Chapter 15 – Rectilinear Motion

Introduction
• Our objective is to find the position, velocity and acceleration of a
moving object.
• Velocity: rate of change in object’s position.
• Acceleration: rate of change in object’s velocity.
• Motion: change in object’s position with respect to time.
x
Change with respect to time
V
Change with respect to time
a
 Decelerated
Decreases
motion

Remains Uniform
Speed
constant motion

Accelerated
Increases
motion
 Activity 1: Uniform Rectilinear Motion
URM
• The figure below shows the recording of the
successive positions of the tracer M of a puck on a
horizontal air table.
• The time constant is τ = 100ms = 0.1s.
• M0 is taken as a space and time reference.

M0 M1 M2 M3 M4 M5
O x
2cm 2cm 2cm 2cm 2cm
 Questions
1) Specify the shape of the trajectory
described by the puck.
The shape of the trajectory described by
the puck is rectilinear since the dots are
collinear.
2) Copy and complete the table below.
Dot M0 M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

Time 0
t [ms]

Position 0
x [cm]

Velocity
V in [m/s]

Acceleration
a [m/s2]
The position of the puck at the instant ti = iτ is:
xi  OM i
x1  OM 1  2cm
x2  OM 2  2  2  4cm
x3  OM 3  2  2  2  6cm
x4  OM 4  2  2  2  2  8cm
x5  OM 5  2  2  2  2  2  10cm
The velocity of the puck at the instant ti = iτ is:
x xi 1  xi 1
Vi  Vav ( i 1;i 1)  
t ti 1  ti 1
x x2  x0 ( 4  0)  102
V1  Vav ( 0 , 2 )    3
 0.2m / s
t t 2  t0 ( 200  0)  10
x x3  x1 (6  2)  10 2
V2  Vav (1, 3)    3
 0.2m / s
t t3  t1 (300  100)  10
x x4  x2 (8  4)  10 2
V3  Vav ( 2 , 4 )    3
 0.2m / s
t t4  t2 ( 400  200)  10
x x5  x3 (10  6)  10 2
V4  Vav ( 3, 5 )    3
 0.2m / s
t t5  t3 (500  300)  10
The acceleration of the puck at the instant ti = iτ is:
V Vi 1  Vi 1
ai  aav ( i 1;i 1)  
t ti 1  ti 1

V V3  V1 0.2  0.2
a2  aav (1,3)     0 m / s 2

t t3  t1 (300  100)  103

V V4  V2 0.2  0.2
a3  aav ( 2, 4 )     0 m / s 2

t t4  t2 (400  200) 103

2) Copy and complete the table below.
Dot M0 M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

Time 0 τ = 100 2τ = 200 3τ = 300 4τ = 400 5τ = 500

t [ms]

Position 0 2 4 6 8 10
x [cm]

Velocity 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

V in [m/s]

