Kinemat ics in One Dimension

1
Concept buil ding exampl es
1. A particle is projected vertically upwards. Prove that it will be at 3/4 of its greatest height at time which are in the
ratio 1 : 3.
Sol. If u is the initial velocity of a particle while going vertically upwards, then maximum height attained, h =
g 2
u
2
If t is the time when particle reaches at a height (3/4)h, then using the relation s = ut +
1
2
at
2
.
we have
4
3
h = ut +
1
2
(g) t
2
or
4
3
|
|
.
|

\
|
g 2
u
2
= ut
2
1
gt
2
or t
2

2u
g
t +
2
2
3 u
4 g
= 0
Solving it for t, we have t =
2 2
2 2
2 4 3
4 1
4
2

u u u
g g g
=
g 2
u
g
u

Taking negative sign, t

1
=
g 2
u
g 2
u
g
u
=
Taking positive sign = t
2
=
g 2
u 3
g 2
u
g
u
= +

1
2
t u/ 2g
t 3u/ 2g
| |
=
|
\ .
=
3
1
2. In a car race, car A takes a time of t s less than car B at the finish and passes the finishing point with a velocity v m/
s more than the car B. Assuming that the cars starts from rest and travel with constant acceleration a
1
and a
2
respectively, show that
v = t
2 1
a a
Sol. The distance covered by both the cars is the same. Thus, s
1
= s
2
= s.
If the time taken by two cars to complete the journey are t
1
and t
2
and their velocities at the finish be v
1
and v
2
respectively, then it is given that
t
1
= t
2
t, and v
1
= v
2
+ v
If the cars take time t
1
and t
2
for the race and their velocities at the finish be v
1
and v
2
, then it is given that
1
1
t
2
v
= s ................ (1)
and
2
2
t
2
v
= s ............... (2)
From (1) & (2),
1 1 2 2
v t v t =

t
v
t t
v v
t
v
t
v
1 2
2 1
1
2
2
1
=

= =
............... (3)
2
2
1
1
1 2
2 1
2
t
v
.
t
v
t t
v v
t
v
= = |
.
|

\
|
.............. (4)
2 1
a a
t
v
=
v = t
2 1
a a
Kinemat ics in One Dimension
2
3. A car accelerates from rest at a constant rate o for sometime after which it decelerate at a constant rate | to come
to rest. If the total time lapse is t seconds, find (i) the maximum velocity reached and (ii) the total distance travelled.
Sol. Let v
m
be the maximum velocity and let t
1
be the time taken to attain it. Then using
v = u + at we get
v
m
= o t
1
.............. (1)
Let t
2
be the time taken by the car to stop under retardation | . Then.
0 = v
m
- | t
2
or v
m
= | t
2
............. (2)
Eqns. (1) and (2) given,
|
o
=
1
2
t
t
or
1 1
t
t
1
2
+
|
o
= +
or
1
t
t
=
|
| + o
or t
1
=
t
| + o
|
Substituting this value of t
1
in eqn. (1), v
m
=
. t
| + o
o|
Now, let s
1
be the distance travelled during acceleration and let s
2
be the distance travelled during retardation. Then
using the equation v
2
= u
2
+ 2as, we get

1
2
m
s 2 v o = .............. (3)
and 0 =
2
m 2
v 2 s ............. (4)

s
1
=
2 2
m
2
v
2 2( )
o|
=
o o + |
t
2
and s
2
=
2
2
2
t
2( )

+
Total distance, s = s
1
+ s
2
=
) ( 2
t
) (
) ( 2
t
2
2
2
| + o
o|
= | + o
| + o
o|
4. If a body moving with uniform acceleration in a straight line describes sucessive equal distances in time intervals
t
1
, t
2
& t
3
then show that :
3 2 1 3 2 1
t t t
3
t
1
t
1
t
1
+ +
= +
Sol. The situation is described in figure. Suppose AB = BC = CD = s and the velocities of the body at points A, B, C, D
be v
A
, v
B
, v
C
and v
D
respectively which is uniformly accelerated. The body takes time t
1
to travel distance AB.
Hence,
2
v v
B A
+
t
1
= s or v
A
+ v
B
=
1
t
s 2
... (1)
Similarly, v
B
+ v
C
=
2
t
s 2
... (2)
and, v
C
+ v
D
=
3
t
s 2
... (3)
Also, v
A
+ v
D
=
3 2 1
t t t
s 6
+ +
But from eq. (1), (2) & (3), v
A
+ v
D
= (v
A
+ v
B
) (v
B
+ v
C
) + (v
C
+ v
D
)
(or)
3 2 1
t t t
s 6
+ +
=
3 2 1
t
s 2
t
s 2
t
s 2
+
(or)
3 2 1 3 2 1
t
1
t
1
t
1
t t t
3
+ =
+ +
5. An elevator of height h is ascending with an acceleration a. After a time t a coin is dropped from the top of the
elevator. When will the coin strike the bottom of the elevator?
Sol. Let after a time t from the instant of release, the coin strikes the floor of the elevator.
The coin was moving with the elevator with a velocity, say v. Just after losing contact it begins to ascend
with same velocity v (obeying the law of inertia of motion).
t = 0 t = t
1
t = t
1
+ t
2
t = t
1
+ t
2
+ t
3
A B C D
V
A
V
B
V
C
V
D
Kinemat ics in One Dimension
3
Since the net displacement S
1
of the coin during time t is downward (w.r.t the initial position or point of
release).
S
1
=
2
1
gt
2
vt .................... (i)
The net displacement S
2
of the ascending elevator during time t is upwards (w.r.t. the initial position)
S
2
= vt +
2
1
at
2
..................... (ii)
Now, S
1
+ S
2
= h .................. (iii)
Putting S
1
and S
2
from (i) & (ii) respectively in (iii) we obtain
|
.
|

