1

Kinematics
INTRODUCTION
One can study the motion of a body in a given time interval if its initial velocity, nal velocity, acceleration,
and displacement are known.
The relation between v, u, a, t, and s

for a body moving with uniform acceleration in a straight
path are well known to us. Equations which relate these quantities are known as equations of motion.
The equations of motion are:
(i) v = u + at
(ii) s = ut + at
2
(iii) v
2
= u
2
+ 2as
(iv) s
n
= u + a (n 1/2)
Do the above equations hold good for a body which is dropped from a height, or projected vertically
upwards?
Answer to the above can be found out by the example given below.
Drop two stones, of masses 1 kg and 5 kg respectively simultaneously, from the same height. Note the
time taken by the two stones to reach the ground.
Which stone reaches the ground rst?
We observe that both the stones reach the ground in approximately the same time.
Kinematics
The above fact was proved experimentally by Galileo. He dropped a heavy iron ball and a light
wooden ball simultaneously from the leaning tower of Pisa. Both the balls reached the ground at the
same time though their masses were not the same.
Further experiments proved that wherever air resistance is
negligible, all bodies, irrespective of their masses would take the
same time to reach the ground when dropped from the same
height. In fact, a body dropped from a height would accelerate
as it travels downwards, i.e., its velocity increases as it moves
down. On the other hand, the velocity of a body projected
vertically upwards would decrease as it moves up. Since this
acceleration is due to the gravitational force exerted by the
earth, it is generally referred to as acceleration due to gravity
and is denoted by the letter g.
The value of this g at mean sea level is approximately
9.8 m s
2
For obvious reasons, the acceleration due to gravity acts downwards and would take a + sign or
sign depending on the sign convention chosen. And as a body moves along a straight line path either
when dropped from a height or when projected vertically up, the same equations of motion may be used
in both the cases by taking appropriate signs for g. Thus the equations of motion for a body moving
vertically under the inuence of gravity are
1. v = u gt
2. s = ut gt
2

3. v
2
= u
2
2gs
4. s
n
= u g(n )
The value of g at mean sea level is taken as 9.8 m s
2
.
Freely falling body
When an apple drops from a tree, the initial velocity of the apple is zero due to inertia of rest. The apple
moves towards the earth under the inuence of gravity. Though the motion is opposed by friction of
air, the resistance of air may be considered negligible in comparison to the weight of the body. Such a
motion which takes place under the inuence of only gravity is called free-fall.
Equations of motion for a freely falling body
Let us consider a special case of a freely falling body released from rest (i.e dropped) which means the initial
velocity u is equal to zero. The body moves towards the earth due to the gravitational force of the earth.
Considering the downward direction as positive (you can also take it as negative) the equations of
motion of a freely falling body, dropped from a height h from the ground, are obtained by substituting
zero for u, h for s, and g for a in the equations of motion. Then we get,
Figure 1.1
h
A
B C
t = 0 s
t = 1 s
t = 2 s
t = 3 s
t = 4 s
Kinematics
1. v = gt
2. h = gt
2
3. v
2
= 2gh
4. s
n
= g (n )
Equations of motion for a body thrown vertically upwards
Let a ball be thrown vertically upwards. What do we observe?
The following facts are observed:
1. The impulsive force given to the ball provides an initial velocity to the ball for it to move upwards.
2. The ball reaches a certain maximum height where it stop (i.e v = 0) and then returns to the
ground.
Conclusions
1. It is impossible for a body to move away from the earth on its own due to the earths gravitational
pull. Hence an initial velocity should be given to the body.
2. At low speeds, a body cannot keep going up indenitely but will return to the ground after reaching
a certain height.
Here the acceleration due to gravity acts in a direction opposite to the direction of initial velocity.
Considering the upward direction as positive the equations of motion for a body projected vertically
upwards are obtained by substituting h for s and g for a as follows.
1. v = ugt
2. h = ut gt
2
3. v
2
= u
2
2gh
4. s
n
= u g (n
1
/
2
)
Example
E
A ball is dropped from the top of a building 19.6 m high. Find the time taken by the ball to reach the
ground.
Solution
This is a case of a freely falling body. Since the ball is dropped the initial velocity will be zero. Thus we
have,
u = 0
s = 19.6 m
a = + g = + 9.8 m s
2
(+ sign since the body is moving downwards).
CL_10_PHY_CH 01.indd 3 5/31/11 2:56:32 PM
4 Kinematics
Using the second equation of motion, s = ut +
1
2
at
2
19.6 m = 0 +
1
2
(9.8 m s
2
) (t)
2
t
2
19 6 2
9 8
4 =

=
.
.

