Science 9

Quarter 4 Module 1 Week 1

Motion in One Dimension

Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

Compare the velocity of the balls

rolling in Figure 1 and Figure 2. What do
you notice?
Correct! The ball in Figure 1 moves at
constant velocity while the ball in Figure 2
is speeding up.
Figure 1. Acceleration is zero.
Compare the acceleration of the balls
in both Figure 1 and Figure 2. What do
you notice?
That’s right! The ball in Figure 1 has
zero acceleration while the ball in Figure
2 is constantly accelerating at the rate of 2
m/s2. We can say that the ball in Figure 2

is moving in uniformly accelerated motion. Figure 2. Acceleration is constant.

UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION (UAM)

We know that acceleration is the rate in which a moving object’s velocity changes with respect to time.
Otherwise, uniform acceleration refers to an acceleration of an object, which remains constant regardless
of time. In the absence of restricting factors such as air resistance, friction, etc, the examples of uniformly
accelerated motion include a ball rolling down a slope, a person falling from an airplane, a ball dropped
from the top of a ladder and a bicycle on which you have applied the brakes.

EQUATIONS OF UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION

There are three equations that describe an object in UAM: Five variables in UAM Equations:
1) Velocity Equation
𝑣𝑓 = ⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡 ⃗⃗⃗𝑖 = initial velocity
𝑣
2) Distance Equation ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = final velocity
𝑎⃗𝑡 2 𝑡 = time
𝑑=𝑣
⃗⃗⃗𝑖 𝑡 +
2
3) Equation Relating Distance and Velocity 𝑑 = displacement
⃗⃗⃗⃗2 = 𝑣
𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗⃗2 + 2𝑎𝑑 𝑎 = acceleration
𝑓 𝑖

If an object is moving in a straight line either forwards or backwards, up or down, left or right, we can
say that the object is in motion in one dimension. For easy reference, here, we will use the x-axis plane to

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describe the motion of an object in horizontal motion (either forward/backward or left/right); and the y-
axis plane to describe the motion of an object in vertical motion (either up or down). Hence, if an object is
under constant acceleration and moves on the x-axis plane, it is known as a uniformly accelerated motion
in the horizontal dimension. Similarly, if the movement is along the y-axis, it would be known as
uniformly accelerated motion in vertical dimension.
We follow the sign convention of Cartesian coordinate system in UAM:

Table 1. Sign Rules in Horizontal Motion (UAM)

Sign Displacement, 𝒅 ⃗ Velocity, 𝒗⃗ ⃗
Acceleration, 𝒂
The object is moving to rightward
Positive Speeding up
the right. direction
The object is moving to leftward
Negative Slowing down
the left. direction
Table 2. Sign Rules in Vertical Motion (UAM)

Sign Displacement, ⃗𝒅 ⃗
Velocity, 𝒗 Acceleration, 𝒈⃗⃗
The object is moving upward Is always negative ( downward )
Positive
upward. direction Speeding up ( 𝒗⃗ and 𝒂
⃗ have the same
direction
The object is moving downward
Negative Slowing down ( 𝒗 ⃗ and 𝒂
⃗ are in
downward. direction
opposite direction

For vertical dimension, the motion of an object is affected by the gravity. On Earth, any object falling has
a uniform acceleration equivalent to –9.8m/s2(Note: acceleration due to gravity vary in different bodies
depending on their mass. In Earth’s moon the acceleration is –1.6 m/s2; on Mars its 3.7 m/s2.). The
negative sign in the acceleration denotes that the direction of the motion is downward following the
conventional sign in the Cartesian coordinate system. Since acceleration due to gravity is always
downward in nature, the constant will always carry the negative sign. We also use the variable 𝒈 ⃗⃗ to
denote the value of acceleration due to gravity which is equivalent to –9.8m/s .
2

To distinguish the motion in vertical dimension from the motion in horizontal dimension, we assign 𝒙 ⃗
⃗ ⃗
to represent the displacement, 𝒅, happened in x-axis plane and 𝒚 to represent the displacement, 𝒅, ⃗
happened in y-axis plane.

UAM Equations in Horizontal Dimension UAM Equations in Vertical Dimension (eg. FREE FALL)

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3 CASES OF UAM IN VERTICAL DIMENSION (aka FREE FALL)
CASE 3: Object is thrown upward

CASE 1: Object is dropped CASE 2: Object is thrown downward

The value of initial velocity, ⃗⃗⃗

𝒗𝒊 , varies in different cases. Since you apply no force in the Case 1, the
initial velocity is zero. For Case 2 and 3, your ⃗⃗⃗ 𝒗𝒊 varies depending upon the direction of the object. We
follow the sign convention that if the direction of the object is going up the sign of velocity should be
positive. On the other hand, if the direction of the object is going down the sign of velocity should be
negative. Notice that since ⃗𝒈⃗ is a constant, its value should always be –9.8 m/s2 whether the object is
going up or down. For the sign convention for the displacement, 𝒚 ⃗ , our reference is the release point. The
displacement above the release point should be positive, while the displacement below the release point
should be negative.

Now, let’s try to solve sample word problems involving UAM.

