Engineering
Mechanics: Dynamics
Rectilinear Kinematics: Continuous Motion
Key terms
• Rectilinear Kinematics – it is characterized by specifying, at any
given instant, the particle’s position, velocity, and acceleration.
• Position – The straight line path of a particle will be defined using
a single coordinate axis, s
• Displacement – It is defined as the change in position of a
specific particle.
• Velocity – If the particle moves through a displacement during a
time interval, the average velocity of the particle during this
time interval is:
Instantaneous velocity is a vector defined:
• Acceleration – provided the velocity of the particle is known at 2
points, the average acceleration of the particle during the
time interval is defined:
• Instantaneous acceleration is a vector at time t is defined as:
• An important differential relation involving the displacement,
velocity, and acceleration is defined as:
Constant Acceleration, a = ac - When the
acceleration is constant each of the three kinematic equations can
be integrated to obtain formulas that relate acceleration, velocity,
displacement, and time.
• Velocity as function of time:
• Position as a function of time:
• Velocity as a function of position:
Other Formulas:
Vf = V0 + at (df – di )=
(Vo + Vf )t / 2
Sample Problems
• The car on the figure moves in a straight line such that for a
short time its velocity is defined v = (3t2 + 2t) ft/s where t is
in seconds. Determine its position and acceleration when t =
[Link] t = 0, s = 0
• A small projectile is fired downwards into
a fluid medium with an initial velocity of
60 m/s. Due to drag resistance of the
fluid the projectile experiences a
deceleration of a = -0.4v3 m/s2 .
Determine the projectile’s velocity and
its position 4s after it is fired.
• During a test, a rocket travels upward at 75 m/s, and
when it is 40m from the ground its engine fails.
Determine the Maximum Height SB reached by the rocket
and its speed just before it hits the ground. While in
motion the rocket is subjected to a constant downward
acceleration of 9.81 m/s2 due to gravity. Neglect air
resistance.
• Test reveals that a normal driver takes about 0.75 s before he
or she can react to a situation to avoid a collision. It takes
about 3 s for a driver having 0.1% Alcohol in his system to do
the same. If such driver are traveling on a straight road at 44
ft/s and their cars can decelerate at 2 ft/s2 , determine the
shortest stopping distance d for each moment they see the
pedestrians.
References
• Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics by Kraige
• Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics by Hibbeler
