CHAPTER

3 Motion in a Straight Line

Distance versus Displacement dvx ˆ dv y ˆ dvz ˆ

= i+ j+ k = ax iˆ + a y ˆj + az kˆ
Total length of path (ACB) covered by the particle is called dt dt dt
distance. Displacement vector or displacement is the minimum
distance (AB) and directed from initial position to final position. Important Points About 1D Motion
C ™ Distance ≥ | displacement | and Average speed ≥ | average
velocity |
A B ™ If distance > | displacement | this implies
Displacement is Change of Position Vector (a) atleast at one point in path, velocity is zero.
   Differentiation Differentiation
From DOAB ∆r = rB − rA
Displacement Velocity Acceleration

rB = x2 iˆ + y2 ˆj + z2 kˆ Integration Integration

 Motion with Constant Acceleration:

and rA = x1iˆ + y1 ˆj + z1kˆ
 Equations of Motion
∆r= ( x2 − x1 )iˆ + ( y2 − y1 ) ˆj + ( z2 − z1 )kˆ
™ In vector form
A   
v= u + at and
Dr  
    u +v   12  12
rA B ∆r = r2 − r1 , s =   t = ut + at = vt − at
 2  2 2

rB    a
v2 = u2 + 2a.s and snth = u + (2n − 1)
2
O
 (Snth → displacement in nth second)
Displacement  ∆r
Average velocity = ⇒ vav = ™ In scalar form (for one dimensional motion):
Time interval ∆t
u+v 1 2 1 2
Distance travelled v = u + at   s =
  t =+
ut at =−
vt at
Average speed =  2  2 2
Time interval
a
For uniform motion v2 = u2 + 2as sn = u + (2n – 1)
2
Average speed = | average velocity | = | instantaneous velocity|
 Uniform Motion
 dr d ˆ ˆ
Velocity v = = ( xi + yj + zkˆ)
dt dt If an object is moving along the straight line covers equal distance
dx ˆ dy ˆ dz ˆ in equal interval of time, it is said to be in uniform motion along
= i+ j + k = vx iˆ + v y ˆj + vz kˆ
dt dt dt a straight line.

Total change in velocity  ∆v
AverageAcceleration = = a=
av
Total time taken ∆t
Acceleration

 dv d
a= = (vx iˆ + v y ˆj + vz kˆ)
dt dt
Different Graphs of Motion Acceleration-Time Graph
Displacement-Time Graph
(a) When object (b) When object (c) When object
(a) 
For a stationary (b) Body moving (c) Body moving is moving is moving is moving
body with a constant with a constant with constant with constant with constant
Displacement velocity acceleration acceleration increasing decreasing
Displacement Displacement Acceleration acceleration acceleration
Acceleration Acceleration

O Time
O Time O
Time
O Time
(d) Body moving (e) Body moving O O
Time Time
with a constant with infinite
retardation velocity. But
Displacement such motion of Motion under Gravity (No Air Resistance)
body is never If an object is falling freely under gravity and downward direction
possible is taken as positive, then equations of motion becomes
Displacement 1
B (i) v = u + gt (ii) h = ut + gt2 (iii) v2 = u2 + 2gh
O 2
Time
Note: If upward direction is taken as positive then g is replaced by
O A
Time –g in above three equations.
If a body is thrown vertically up with a velocity u in the uniform
Velocity-Time Graph gravitational field then

(a) Moving with (b) Moving with (c) Body moving u2

(i) Maximum height attained H =
a constant a constant with a constant 2g
velocity acceleration retardation u
Velocity having zero and its initial (ii) Time of ascent = time of descent =
g
initial velocity retardation
and its initial 2u
Velocity (iii) Total time of flight =
velocity is not g
O zero (iv) Final velocity at the point of projection = u (downwards)
Time
Velocity Gallileo’s law of odd numbers: For a freely falling
(v) 
O
Time A body ratio of successive distance covered in equal time
interval ‘t’
B
O
Time

(d) Moving with (e) Moving with (f) Moving with H

negative increasing decreasing
acceleration acceleration retardation
with zero initial Velocity Velocity u
velocity
O
S1 : S2 : S3 : …, Sn = 1 : 3 : 5 : …, 2n – 1
O O (vi) At any point on its path the body will have same speed
Time Time
for upward journey and downward journey.

Note: Slope of velocity-time graph gives acceleration.

6 JEE (XI) Module-1 PW

 (viii) A body is thrown upward, downward and horizontally
with same speed takes time t1, t2 and t3 respectively to
reach the ground then t3 = t1t2 and height from where
H t1 t2 1
the particle was thrown is H = gt t .
2 12
h
v 1
v
(vii) If a body thrown upwards crosses a point in time t1 and t2 3
v 2
respectively then height of point h = ½ gt1t2. Maximum
1
height H = g(t1 + t2)2.
2

P
W Motion in a Straight Line 7