Sample Problems for Horizontal UAM
1) Starting from rest, the PNR train travels at a
constant acceleration of 2 m/s2.
a. What is the train’s velocity at 5 seconds?
b. What is the distance traveled in 10 seconds?
c. What is its velocity in 10 seconds?
Sample Problems for Vertical UAM
1) A one-peso coin was dropped by a student from
the fourth floor of the school building.
a. What is the coin’s velocity at 1.5 seconds?
b. What is the distance traveled in 1.8 seconds?
c. What is its velocity in 1.8 seconds?

For a: For a:
Given: 𝑎 = 2 m/s2 𝑡=5s Given: 𝑔 = –9.8 m/s2 𝑡 = 1.5 s
𝑣𝑖 = 0 (the train started from rest.)
⃗⃗⃗ 𝑣𝑖 = 0 (case 1: the object is dropped)
⃗⃗⃗
Required: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = ? Required: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = ?
Equation: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡 Equation: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
Answer: ⃗⃗⃗⃗𝒗𝒇 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒎/𝒔 to the right Answer: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝒗𝒇 = −𝟏𝟓 𝒎/𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝟏𝟓 𝒎/𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅

For b: For b:
Given: ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑡 = 10 s Given: ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑡 = 1.8 s
𝑎 = 2 m/s2 𝑣𝑓 = 10 m/s
⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑔 = –9.8 m/s2 𝑣𝑓 = –15 m/s
⃗⃗⃗⃗
Required: 𝑥 = ? Required: 𝑥 = ?
𝑎⃗ 𝑡 2 𝑔⃗𝑡 2
Equation: 𝑥 = ⃗⃗𝑣⃗𝑖 𝑡 + Equation: 𝑦 = ⃗⃗𝑣⃗𝑖 𝑡 +
2 2
Answer: ⃗𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒎 Answer: 𝒚⃗ = −𝟏𝟔 𝒎

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 For c: For c:
Given: ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑡 = 10 s Given: ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑡 = 1.8 s
𝑎 = 2 m/s 2
∆𝑥 = 100 m 𝑔 = –9.8 m/s ∆𝑦 = –16 m
2

Required: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = ? Required: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = ?
Equation: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣 2 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑓 𝑣 2 + 2𝑎∆𝑥
𝑖 Equation: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣 2 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑓 𝑣 2 + 2𝑎∆𝑦
𝑖
Solution: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = √02 + 2(2 𝑚/𝑠 2 )(100 𝑚) 𝑣𝑓 = −√02 + 2(−9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 )(−16 𝑚)
Solution: ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = √400 𝑚 2 /𝑠 2
⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑣𝑓 = −√313.6 𝑚 2 /𝑠 2
⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝒗𝒇 = 𝟐𝟎 𝒎/𝒔 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝒗𝒇 = −𝟏𝟖 𝒎/𝒔, or 18 m/s downward

2) The jeepney you are riding is traveling at the 2) Kian tossed a sepak takraw ball at the speed of
speed of 15 m/s when suddenly the driver saw a 11.29m/s. How long will it take for the ball to
little boy crossing down the street. He pressed reach its highest point and how high will it
on the break and it slows down at a rate of 5 reach?
m/s2. How long does it take to stop and how far
will it travel while his foot is on the break? Given: ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 = 11.29 m/s
Given: ⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑖 = 15 m/s ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 = 0 (The jeepney stopped) 𝑎 = –9.8 m/s2
𝑎 = –5 m/s2 𝑣𝑓 = 0 (The velocity at maximum height is 0.)
⃗⃗⃗⃗
Required: 𝑡 =? ; 𝑥 =? Required: 𝑡 =? ; 𝑦 =?
𝑣𝑓 −𝑣
⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗𝑖 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣𝑓 −𝑣⃗⃗⃗𝑖
Equation#1: 𝑡 = Equation#1: 𝑡 =
𝑎⃗ 𝑔⃗
Answer: 𝒕 = 𝟑 𝒔 Answer: 𝒕 = 𝟏. 𝟐 𝒔
𝑎⃗ 𝑡 2 𝑔⃗𝑡 2
Equation#2: 𝑥 = ⃗⃗𝑣⃗𝑖 𝑡 + Equation#2: 𝑦 = ⃗⃗𝑣⃗𝑖 𝑡 +
2 2
⃗ = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟓 𝒎
Answer: 𝒙 ⃗ = 𝟔. 𝟓 𝒎
Answer: 𝒚

Let’s Analyze
Direction: Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.
1) What does the negative distance in UAM indicate?
2) What does a negative velocity in UAM mean?
3) When you toss a ball into the air expecting it to hit the ground later, when will the ball achieve its
highest velocity? highest acceleration?
4) Suppose you drop an object both on Earth and on the moon, how do you compare its velocity on
Earth and on the moon?
Let’s Try (Evaluation)
Direction: Solve the following problems. Show your solution.
1) Mariella is running at a constant speed of 6.19 m/s when she feels exhausted slowing down at a
constant rate of 3.8 m/s2 until she rests. How long will it take for her to stop?
2) A 1.7-m gunman fired a bullet directly above his head at a speed of 90 m/s. What is the maximum
height the bullet can reach before it hits the ground?
3) Cyrus became very angry with his defective phone that he threw the mobile phone down the cliff
at a speed of 5.16 m/s. What will be the mobile phone’s velocity before it hits the ground if the
cliff is 20 meters high?
Let’s Create
Directions: Create a video presentation of an actual example of uniformly accelerated
motion which you can perform at home. If you have no gadget, you can
illustrate UAM on a piece of paper.