Lesson / Topic 2:

Rectilinear Motion with variable acceleration

Each of the principal variables may be expressed in terms of the time or they may be
expressed in terms of each other or even a combination of the other.
Case I. The displacement is given in terms of the time i.e. s=f (t ) to find v and a.

Case II. The acceleration is expressed in terms of the time i.e. a=f (t) to find v and s.

Case III. The velocity is given in terms of the time i.e. v=f (t) to find a and s.

Case IV. One of the principal variables is expressed in terms of an adjacent variable,
i.e. a=f (v ) or v=f ( s ) .

Case V. The given variables are not adjacent; i.e. a=f ( s ) .

Illustrative Problems:
Problem 1
A particle moves in a straight line according to the law s=t 3−40t where s is in m and t in
seconds.
a. When t=5 sec, compute velocity.
b. Find the average velocity during the fourth sec.
c. When the particle again comes to rest, what is its acceleration?
Solution:
a. Velocity when t=5 sec .

b. Average velocity during the fourth second

c. Acceleration when v=0

Problem 2
The motion of a particle is defined by the relation a=4 t where a is m/sec 2 and t in
seconds. It is known that s=1m and v=2 m/sec when t=1 sec.
a. Determine the velocity when t=1 sec.
b. Determine the distance when t=1 sec.
c. Determine the relation between v and s.
Solution:
a. Velocity when t=1 sec .

b. Distance when t=1 sec

c. Relation between v and s
Lesson / Topic 3
Motion Curves

Relation between s−t, v−t, and a−t curves