Acceleration 0 0
a [m/s2]
 Graphical Study of Motion
3) Trace, as a function of time, the graph that represents the variation of:
a) the position of M,
Scale:
Horizontal axis: 1div → 100ms
Vertical axis: 1div → 2cm
b) the velocity of M.
Scale:
Horizontal axis: 1div → 100ms
Vertical axis: 1div → 0.1m/s
Deduce the shape of each graph
 x [cm] x Versus t
10 Shape: oblique
straight line
8
Equation:
6 y  ax  b
y
4 a
x
x  Vt  x0
2
x
t [ms] V 
t
0 100 200 300 400 500
 V [m/s]
V Versus t
Shape:
horizontal
straight line
Equation:
V = constant
0.2 V
a 0
t
0.1
t [ms]
0 100 200 300 400 500
 Conclusion
• Uniform Rectilinear Motion (URM): object moving along a
straight line with constant speed.
• Time equations of motion: x V
x  Vt  x0
x  x0  Vt  d  x  Vt x0
V  cst t
V
t
x Slope  a  0
a0 Slope  V 
t t
x: position in [m]
x0: initial position in [m]
Δx: displacement in [m] The average and instantaneous velocities
V: velocity in [m/s] are equal (Vav = V)
a: acceleration in [m/s2]
 Application 1:
A particle M moves with a constant velocity V = 5m/s
along a rectilinear trajectory.
Initial condition: at t = 0s, x0 = 2m.
1) Indicate the type of motion of M.
2) Give the value of the acceleration of M.
3) Write the position-time equation of the motion of M.
4) Calculate the position of M at t1 = 3s, deduce the
displacement between t0 and t1.
 Solution
1) URM.
2) a = 0m/s2.
3) x = Vt + x0 = 5t + 2
4) At t1 = 3s; x1 = 5 × 3 + 2 = 17m
Δx = x1 – x0 = 17m – 2m = 15m
 Application 2:
The position-time equation of a particle (P) moving in the
space reference system Ox is:
x  5t  10 [SI ]
1) Specify the nature of motion of (P).
2) Deduce the values of the velocity and the initial position
of (P).
3) Give the value of the acceleration of (S).
4) Calculate the displacement between t1 = 2s and t2 = 5s.
 Solution
1) URM, since the given equation can be
written in the form of x = Vt + x0.
2) V = 5m/s and x0 = 10m.
3) a = 0m/s2.
4) At t1 = 2s; x1 = 5 × 2 + 10 = 20m.
At t2 = 5s; x2 = 5 × 5 + 10 = 35m.
Δx = x2 – x1 = 35m – 20m = 15m.
 Application 3
The adjacent document represents
the position versus time graph of a x [m]
particle M moving along a straight 25
path. 20
1) Specify the nature of motion of M. 15
2) Give the value of the initial 10
position of M. 5 t [s]
3) Calculate the velocity of M.
0 1 2 3 4 5
4) Write the expression of x as a
function of time.
 Solution
1) URM, since x vs t shows an oblique straight
line.
2) At t = 0s; x0 = 5m.
x 25  5
3) V    4m / s
t 50
4) x  Vt  x0  4t  5
 Activity 2: Uniformly Accelerated
Rectilinear Motion (UARM)
• The figure below shows the recording of the
successive positions of the tracer M of a puck on
an inclined air table.
• The time constant is τ = 100ms = 0.1s.
• M0 is taken as a space and time reference.
M0 M1 M2 M3 M4 M5
O x
1cm 2cm 3cm 4cm 5cm
1) Specify the shape of the trajectory described
by the puck.
The shape of the trajectory described by the
puck is rectilinear since the dots are collinear.
2) Copy and complete the table below.
Dot M0 M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

Time 0
t [ms]

Position 0
x [cm]

Velocity
V in [m/s]

Acceleration
a [m/s2]
The position of the puck at the instant ti = iτ is:
xi  OM i
x1  OM 1  1cm
x2  OM 2  1  2  3cm
x3  OM 3  1  2  3  6cm
x4  OM 4  1  2  3  4  10cm
x5  OM 5  1  2  3  4  5  15cm
The velocity of the puck at the instant ti = iτ is:
x xi 1  xi 1
Vi  Vav ( i 1;i 1)  
t ti 1  ti 1
x x2  x0 (3  0)  102
V1  Vav ( 0, 2 )    3
 0.15m / s
t t 2  t0 ( 200  0)  10
x x3  x1 (6  1)  10 2
V2  Vav (1,3)    3
 0.25m / s
t t3  t1 (300  100)  10
x x4  x2 (10  3)  10 2
V3  Vav ( 2, 4 )    3
 0.35m / s
t t4  t2 ( 400  200)  10
x x5  x3 (15  6)  10 2
V4  Vav ( 3,5)    3
 0.45m / s
t t5  t3 (500  300)  10
The acceleration of the puck at the instant ti = iτ is:
V Vi 1  Vi 1
ai  aav ( i 1;i 1)  
t ti 1  ti 1

V V3  V1 0.35  0.15
a2  aav (1,3)     1m / s 2

t t3  t1 (300  100) 103

V V4  V2 0.45  0.25
a3  aav ( 2, 4)     1m / s 2

t t4  t2 (400  200) 103

2) Copy and complete the table below.
Dot M0 M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

Time 0 τ = 100 2τ = 200 3τ = 300 4τ = 400 5τ = 500

t [ms]

Position 0 1 3 6 10 15
x [cm]

Velocity 0.15 0.25 0.35 0.45

V in [m/s]

