Kinematics of a Particle

Rectilinear Kinematics

Prepared by Hui Kar Hoou

Continuous Motion
Rectilinear Kinematics
Kinematics characterized by specifying at any given
instant (t), position (s), velocity (v), and acceleration (a)

Position, s
Location of the particle at any given instant

Continuous Motion
Displacement,
Change of its position
=

Continuous Motion
Velocity, v
Rate of change of a displacement
Average velocity
=

Instantaneous velocity
=

+ve & -ve velocity indicates direction of a speed

Continuous Motion
Acceleration, a
Rate of change of a velocity
Average acceleration
=

Instantaneous acceleration
=

= 0 means =
+ve & -ve acceleration indicates accelerating / decelerating

Continuous Motion

By eliminating for =

and =

Continuous Motion
Constant acceleration, =

=
=

Continuous Motion
For constant acceleration
= 0 +
= 0 + 0 +

1
2
2

2 = 02 + 2 0

Example 1

The car in Fig. moves in a straight line such that for a

short
time
its
velocity
is
defined
by
= 0.9 2 + 0.6 / , where is in seconds.
Determine its position and acceleration when = 3 .
When = 0, = 0. (Ans. = 10.8 , = 6 / 2 )

Hints: Example 1
Position

Acceleration
=

Example 2

During a test a rocket travels upward at 75/, and

when it is 40 from the ground its engine fails.
Determine the maximum height 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 / 2 due to gravity.
Neglect the effect of air resistance. (Ans. = 327 ,
= 80.1 /)

Hints: Example 2
Maximum height, velocity
2 = 02 + 2 0

Erratic Motion
Changing motion
Position (s), velocity (v), acceleration (a) cannot be
described by a single continuous mathematical
function
It is convenient to represent the motion as a graph

s-t, v-t, and a-t graph

v-s and a-s graph

1 2
1 02 =
2

1
0

Example 3

The car in Fig. starts from rest and travels along a

straight track such that it accelerates at 10 / 2 for
10 , and then decelerates at 2 / 2 . Draw the v-t and
s-t graphs and determine the time t needed to stop the
car. How far has the car travelled?
(Ans. = 60 , = 3000 )

Hints: Example 3

Time, t
=
= 0 (car in stop condition)

Distance,
=

THANK YOU