical representation
Graphical representation
Graphical representation
Graphical representation
Graphical representation
Graphical representation
Graphical representation
Graphical representation
Graphical representation
 Graphical integration
dx
v
tf
v lim xn tn   v x (t )dt
dt t tn 0 ti
n
f

x f  xi   v(t ) dt
ti
 Graphical integration
dx
v
dt t
f

x f  xi   v(t ) dt
ti

dv
a
dt
tf

v f  vi   a (t ) dt
ti
Answers to the even-numbered problems

Chapter 2

Problem 4:

(a) 50.0 m/s

(b) 41.0 m/s
Answers to the even-numbered problems

Chapter 2

Problem 6:

(a) 27.0 m
(b) 27.0 m + (18.0 m/s)∆t + (3.00 m/s2)(∆t)2
(c) 18.0 m/s
Answers to the even-numbered problems

Chapter 2

Problem 12:

(b) 1.60 m/s2; 0.800 m/s2

Answers to the even-numbered problems

Chapter 2

Problem 20:

(a) 6.61 m/s

(b) −0.448 m/s2
Answers to the even-numbered problems

Chapter 2

Problem 38:

1.79 s
Answers to the even-numbered problems

Chapter 2

Problem 48:

(b) 3.00 × 10−3 s

(c) 450 m/s
(d) 0.900 m