t = 2 s.
Example
E
A Diwali rocket, when ignited at the ground level, rises vertically upwards to the level of a window 10 m
from the ground. Find the magnitude of velocity of the rocket at the time of its projection.
Solution
Since the body is moving up, the acceleration due to gravity g is taken with a sign in the equations
of motion. The body rises up to a height of 10 m, i.e., its velocity at this height is zero, substituting these
values in the 3rd equation of motion, v
2
= u
2
+ 2as, we get
0 = u
2
2(9.8 m s
2
) (10 m)
u
2
= 196
u = 14 m s
1
Example
E
A stone is released from a hot-air balloon which is rising steadily with a velocity of 4 m s
1
. Find the
velocity of the stone at the end of 3 s after it is released.
Solution
Let the downward direction be positive. As the stone was moving with the balloon, the initial velocity of
the stone is the same as that of the balloon. Thus we have,
u = 4 m s
1
a = + 9.8 m s
2
t = 3 s
Considering the rst equation of motion,
v = u + at, and substituting the values of u, a and t
v = 4+9.8 3
v = 4 + 29.4
v = 25.4 m s
1
.
Example
E
A stone is dropped by a person from the top of a building, which is 200 m tall. At the same time, another
stone is thrown upwards, with a velocity of 50 m s
1
by a person standing at the foot of the building. Find
the time after which the two stones meet.
Solution
Let the two stones meet at a distance of x m from the top of the building, and t be the time taken.
Kinematics
Let us assume the downward direction as positive,
For the stone, that is dropped, its initial velocity u = 0 m s
1
; displacement s = x and acceleration
= acceleration due to gravity (g).
Using s = ut +
1
2
at
2
, we get x = (0) t +
1
2
gt
2
---------- (1)
For the stone that is projected vertically upwards, its initial velocity,
u = 50 m s
1
; displacement s = (200 x) and acceleration a = g. Using s
= ut +
1
2
at
2
we get
(200 x) = 50 t + gt
2
200 = 50 t gt
2
+ x --- (2)
From the equations (1) and (2), we have
200 = 50t gt
2
+ gt
2
200 = 50t
t = 4 s
Maximum height reached by a body projected vertically upwards
Consider two balls A and B, and let A be thrown upwards with a higher initial velocity than B. Observe
which reaches greater height.
Ball A reaches a greater height than ball B.
Thus the maximum height reached by a body depends on its initial velocity and is independent of its
mass.
When a body is thrown upwards, the velocity of the body decreases continuously and nally becomes
zero at a certain height. This height where the nal velocity of the body is zero is called the maximum
height. (denoted by h
max
or H).
At the maximum height, v = 0
From v
2
= u
2
2gh we get,
0 = u
2
2g h
max
h
max
or H =
2
u
2g
Here, h
max
refers to the maximum height attained by the body thrown vertically upwards.
From this expression it is evident that the maximum height depends on the velocity of projection.

Figure 1.2
Kinematics
Time of ascent (t
a
)
It is the time taken by a body, projected vertically upwards, to reach the maximum height.
At maximum height the nal velocity of the body v = 0.
From the equation,
v = u + at, we get
0 = u gt
a

t
a
=
u
g
Thus the time of ascent of a body, projected vertically upwards, depends on the velocity of
projection.
Hence greater the initial velocity, greater will be the maximum height attained by a body and its time
of ascent.
Time of descent (t
d
)
It is the time taken by a body, projected vertically upwards, to reach the point of projection from its
position of maximum height.
Let t
d
be the time of descent of a body projected vertically upwards. Let u be the velocity of projection
of the body and h
max
be its maximum height. In the return journey of the body from its position of
maximum height, its initial velocity is zero. Hence, using s = ut +
1
2
at
2
, we get
h
max
= 0 + g t
d
2
t
d
=
h
g
max
2

As h
max
=
2
u
2g
, we get
t
d
=
2
u 2
2g g
t
d
=
2
2
u
g
t
d
=
u
g
Thus we nd that the time of ascent is always equal to the time of descent.
Time of fight (T)
It is the total time taken by a body projected vertically upwards to reach the position of maximum height
and then return to the point of projection.
It is denoted by T.
It is the total time for which the body remains in the air, and is equal to the sum of the time of ascent
and the time of descent.
Time of ight = t
a
+ t
d
T = u/g + u/g T =
2u
g
Kinematics
Velocity on reaching the ground
For a freely falling body dropped from rest, the initial velocity is zero.
From v
2
= u
2
+ 2as, substituting u = 0, a = g and s = h, we get
v
2
= 2gh
v = 2gh --------- (1)
Here, v is the nal velocity on reaching the ground and h is the height from which the body is dropped.
When a body is projected vertically upwards with initial velocity u, then at the maximum height, v =0
0 = u
2
2gh (From the equation v
2
= u
2
+ 2as)
u
2
= 2gh
u = 2gh ------------ (2)
From equations (1) and (2) it is seen that the magnitude of the velocity with which the body reaches
the ground is equal to the magnitude of the velocity with which it is projected vertically upwards.
Two-dimensional motion
Example
E
An aeroplane is ying horizontally at a height of 500 m with a velocity of 72 km h
1
over a ood affected
area. Food packets are to be dropped for the people standing at a particular place on the ground. At what
horizontal distance from that place should the food packets be released from the plane, so as to reach the
intended place.
Solution
When a food packet is released from an aeroplane moving horizontally, due to inertia the food packets
would have an initial velocity equal the velocity of the plane, i.e., 72 km h
1
in the horizontal direction,
while the initial velocity in the vertical direction would be zero. Thus the motion of the body is in two
dimensions vertical, under the inuence of gravity (acceleration = +g m s
2
) and horizontal due to its
initial velocity.
Furthermore, let us neglect the effects of wind and air drag. Considering the vertical motion alone, the
time taken by a packet to reach the ground is, time of descent, t =
2h
g
=
2 500
100
10

