Lecture 5

Motion with Constant

Acceleration

Instructor:
Dr. Loai Afana
Physical and Biomedical Devices and Systems
2012/2013

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 Motion with Constant Acceleration
If acceleration is constant, there are 4 useful formulae
relating position x, velocity v, acceleration a at time t:

v = v0 + at
v0 = initial velocity (at t=0)
x = x0 + 12 (v0 + v)t x0 = initial position (at t=0)
x = x0 + v0t + 12 at 2 t0 = initial time – assumed
here to be at 0 s.
v 2 = v02 + 2a( x − x0 ) = v02 + 2a∆x
(Instead of xf , xi, we are using x and x0)

If t0 ≠ 0, replace t in these formulae with t – t0

Dr. Loai Afana 2

 Where do these formulae come from?
If acceleration is constant, then a = average acceleration.

∆v ν f −ν i
a= =
∆t t f − ti

let, t i = 0, t f = t


νi = ν0 , νf = ν

ν − ν0
Also let, a=
t
ν = ν 0 + at , (1)

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If a = constant, then velocity v.s time graph is a straight line .

For a straight line graph:

a
ν +ν 0 v
ν =
2 v0

But x − x 0 t
ν =
t

x − x0 ν + ν0
then =
t 2

ν +ν 0
x = x0 +( )t , (2)
2

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Substitute eq.(1) into eq. (2)

ν = ν 0 + at , (1)

ν +ν 0
x = x0 +( )t , (2)
2

1
x = x 0 + (ν 0 + ν 0 + at) t
then
2

1 2
x = x 0 + ν 0t + at , (3)
2

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Finally , substituting the value of t from equation (1) into
equation (2)
ν = ν 0 + at , (1)

ν +ν 0
x = x0 +( )t , (2)
2
from equation (1) v − v0
t =
a
then ν +ν 0 ν −ν 0
x = x0 + ( ) ×( )
2 a
ν 2 + ν 02
x = x0 + ( )
2a
or

ν 2 =ν 02 + 2a(x − x 0 ), (4)
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Dr. Loai Afana
Summary
The equations of motion are valid only when:

• acceleration is constant
• Motion is constrained to a straight line.

The One Dimensional Equations of Motion for Constant Acceleration:

traditional name equation relationship

1st equation v =v0 + at velocity- time

2nd equation x =x0 + ½ (v + v0)t Displacement - velocity
3rd equation x =x0 + v0t + ½ at 2 displacement- time
4th equation v2 =v02 + 2a(x − x0) velocity- displacement

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 Example (Lecture 4 / part .II)

A car moves from a position of +4.0m to a position of –1.0m in 2.0sec.

The initial velocity of the car is –4.0 m/s and the final velocity is –1 m/s.

(a) What is the displacement of the car?

(b) What is the average velocity of the car?
(c) What is the average acceleration of the car?
Answer:
(a) ∆x = xf – xi = –1.0 m – (+4.0 m) = – 5 m

(b) vav = ∆x/∆t = (– 5.0 m)/(2.0 s) = – 2.5 m/s

∆v v f − vi − 1 − ( −4)
(c) a av = = = = 1.5 m/s 2
∆t t f − ti 2

Dr. Loai Afana

Example:
Particle moves from a position of (A) to a position of (B) in 2.0 sec.
The initial velocity of the car is 1.0 m/s and the final velocity is 4.0 m/s.
v 0 = 1 m/s, v = 4 m/s, t = 2s
(1) calculate the acceleration .

From v = v0 + at (1)

4 = 1 + a(2 ) ⇒ 3 = a(2 ) ⇒ a = 1.5 m/s2

(2) find the distance the particle travels in the first 2 sec
Let the origin be at the initial position (xo= 0)
1 2
From x = x0 + ν0t + at (3)
2
1
x = 0 + 1× 2 + ×1.5 × 4 = 3m
2

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Example:
A car moves from a position of (A) to a position of (B).
The initial velocity of the car is 10.0 m/s and the final velocity is 20.0 m/s.
If acceleration is 2m/s2, Find:
1- The distance between (A) and (B) ,
2- The time that car need between (A) and (B)
Solution
:
1- v2 = v02 + 2a ( x − x0 ) (4)

(20)2 = (10)2 + 2x2 (x - 0)
x=75m

2- v = v0 + at (1)

20 = 10 + 2 x t
t = 5s

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Example:

Suppose a spacecraft is traveling with a speed of 3250 m/s, and it slows

down, so that a = -10 m/s2.
What is the velocity of the spacecraft after it has traveled 215km?

Solution:

ν 2 = ν 02 + 2a ( y − y 0 ) (4)

v 2 = (3250) 2 + 2(−10)(215 ×103 − 0)

v = 2.5 ×103 m / s

Dr. Loai Afana

Example:
A car slowing down at 2.0 m/s2 and comes to a stop after traveling 25 m.
Find
a) The speed of the car at the start of the deceleration.
b) The time required to come to a stop.

Solution:
a = ‫ ــ‬2.0 m/s2 , v = 0 (because the car stopped) , x − x0 = 25 m

a) From v2 =v02 + 2a(x − x0) (4)

0 = v02 + 2 (-2.0) (25)

V02 = 100
v0 = 10 m/s.

b) From v = v0 + at (1)

0 = 10 + (-2.0)t
t = 5 s.
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Example:
An electron in cathode ray-tube of a television where it accelerates
uniformly from a speed of 3x104m/s to a speed of 5x106m/s in a
distance of 2 cm

(a) for what length of time is the electron where accelerate?

From x =x0 + ½ (v + v0)t (2)

2(x − x0 ) 2× (2×10−2 ) −9
t= = 4 6
= 7.95×10 sec
ν +ν 0 3×10 + 5×10

(b) what is the acceleration of the electron ?

From v =v0 + at (1)

ν − ν 0 5 ×106 − 3 ×104 14 2
a= = = 6.25 × 10 m / s
t 7.95×10− 9
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Example:
[6] A truck covers 40m in 8.5 s while smoothly slowing down to a final
speed of 2.80 m/s.
(a) Find its original speed (V0). (b) Find its acceleration (a).

Solution:
Let the origin be at the initial position x0=0
(a)
ν +ν 0
x = x0 + ( )t (2)
2
2.8 + ν 0
40 = 0 + ( ) × 8.5
2
ν 0 = 6 .61m / s

(b) ν = ν 0 + at (1)
ν − ν 0 2.8 − 6.61
a= = = −0.45m / s 2
t 8 .5
Dr. Loai Afana
 Example:
A car can brake to a stop in a distance of 121 ft, from a speed of 60.0 mi/h.
To brake to a stop from a speed of 80.0 mi/h need a stopping distance of 211 ft.
What is the average braking acceleration for :
(a) 60 mi/h to rest (V=0), (b) 80 mi/h to rest,
Express the answers m/s2.
1 mile = 1609 m = 1.609 km
1 ft = 30.48 cm = 0.3048 m

m il 1609 m m
121ft = 121 × .3048 m = 36.8808 m 80 = 80 × = 35.76
h 60 × 60 s s
2 1 1f t = 2 1 1 × .3 0 4 8 m = 6 4 .3 1 m m il 1609 m m
60 = 60 × = 26.82
h 60 × 60 s s

(a ) v 2 = v 02 + 2a∆x (4)
(b ) v 2 = v 02 + 2a ∆x
0 = (26.82) 2 + 2a × 36.88 0 = (35.76)2 + 2a × 64.31
m m
a = −9.75 2 a = −9.94 2
s s
Dr. Loai Afana
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