UNIVERSITY PHYSICS

Chapter 3 MOTION ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE (Lecture 2)

Dr. Fatma Al Ma’Mari and Dr. Ridha Horchani

Fall 2020, PHYS2107, SQU
Valid only if the acceleration is constant
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Problem Solving Strategy for 1-D kinematics
Step 1: Read/Gather/Sketch.
• Read the problem carefully.
• Write down every quantity the problem gives you (initial and final position,
initial and final velocity, acceleration, time, etc)
Hidden quantities: Sometimes the problem may tell you a quantity secretly. For
example, if they tell you the displacement but not positions, you can treat the
displacement as xf and set xi to 0. Likewise, if the problem tells you that the
object starts from rest then the initial velocity is zero….
Negative quantities: It can be tricky to keep track of your negatives. The key is
direction.
• Write down which quantity you are trying to find
• Sketch a diagram: choose, x and y axis, choose your origin, for example if the
problem has a car accelerating down the road, draw a car on a road
Problem Solving Strategy for 1-D kinematics
Step 2: Choose the appropriate Kinematic Equation.
The equation you chose should have variables that you know and the variable that
you are solving for.
If such an equation does not exist, you may have to choose a different equation and
solve for a different unknown that you were not asked for. After that, you can use
this new variable in a different equation.
Step 3: Solve the algebra
Step 4: Check
• Does your answer make sense?
• Is the number too big or too small for the problem? (If you found the velocity of
a car to be v = 1000 km/h something is wrong).
• Does your answer have the correct sign?
• Does your answer have the correct units?
Example 3.11: Suppose a car merges into freeway traffic on a 200-m-long
ramp. If its initial velocity is 10.0 m/s and it accelerates at 2.00 m/s2, how
long does it take the car to travel the 200 m up the ramp? (Such
information might be useful to a traffic engineer.)

The knowns: x0 = 0, x = 200 m, v0 = 10 m/s, a = 2.00 m/s2

We need to solve for t
Example 3.11: Suppose a car merges into freeway traffic on a 200-m-long
ramp. If its initial velocity is 10.0 m/s and it accelerates at 2.00 m/s2, how
long does it take the car to travel the 200 m up the ramp? (Such
information might be useful to a traffic engineer.)

The knowns: x0 = 0, x = 200 m, v0 = 10 m/s, a = 2.00 m/s2

We need to solve for t

=(-10±900)/2

Two solutions: t = 10.0 and t = −20.0. A negative value for time is

unreasonable. Thus, t = 10.0 s.
Free fall

All falling objects have the same constant acceleration

a= -g ≈ - 9.8 m/s2

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PIQ4: Acceleration of a Rocket – Concept Test
A rocket’s velocity changes at a rate of 10 m/s every second. When the rocket is
at height 500 m, its engines are turned off. Its acceleration BEFORE reaching
height of 500 m is:

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 Example 3.14: Figure 3.27 shows the positions of a ball, at 1-s intervals,
with an initial velocity of 4.9 m/s downward, that is thrown from the top
of a 98-m-high building.
(a) How much time elapses before the ball reaches the ground? y
(b) What is the velocity when it arrives at the ground?
a) Choose the origin at the top of the building with the
positive direction upward.
y0 = 0, v0 = −4.9 m/s, and g = 9.8 m/s2
We need to solve for t when the position is −98 m

t=(-1±81)/2

t = −5.0 s and t = 4.0 s . The positive root is the one we

are interested in, since time t = 0 is the time when the
ball is released at the top of the building.
b) v = v0 –gt = -4.9 - 9.8(4) = -44.1 m/s
 Example 3.15: A batter hits a baseball straight upward at home plate and
the ball is caught 5.0 s after it is struck Figure 3.28.
y velocity of the ball?
(a) What is the initial

Knowns: t = 5s, y0 = 0, y = 0 (The ball returns to initial position after time t)

We need to solve for v0

v0 = 24.5 m/s
Example 3.15: A batter hits a baseball straight upward at home plate and
the ball is caught 5.0 s after it is struck Figure 3.28.
(a) What is the initial velocity of the ball?
(b) What is the maximum height the ball reaches?

b) We need to solve for H = y - y0

At the maximum height, v = 0, v0 = 24.5 m/s , Equation 3.17 gives

y = 30.6 m
Example 3.15: A batter hits a baseball straight upward at home plate and
the ball is caught 5.0 s after it is struck Figure 3.28.
(a) What is the initial velocity of the ball?
(b) What is the maximum height the ball reaches?
(c) How long does it take to reach the maximum height?

c) We need to solve for t

At the maximum height, v = 0, v0 = 24.5 m/s , Equation 3.15 gives
v = v0 –gt 0 = 24.5 –9.8 t
t = 2.5 s
Since the ball rises for 2.5 s, the time to fall is 2.5 s.
Example 3.15: A batter hits a baseball straight upward at home plate and
the ball is caught 5.0 s after it is struck Figure 3.28.
(a) What is the initial velocity of the ball?
(b) What is the maximum height the ball reaches?
(c) How long does it take to reach the maximum height?
(d) What is the acceleration at the top of its path?

c) We need to solve for t

At the maximum height, v = 0, v0 = 24.5 m/s , Equation 3.15 gives
v = v0 –gt 0 = 24.5 –9.8 t
t = 2.5 s
Since the ball rises for 2.5 s, the time to fall is 2.5 s.
d)
The acceleration is 9.8 m/s2 everywhere, even when the velocity is zero at
the top of the path. (constant acceration)
 Example 3.15: A batter hits a baseball straight upward at home plate and
the ball is caught 5.0 s after it is struck Figure 3.28.
(a) What is the initial velocity of the ball?
(b) What is the maximum height the ball reaches?
(c) How long does it take to reach the maximum height?
(d) What is the acceleration at the top of its path?
(e) What is the velocity of the ball when it is caught?

e) We need to solve for v

t= 5s, v0 = 24.5 m/s , Equation 3.15 gives v = v0 –gt = 24.5 -9.8 (5) = -24.5 m/s

This mean that the ball returns with the same speed at which it was thrown up!