Acceleration 1 1
a [m/s2]
 Graphical Study of Motion
3) Trace, as a function of time, the graph that represents the
variation of:
a) the position of M,
Scale: Horizontal axis: 1div → 100ms
Vertical axis: 1div → 2cm
b) the velocity of M,
Scale: Horizontal axis: 1div → 100ms
Vertical axis: 1div → 0.5m/s
c) the Acceleration of M.
Scale: Horizontal axis: 1div → 100ms
Vertical axis: 1div → 0.5m/s2
Deduce the shape of each graph
 x [cm]
16
14
x Versus t
Shape: convex parabola
12
Equation:
10
y  ax2  bx  c
8
1
6 x  at 2  V0t  x0
2
4
2
t [ms]
0 100 200 300 400 500
 V [m/s]
V Versus t
Shape: increasing
0.5 straight line
0.4 Equation:
y  ax  b
0.3 y
a
0.2 x
V  at  V0
0.1
V
t [ms] a 
t
0 100 200 300 400 500
 a [m/s]
a Versus t
Shape:
2 horizontal
1.5
straight line
Equation:
1 a = constant
V
0.5 a
t
t [ms]
0 100 200 300 400 500
 Conclusion
• Uniformly Accelerated Rectilinear Motion (UARM): object
moving along a straight line with a speed that increases uniformly
with time.
• Time equations of motion:
1 2
x at  V0t  x0
2
1 2 1
x  x0  at  V0t  d  x  at 2  V0t
2 2
V  at  V0
a = constant and a × V > 0

The average and instantaneous accelerations

V0 : initial velocity in [m/s] are equal (aav = a)
 Conclusion
x V a

x0 V0
t t t
V
Slope  a 
t
 Application 1:
A particle M moves with a constant acceleration a = 4m/s2
along a rectilinear trajectory.
Initial conditions: at t = 0s, x0 = 2m and V0 = 6m/s.
1) Indicate the type of motion of M.
2) Write the time equations of the motion of M.
3) Calculate at the instant t = 2s:
a) the velocity of M,
b) the position of M; then, deduce the displacement
between t = 0 and t = 2s.
 Solution
1) UVRM
1 2
2) x  at  V0t  x0  2t  6t  2
2

2
V  at  V0  4t  6
3a ) V2  4  2  6  14m / s
3b) x2  2  2  6  2  2  22m
2

x  x2  x0  22m  2m  20m
 Application 2:
The position-time equation of a particle (P) moving in the
space reference system Ox is:
x  3t  10t  4 [ SI ]
2

1) Specify the nature of motion of (P).

2) Deduce the values of the acceleration, initial velocity
and initial position of (P).
3) Write the expression of the velocity of (P) as a function
of time. Calculate its value at t = 3s.
4) Calculate the displacement between t1 = 1s and t2 = 3s.
 Solution
1) UVRM, since the given equation can be written
in the form of x = ½at2 + V0t + x0.
2) ½a = 3 → a = 6m/s2
V0 = 10m/s & x0 = 4m
3) V = at + V0 = 6t + 10
At t = 3s; V = 6 × 3 + 10 = 28m/s
4) At t1 = 1s; x1 = 3×12 + 10×1 + 4 = 17m
At t2 = 3s; x2 = 3×32 + 10×3 + 4 = 61m
Δx = x2 – x1 = 61m – 17m = 44m
 Application 3
The adjacent document represents V [m/s]
the velocity versus time graph of a
particle M moving along a straight 10
path. 8
1) Specify the nature of motion of
6
M.
2) Give the value of the initial 4
velocity of M. 2
3) Calculate the acceleration of M. t [s]
4) Write the time equations of the 0 1 2 3 4 5
motion of M (given: x0 = 0m).
 Solution
1) UARM, since V versus t shows an
increasing straight line.
2) At t = 0s; V0 = 2m/s.
V 10  2
3) a    1 .6 m / s 2
t 50
4) V  at  V0  1.6t  2
1 2
x  at  V0t  x0  0.8t 2  2t
2
 Uniformly Decelerated rectilinear Motion
• Uniformly Decelerated Rectilinear Motion (UDRM): object
moving along a straight line with a speed that decreases
uniformly with time.
• Time equations of motion:
1 2
x at  V0t  x0
2
1 2 1
x  x0  at  V0t  d  x  at 2  V0t
2 2
V  at  V0
a = constant and a × V < 0

