Chapter 2
Describing Motion: Kinematics in
One Dimension
Units of Chapter 2
•Reference Frames and Displacement
•Average Velocity
•Instantaneous Velocity
•Acceleration
•Motion at Constant Acceleration
•Solving Problems
•Falling Objects
•Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion
Chapter 2
Translational Motion
Rotational Motion
2-1 Reference Frames and Displacement
Any measurement of position, distance, or speed must
be made with respect to a reference frame.
For example, if you are sitting on a train and someone walks down the
aisle, their speed with respect to the train is a few miles per hour, at
most. Their speed with respect to the ground is much higher.
Reference Frame
• It is always important to specify the
frame of reference when stating a speed.
In everyday life, we usually mean “with
respect to the Earth” without even
thinking about it,
but the reference frame must be
specified whenever there might be
confusion.
2-1 Reference Frames and Displacement
We make a distinction between distance and displacement.
Displacement (blue line) is how far the object is from its starting
point, regardless of how it got there.
Distance traveled (dashed line) is measured along the actual
path.
2-1 Reference Frames and Displacement
The displacement is written:
Left: Right:
Displacement is positive. Displacement is negative.
2-2 Average Velocity
Speed: how far an object travels in a given time interval
(2-1)
Velocity includes directional information:
2-3 Instantaneous Velocity
The instantaneous velocity is the average velocity, in the
limit as the time interval becomes infinitesimally short.
(2-3)
These graphs show (a)
constant velocity and (b)
varying velocity.
2-4 Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
2-4 Acceleration
Acceleration is a vector, although in one- dimensional
motion we only need the sign.
The previous image shows positive acceleration; here is
negative acceleration:
Acceleration VS the change in velocity
2-4 Acceleration
There is a difference between negative acceleration and
deceleration:
Negative acceleration is acceleration in the negative direction
as defined by the coordinate system.
Deceleration occurs when the acceleration is opposite in
direction to the velocity.
2-4 Acceleration
The instantaneous acceleration is the average acceleration, in
the limit as the time interval becomes infinitesimally short.
(2-5)
2-5 Motion at Constant Acceleration
The average velocity of an object during a time interval t is
The acceleration, assumed constant, is
2-5 Motion at Constant Acceleration
In addition, as the velocity is increasing at a constant rate,
we know that
(2-8)
Combining these last three equations, we find:
(2-9)
2-5 Motion at Constant Acceleration
We can also combine these equations so as to eliminate t:
(2-10)
We now have all the equations we need to solve constant-
acceleration problems.
(2-11a)
(2-11b)
(2-11c)
(2-11d)
Geometric interpretation of the constant
acceleration formula
2-6 Solving Problems
1.Read the whole problem and make sure you understand it. Then
read it again.
2.Decide on the objects under study and what the time interval is.
3.Draw a diagram and choose coordinate axes.
4.Write down the known (given) quantities, and then the unknown
ones that you need to find.
5. What physics applies here? Plan an approach to a solution.
2-6 Solving Problems
6.Which equations relate the known and unknown quantities?
Are they valid in this situation? Solve algebraically for the
unknown quantities, and check that your result is sensible
(correct dimensions).
7.Calculate the solution and round it to the appropriate
number of significant figures.
8.Look at the result – is it reasonable? Does it agree with a
rough estimate?
9. Check the units again.
2-7 Falling Objects
Near the surface of the Earth, all objects experience
approximately the same acceleration due to gravity.
This is one of the most
common examples of motion
with constant acceleration.
2-7 Falling Objects
2-7 Falling Objects
In the absence of air resistance,
all objects fall with the same
acceleration, although this may
be hard to tell by testing in an
environment where there is air
resistance.
Galileo's Famous Gravity Experiment
2-7 Falling Objects
at a given location on the Earth and in
the absence of air resistance, all
objects fall with the same constant
acceleration.
The acceleration due to gravity at
the Earth’s surface is approximately
9.80 m/s2.
2-8 Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion
• This is a graph of x vs. t for an object
moving with constant velocity. The velocity
is the slope of the x-t curve.
2-8 Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion
On the left we have a graph of velocity vs. time for an object
with varying velocity; on the right we have the resulting x
vs. t curve. The instantaneous velocity is tangent to the
curve at each point.
2-8 Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion
The displacement, x,
is the area beneath
the v vs. t curve.
Summary of Chapter 2
•Kinematics is the description of how objects move with
respect to a defined reference frame.
•Displacement is the change in position of an object.
•Average speed is the distance traveled divided by the
time it took; average velocity is the displacement divided
by the time.
•Instantaneous velocity is the limit as the time becomes
infinitesimally short.
Summary of Chapter 2
•Average acceleration is the change in velocity divided
by the time.
•Instantaneous acceleration is the limit as the time
interval becomes infinitesimally small.
•The equations of motion for constant acceleration are
given in the text; there are four, each one of which
requires a different set of quantities.
•Objects falling (or having been projected) near the
surface of the Earth experience a gravitational
acceleration of 9.80 m/s2.