= = 10 s
Simultaneously the packet is also moving horizontally. In the horizontal direction, acceleration of the
food packets a = 0 m s
2
since there is not any force acting in the horizontal direction and the packet
travels with uniform velocity u = 72 km
h
1
= 72
5
18
m s
1
= 20 m s
1
, in the horizontal direction.
Let x m be the horizontal distance travelled by the body in the time it take to reach the ground.
Kinematics
Using s = ut +
1
2
at
2
in the horizontal direction, we get x = (20 m s
1
) (10 s) = 200 m.
Thus, the food packets should be dropped from the plane at a horizontal distance of 200 m from the
intended place for the people to be able to receive them.
Sign convention
While solving numerical questions it would be convenient to adopt one single sign convention rather than
remembering two sets of equations of motion for bodies moving along a vertical path under the inuence of
gravity, whether freely falling bodies or those projected vertically upwards.
According to this sign convention, displacement velocity and acceleration, being vector quantities
are taken as positive quantities when directed upwards and as negative quantities when directed
downwards.
According to this sign convention, displacement, velocity and acceleration, being vector quantities,
are taken as positive quantities when directed upwards and as negative quantities when directed
downwards.
Quantity
Body projected downwards
(Freefall)
Body projected upwards
Initial velocity u +u
Final velocity v +v
Acceleration g g
Displacement h +h
V = u + at
v = u gt
v = u + gt
V = u gt
V
2
u
2
= 2as
v
2
u
2
= 2(g) (h)
v
2
u
2
= 2gh
v
2
u
2
= 2(g) (+h)
v
2
u
2
= 2gh
s = ut + 1/2at
2
h = ut 1/2gt
2
h = ut + 1/2gt
2
+h = ut +1/2(g) (t
2
)
h = ut 1/2gt
2
S
n
= u + a/2 (2n 1)
Hn = u + (g)/2 (2n 1)
Hn = u + g/2 (2n 1)
+Hn = u + (g)/2 (2n 1)
Hn = u g/2 (2n 1)
Example
E
A body at rest falls from a height and covers 34.3 m in the last second of its fall. Find the height from
which the body is dropped.
Solution
Let the body take n seconds to reach the ground. Thus nth second is its last second of fall. Initial
velocity of the body, u = 0 m s
1
. The distance covered by the body in its nth

second s
n
= 34.3 m. Using
s
n
= u + g (n ) we get 34.3 0 9 8
1
2
4 . n n

Kinematics
Thus the duration of the fall for the body is t = 4 seconds.
The height from which the body is dropped, h =
1
2
gt
2
=
1
2
(9.8) (4)
2
= 78.4 m.
Example
E
A stone is dropped to the ground from the top of a tower and it reaches the ground in 8 s. How much
time will it take to cover the rst quarter of the distance from the top?
Solution
Let the height from which the stone is dropped be x. Since the stone is dropped its initial velocity,
u = 0 m s
1
, s = x, a = g
Time of descent of the stone, t = 8 s
From the equation s = ut +
1
2

at
2
, we have
x = g 8
2
x = 32 g -------- (1)
Let t
1
be the time taken to cover rst quarter of the distance

x
4
= gt
1

2

32g
4
= gt
1
2

t
1
2
= 16
t
1
= 4 s
Example
E
A ball is thrown vertically upwards from the top of a tower with a velocity 10 m s
1
. The ball reaches the
ground with the velocity 30 m s
1
. What is the height of the tower?
(Take g = 10 m s
2
)
Solution
According to the sign convention taking the vectors in the upward direction as positive
initial velocity, u = +10 m s
1
,
nal velocity, v = 30 m s
1
,
displacement, s = h, where h is the height of the tower and
acceleration, a = 10 m s
2
Using v
2
= u
2
+ 2as we get
(30)
2
= (10)
2
+ 2 (10) (h)
h =
2 2
( 30) 10 900 100
40m
2 10 20

= =