Lecture1

Mechanics: Kinematics and Dynamics

Physics is often defined as the study of matter and energy and their interactions. It is possible to
study the motion of objects without being concerned with the forces that cause the motion. But
ultimately, physicists want to discover the causes of motion to better understand and to be able to
predict motion.
Mechanics is the branch of science concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when
subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their
environment. Mechanics is comprised of dynamics and kinematics.
Kinematics is defined as the branch of mechanics that studies the motion of objects without
reference to its causes. In other words, Kinematics describes motion while ignoring the external
agents that might have caused or modified the motion.
Dynamics (also known as kinetics) is defined as the branch of mechanics that deals with the
motion and equilibrium of systems under the action of forces, usually from outside the system. In
other words, Dynamics describes the cause of motion.
Problems involving motion with constant acceleration ("A car starts from rest and accelerates at
4m/s/s. How long does it take to cover 100m?") are classified as kinematics, while problems
involving forces ("A 100g mass is attached to a spring with a spring constant of 10 N/m and
hangs vertically from a support. How much does the spring stretch?") are classified as
"dynamics.
Motion
In physics, motion is a change in position of an object with respect to time and its reference
point. Motion is typically described in terms of displacement, direction, velocity, acceleration,
and time.
For now, will consider motion in one dimension (e.g. along a straight line).
Types of Motion
Translational
Translational motion refers to a type of motion in which a body or object moves
along a linear axis rather than a rotational axis. In physics, this term is used when
referring to motion that changes the position of an object without rotation. An
example is a car traveling on a highway.
Rotational
Rotational motion examines how an object rotates about an axis. Rotational
motion (also called spin) is where the object travels an increment of angle over an
increment of time. The angle Theta is measured from some starting point (usually
at time T = 0). Objects may move from one place to another while they are
simultaneously rotating. A good example is a rolling ball which has translational

motion that takes the ball across the floor. Translation is a type of motion that
causes a change in position. While the ball is translating it is also rotating. When
we analyze complex motion we may treat translational and rotational motions
independently.

Vibrational

Vibrational motion examines how an object moves back and forth about some
central point or axis. An example is the back-and-forth movement of a pendulum.

Displacement:
A displacement is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of a point P.Thus, it is
the length of an imaginary straight path, typically distinct from the path actually travelled by P.
A 'displacement vector' represents the length and direction of that imaginary straight path.

Displacement is defined as the change in position during some time interval.

Represented as x
x xf - xi
SI units are meters (m)
x can be positive or negative

Distance vs. Displacement

Assume a player moves from one end of the court to the other and back.
Distance is twice the length of the court
Distance is always positive
Displacement is zero
x = xf xi = 0 since xf = xi
Speed vs. Velocity vs. Acceleration
Speed is the distance travelled by an object in a certain amount of time, such as 5m/s (metres per
second)
so
in
one
second
of
time,
it
would
travel
5metres.
Velocity is simply speed including direction. So if something is travelling with a velocity of 5m/s
North, and then turns to travel 5m/s West, its velocity has changed, but its speed is still the same.

For example, a runner ends at her starting point.

Her displacement is zero.
Therefore, her velocity is zero.
However, the distance traveled is not zero, so the speed is not zero.

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. It is calculated by the change in velocity devided
by
the
time
it
took
to
change
that
much.
So if something goes from 5m/s to 10m/s in the space of 1second, it has change velocity by 5m/s
(10-5),
and
the
time
was
1,
so:
5/1=5m/s/s (5 metres per second per second)

The Kinematics equations for motion of a particle under constant acceperation

Table 1.2.1 - Variables used in uniformly
accelerated motion equations
Variable
Symbol
t
time taken
s
distance travelled

Table 1.2.1 - Variables used in uniformly

accelerated motion equations
Variable
Symbol
u
initial velocity
v
final velocity
a
acceleration

A car accelerates with uniformly from rest. After 10s it has travelled 200 m.
Calculate:
Its average acceleration
S = ut + 1/2 at
200 = 0 x 10 + 1/2 x a x 10
200 = 50a
a = 4 m s-2
Its instantaneous speed after 10s
v = u + 2as
= 0 + 2 x 4 x 200
= 1600
V= 40 m s-1