Kinematics

▪ Kinematics:
is a subfield of physics, developed in classical
mechanics, that describes the motion of points,
bodies (objects), and systems of bodies.

▪ It describes motion while ignoring the parameters

that caused the motion.

▪ In this lecture, we will study the motion in one

dimension: “Along a straight line”
Physical Quantities
Physical Quantities:
▪
1- POSITION
▪ The object’s position is its
location with respect to a
chosen reference point.

▪ Consider the point to be the

origin of a coordinate
system.

▪ In the diagram, the road

sign is the reference point.
DISPLACEMENT
▪ Defined as the change in position during some
time interval.

▪ Represented as “x”
x ≡ xf – xi

▪ ∆  Greek letter “delta” meaning “change in”

▪ SI units are meters (m)
▪ x can be positive or negative.

▪ Displacement is not same as Distance.

▪ Displacement is a vector.
EXAMPLE 1
t1 t2
   time

The arrow represents the displacement (in meters).

x1 = 10 m, x2 = 30 m
Displacement  ∆x = x2 - x1 = 20 m
EXAMPLE 2

The arrow represents the displacement (in meters).

x1 = 30 m, x2 = 10 m
Displacement  ∆x = x2 - x1 = 10 – 30 = - 20 m
Displacement & Distance
▪ Distance traveled by an object  displacement of the object!

Figure: distance = 100 m, displacement = 40 m East

▪ Displacement is a vector (has magnitude & direction).

▪ Distance is a scalar (magnitude).
EXAMPLE 3
Assume a person moves from one end of the mall
10 km the other one and back 10 km to the
beginning.
Find Distance and Displacement?
10 km

10 km

Distance = 10 + 10 = 20 km

Displacement = zero
Displacement Vs Distance
Displacement Distance

the changing in position of an the length of a path followed by

Definition
object. a particle.

Symbol

Law

Vector (has magnitude & Scalar (has only magnitude ).

Quantity
direction).

Positive or Negative
Sign Always positive

Unit Meter (m) Meter (m)

 Average Velocity
▪ The average velocity is rate at which the displacement
occurs.
Vector→ Average Velocity  (Displacement)/(Time taken)
Scalar→ Average Speed  (Distance traveled)/(Time taken)

Velocity: it is a vector (Similar to displacement).

Speed: it is a scalar (Similar to distance).
 ▪

t1 t2  times
 

Bar denotes average

EXAMPLE 4
▪ If Walking was for 70 s, Find Average speed and average
velocity?

▪ Average Speed = (100 m)/(70 s) = 1.4 m/s

▪ Average velocity = (40 m)/(70 s) = 0.57 m/s
EXAMPLE 5
▪
INSTANTANEOUS VELOCITY
▪ Instantaneous velocity  velocity at any instant of time
 average velocity over an infinitesimally short time.
▪ *The instantaneous velocity: indicates what is happening at every point
of time.
Mathematically, it represents instantaneous velocity: ▪

raito

# Mathematically call this a derivative

*Do not set ∆t = 0 because ∆x = 0 then & 0/0 is undefined!

The instantaneous velocity can be positive, negative, or zero
INSTANTANEOUS SPEED
The instantaneous speed : is the magnitude of the
instantaneous velocity.

The instantaneous speed no direction ▪

Why ?

*Because The instantaneous speed is a Scalar

ACCELERATION
▪
ACCELERATION AND VELOCITY

#When an object’s velocity and acceleration are in

the same direction, the object is speeding up.

#When an object’s velocity and acceleration are in

the opposite direction, the object is slowing down
EXAMPLE 6
A car accelerates along a straight road from rest to 90 km/h
in 5.0 s. Find the magnitude of its average acceleration.
Note: 90 km/h = 25 m/s

ANSWER
EXAMPLE 7
A car moves to the right on a straight highway (positive x-axis).
The driver puts on the brakes. If the initial velocity
(when the driver hits the brakes) is v1 = 15.0 m/s.
It takes 5.0 s to slow down to v2 = 5.0 m/s. Calculate the
car’s average acceleration.
ANSWER
Thank You