Important Kinematics

Formulas

Acceleration

Like speed or velocity,

acceleration is a rate of
change, defined as the rate of
change of velocity
Average Acceleration =
change in velocity
Elapsed time

Vf Vi
a
t
Units of acceleration?

Rearrangement of the equation

Vf Vi
a
t

at vf vi
vi at vf

vf vi at

Finally

vf vi at

This equation is to be used to find (final) velocity of an

accelerating object. You can use it if there is or is not a
beginning velocity

Displacement under Constant Acceleration

Remember that displacement under

constant velocity was

d = vt
With

or

df = df + vt

acceleration, there is no one

single instantaneous v to use, but
we could use an average velocity
of an accelerating object.

Average velocity of an accelerating

object would simply be of sum of
beginning and ending velocities

Average velocity of an accelerating object

V = (vi + vf)

So.
d f d i vt
d f d i 1 / 2(vf vi )t

d f di 1 / 2(vf vi )t

Key equation

Some other equations

df di vit 1 / 2at

This equation is to be used to find

final position when there is an
initial velocity, but velocity at time tf
is not known.

Finding final velocity if no time is known

vf vi 2a (df di )
2

The equations of importance

Vf Vi
a
t

df di vit 1 / 2at

vf vi 2a (df di )

vf vi at

Solving Problems Using Kinematic

Equations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Draw a picture.
Write the known and unknown
quantities
Choose an equation
Plug in the Numbers.
Solve. Show all of your work!
Include correct units and significant
figures.

Equation
d = (vi + vf)t
vf = vi + a(t)
x = vi(t) + a(t)2
vf2 = vi2 + 2a(d)

vi

a d t

vf

Hidden Variables
Objects falling through space can be
assumed to accelerate at a rate of
9.8m/s2.
Starting from rest corresponds to a v i=0

A change in direction indicates that at

some point v=0.
Dropped objects have no initial velocity.

A car going 15m/s accelerates at 5m/s 2

for 3.8s. How fast is it going at the end
of the acceleration?
First step is identifying the variables in the
equation and listing them.

A penguin slides down a glacier starting

from rest, and accelerates at a rate of 7.6
m/s2. If it reaches the bottom of the hill
going 15 m/s, how long does it take to get to
the bottom?

A car slows from 45 m/s to 30. m/s over

6.2s. How far does it travel in that time?

A cheetah sees a gazelle that is 100.0 m

away. Assume that the gazelle will not
move during this time period. If the cheetah
starts at rest, what is the acceleration that
the cheetah needs in order to catch the
gazelle in 25.6 seconds?

A plane slows on a runway from 207

km/hr
to 35 km/hr in about 527m.
a. What is its acceleration?
b. How long does it take?

A skydiver jumps out of a plane that is

4000.0 m above the ground. What will be
the altitude (height) of the skydiver after
23.4 s?

A cyclist speeds up from his 8.45m/s

pace. As he accelerates, he goes 325m
in 30s. What is his final velocity?