\
|
+ + |
.
|

\
|

2 2
at
2
1
vt vt gt
2
1
= h
h t ) a g (
2
1
2
= + t =
) a g (
h 2
+
6. A car A is travelling on a straight level road with a uniform speed of 60 km hr
1
. It is followed by another car B
which is moving with a speed of 70 km hr
1
. When the distance between them is 2.5 km., the car B is given a
deceleration of 20 km hr
2
. After what distance and time will B catch up with A ?
Sol. Suppose the car B catches up the car A in t hours.
The distance travelled by the car A moving with a velocity of 60 km hr
1
in time t hours is given by, S
1
= 60 t km.
For motion of car B
The distance travelled by the car B moving with an intial velocity u = 70 km hr
1
and decelerated at the rate of 20
km hr
2
in time t hour is given by, S
2
= ut +
1
2
at
2
= 70t +
1
2
( 20) t
2
S
2
= 70t 10 t
2
(or) But S
2
S
1
= 2.5 km
70 t 10t
2
60 t = 2.5
i.e., 10t
2
10t + 2.5 = 0 or 4t
2
4t + 1 = 0 (or) (2t 1)
2
= 0 i.e. 2t 1 = 0
t = 1/2 = 0.5 hr.
Since, S
2
= 70t 10t
2
Putting value of t, we get, S
2
= 70 0.5 10 (0.5)
2
= 35 3.5
S
2
= 32.5 km.
7. A motor boat going down stream overcame a raft at a point A, t = 60 min. later it turned back and after sometime
passed the raft at a distance l = 6 km from the point A. Find the flow velocity assuming the duty of the engine to be
constant.
Sol. The situation is shown in Fig.
Boat turned back from O. It meets the raft at B
Let, velocity of river = u
Velocity of boat = v
Then, velocity of raft = u
Velocity of boat down the stream = (v + u)
Velocity of boat up the stream = (v u)
Let the boat take time t to return from O to B
Then, time taken by the raft to flow from A to B = (t + t)
For flow of raft from A to B, AB = u (t + t) = l .............. (1)
For motion of boat from A to O, AO = (v + u) t
For motion of boat from O to B, BO = (v u) t
As, AO = AB + BO
Putting values, (v + u) t = u (t + t) + (v u)t (or) vt + ut = ut + ut + vt ut (or) vt = vt or t = t
Putting in eqn. (1) u

2t = l or u =
2t
l
Putting values, we get, u =

6
2 1
( t = 60 min = 1 hour). u = 3 km hr
1
.
A B
O
FFF.
Kinemat ics in One Dimension
4
M IND - M AP
1. Equations of motion in
one dimension
* Motion with uniform
velocity S = vt
* Motion with uniform
acceleration,
2
1
S ut at
2
= +
v = u + at
2 2
v u 2as = +
n
a
S u (2n 1)
2
= +
2. Graphical representation of motion
* Slope of tangent to position time graph
gives velocity.
* Slope of tangent to v-t curve gives
acceleration.
* Area enclosed between v-t curve and
time axis between an interval of time
gives displacement.
* Slope of tangent to a-t curve gives rate
of change of acceleration
* Area enclosed between
a - t curve and time axis between an
interval of time gives change in
velocity.
3. Relation between
kinematic variables for
motion in one
dimension.
dx
v
dt
=
2
2
dv d x vdv
a
dt dt dx
= = =
4. Relative Velocity
*
AB A B
v v v =

u
vB
vA
*
2 2
AB A B A B
v v v 2v v cos = + u

* If relative velocity makes an angle

o
with v
A
then,
B
A B
v sin
tan
v v cos
u
o =
u
KINEMATICS IN ONE DIMENSION