Chapter 2
One-Dimensional
Kinematics
Units of Chapter 2
• Position, Distance, and Displacement
• Average Speed and Velocity
• Instantaneous Velocity
• Acceleration
• Motion with Constant Acceleration
• Applications of the Equations of Motion
• Freely Falling Objects
2-1 Position, Distance, and Displacement
Before describing motion, you must set up a
coordinate system – define an origin and a
positive direction.
2-1 Position, Distance, and Displacement
The distance is the total length of travel; if you
drive from your house to the grocery store and
back, you have covered a distance of 8.6 mi.
2-1 Position, Distance, and Displacement
Displacement is the change in position. If you
drive from your house to the grocery store and
then to your friend’s house, your displacement
is 2.1 mi and the distance you have traveled is
10.7 mi.
2-2 Average Speed and Velocity
The average speed is defined as the distance
traveled divided by the time the trip took:
Average speed = distance / elapsed time
Is the average speed of the red car 40.0 mi/h,
more than 40.0 mi/h, or less than 40.0 mi/h?
2-2 Average Speed and Velocity
Average velocity = displacement / elapsed time
If you return to your starting point, your
average velocity is zero.
2-2 Average Speed and Velocity
Graphical Interpretation of Average Velocity
The same motion, plotted one-dimensionally
and as an x-t graph:
2-3 Instantaneous Velocity
Definition:
(2-4)
This means that we evaluate the average
velocity over a shorter and shorter period of
time; as that time becomes infinitesimally
small, we have the instantaneous velocity.
2-3 Instantaneous Velocity
This plot shows the average velocity being
measured over shorter and shorter intervals.
The instantaneous velocity is tangent to the
curve.
2-3 Instantaneous Velocity
Graphical Interpretation of Average and
Instantaneous Velocity
2-4 Acceleration
Average acceleration:
(2-5)
2-4 Acceleration
Graphical Interpretation of Average and
Instantaneous Acceleration:
2-4 Acceleration
Acceleration (increasing speed) and
deceleration (decreasing speed) should not be
confused with the directions of velocity and
acceleration:
2-5 Motion with Constant Acceleration
If the acceleration is constant, the velocity
changes linearly:
(2-7)
Average velocity:
2-5 Motion with Constant Acceleration
Average velocity:
(2-9)
Position as a function of time:
(2-10)
(2-11)
Velocity as a function of position:
(2-12)
2-5 Motion with Constant Acceleration
The relationship between position and time
follows a characteristic curve.
2-5 Motion with Constant Acceleration
2-6 Applications of the Equations of Motion
Hit the Brakes!
2-7 Freely Falling Objects
Free fall is the motion of an object subject
only to the influence of gravity. The
acceleration due to gravity is a constant, g.
2-7 Freely Falling Objects
An object falling in air is subject to air
resistance (and therefore is not freely falling).
2-7 Freely Falling Objects
Free fall from rest:
2-7 Freely Falling Objects
Trajectory of a projectile:
Summary of Chapter 2
• Distance: total length of travel
• Displacement: change in position
• Average speed: distance / time
• Average velocity: displacement / time
• Instantaneous velocity: average velocity
measured over an infinitesimally small time
Summary of Chapter 2
• Instantaneous acceleration: average
acceleration measured over an infinitesimally
small time
• Average acceleration: change in velocity
divided by change in time
• Deceleration: velocity and acceleration have
opposite signs
• Constant acceleration: equations of motion
relate position, velocity, acceleration, and time
• Freely falling objects: constant acceleration
g = 9.81 m/s2