The average and instantaneous accelerations

V0 : initial velocity in [m/s] are equal (aav = a)
 Conclusion
x V a
V0
x0
t t t
V
Slope  a 
t
 Types of rectilinear motion

URM UVRM
Uniform rectilinear Uniformly varied
motion rectilinear motion
x  Vt  x0 1
x  at 2  V0t  x0
2
V  cst
V  at  V0
a0 a  cst

UARM UDRM
Uniformly accelerated rectilinear Uniformly decelerated
motion rectilinear motion
a×V>0 a×V<0
 Exercise
The graph below represents the variation, as a function of time, of the
speed of a particle (M) moving on a straight line.

V [m / s]
A B
30

20

10
t[s ]
C
O 5 10 15 20 25 30
 Exercise
1. For each phase:
a) Specify the type of motion of (M).
b) Determine the acceleration of (M).
c) Write the expression of the speed of (M) as a function
of time.
d) Calculate the distance covered by (M).
2. Deduce the total distance covered (M) between O and C.
3. Show that the total distance covered by (M) is equal to
the area under the graph.
 Phase OA Phase AB Phase BC
UARM, since V versus t shows URM, since V versus t UDRM, since V versus t shows
an increasing straight line shows a horizontal a decreasing straight line
straight line V 0  30
V 30  0 a   3m / s 2
a   6m / s 2 t 30  20
t 50 a0
V  at  V0  3t  30
V  at  V0  6t V  30m / s 1
d  at 2  V0t
d 
1 2
at  V0t d  Vt 2
2 d  30  15  450m 1
d   ( 3)  102  30  10
1 2
d   6  5 2  75m d  450m
2 d  150m

d  d OA  d AB  d BC  75  450  150  675m

Area(OABC ) 
b1  b2  h 30  15 30
  675m
2 2
 Problem 1 Page 174
The time equation of a body in rectilinear motion is:
x = 10t + 2 in SI units.
a) What is the nature of its motion?
b) Determine the positions of the body at t = 0 and at
t = 1min.
c) What is the direction of motion on the x-axis?
d) What is the acceleration vector?
 Solution
a) URM since the given equation has the form x = Vt + x0.
b) At t = 0; x = 10 × 0 + 2 = 2m
At t = 1min = 60s; x = 10 × 60 + 2 = 602m
c) V > 0, the body moves in the positive sense.
d) a = 0m/s2.
 Problem 2 Page 174
A car moves at a constant speed of 80km/h on a
rectilinear path. How long does it take to travel
100 km?

Solution
d 100
d  Vt  t    1.25h
V 80
 Problem 3 Page 174
A cubic block, initially at rest, slides with constant
acceleration on an inclined plane 10m long in 2s.
Calculate the acceleration of the block.
Solution
1 2
d  at  V0t with V0  0m / s
2
1 2 2d 2  10
d  at  a  2  2  5m / s 2
2 t 2
 Problem 4 Page 174
An object is dropped without initial speed from a
height of 20m above ground and falls with a
constant acceleration of 10m.s-2.
a) How long does it take the object to reach the
ground?
b) What is its speed upon reaching ground?
 Solution
1 2
a) d  at  V0t with V0  0m / s
2
1 2 2d 2  20
d  at  t    2s
2 a 10
b) V  at  V0  10  2  0  20m / s
 Problem 5 Page 175
An electron starts from rest, travels a distance of 15cm
with constant acceleration, and hits a television screen at
a speed of 3 × l06m/s. Calculate the acceleration of the
electron.
Solution
V 2  V02  2ad with V0  0m / s

a
V 2

3  10 6 2
 3  1013 m / s 2
2d 2  0.15
 Problem 6 Page 175
Before taking off, a plane starts from rest and
travels 800m in 20s. Assume the acceleration to
be constant and calculate
a) The acceleration of the plane before it takes
off.
b) Its speed at the instant it takes off.
 Solution
1 2
a ) d  at  V0t with V0  0m / s
2
1 2 2d 2  800
d  at  a  2  2
 4 m / s 2

2 t 20
b) V  at  V0  4  20  0  80m / s