1 Velocity and Acceleration

At the end of this module you should be able to:

a. Solve problems using

s=
1
(u + v )t v = u + at v 2 = u 2 + 2as s = ut +
1 2
at
2 2
b. Explain what s, u, v, a and t represent.
c. Define angular velocity and angular acceleration, and solve problems.
d. Relate linear and angular acceleration and velocity, and solve problems.

Table of contents

1 Velocity and Acceleration ....................................................................................................................................1

1.1 Scalars and Vectors ..............................................................................................................................................2
1.2 Linear Motion.......................................................................................................................................................2
1.2.1 Linear displacement and distance ...............................................................................................................2
1.2.2 Linear velocity and speed ...........................................................................................................................2
1.2.3 Linear acceleration......................................................................................................................................3
1.2.4 Equations for linear uniformly accelerated motion.....................................................................................4
1.3 Angular Motion ..................................................................................................................................................10
1.3.1 Angular speed and velocity.......................................................................................................................10
1.3.2 Angular acceleration .................................................................................................................................10
1.4 Relationship between linear and angular motion................................................................................................11
1.4.1 Relationship between linear speed and angular speed ..............................................................................11
1.4.2 Relationship between angular speed and frequency of rotation ................................................................11
1.4.3 Relationship between linear acceleration and angular acceleration ..........................................................12
1.5 Uniform circular motion - (acceleration)............................................................................................................13

Page numbers on the same topic in , Applied Mechanics, 3rd Edition, Hannah & Hillier

Section in these notes Section in Hannah & Hillier Page No. in Hanna & Hiller
Section 1.1 - Section 1.2.4 4.1 - 4.7 64 - 6
Section 1.3 - Section 1.3.1 4.9 73
Section 1.3.2 9.1 - 9.2 154 - 156
Section 1.4 - 1.4.3 Not in the book Not in the book
Section 1.5 6.1 102 - 104

Fundamentals of Mechanics – Kinetics: Section 1 – Velocity and Acceleration 1

1.1 Scalars and Vectors

A scalar quantity is one which can be completely specified by a number that expresses its magnitude in an appropriate
unit.

Some examples are:

Scalar quantity SI unit

Mass kg
Length m
Area m2

A vector quantity requires a number (magnitude) and direction.

Some examples are:

Vector quantity SI unit

Velocity m/s
Acceleration m/s2
Force N (or kg m/s2)

1.2 Linear Motion

1.2.1 Linear displacement and distance

The linear displacement is the length moved in a given direction - it is a vector quantity.

The magnitude of the displacement is the distance - a scalar quantity.

1.2.2 Linear velocity and speed

The linear velocity is the rate of change of displacement with time. As displacement is a vector so velocity is a vector.

The magnitude of the velocity is speed. It is the of change of distance with time - hence it is a scalar.

If a body moves with uniform velocity then it must move in a fixed direction with constant speed.

The average speed of a body is the total distance moved divide by the total time taken.

Fundamentals of Mechanics – Kinetics: Section 1 – Velocity and Acceleration 2

Distance - time curve

A graph plotted for distance (s) against time (t), might look like that in Figure 1.1:

B C

distance s
A

time t
Figure 1.1: Distance-Time Curve

As speed is rate of change of distance with time, the slope, gradient, of the s/t curve is the speed.

Over the linear section OA of the curve the speed must be uniform.
Between A and B the gradient is becoming less and less, hence the body is slowing down.
At B the body is stopped (distance is not increasing) and remains at rest between B and C.

1.2.3 Linear acceleration

The linear acceleration of a body is the rate of change of linear velocity with time. It is a vector.

If acceleration is uniform the speed must be increasing b t in equal time intervals.

Worked example 1.1

A car is travelling along a straight road at 13 m/s. It accelerates uniformly for 15 s until it is moving at 25 m/s

Solution

change in velocity dv
Acceleration = =
time taken dt
25 − 13
=
15
= 0 .8 m / s 2

Fundamentals of Mechanics – Kinetics: Section 1 – Velocity and Acceleration 3

Speed - Time curve

A graph of speed (v) of a body plotted against time (t) might be as shown by the graph in figure 1.2:

speed v
C

t1 t2 time t
dt
Figure 1.2: Speed-Time Curve

As acceleration is rate of change of speed (v) with time (t), the slope, gradient, of the v/t curve is the speed.

In Figure 1.2 the gradient between A and B is increasing - hence acceleration - is increasing, between B and C it is
constant, between C and D it is decreasing.

If in the small time interval dt, the speed is v. The distance covered in the time dt is

ds = v dt
ds
v=
dt
The total distance s travelled in the time interval between t1and t2 is the integral of this i.e.

s = ∫ ds = ∫ v dt
t1

t2

This integral is the same as the area under the curve.

Thus the distance travelled in any time interval is the area under the v/t curve between the start and end time.

1.2.4 Equations for linear uniformly accelerated motio

If a body that is moving in a straight line and started with initial speed u undergoes a uniform acceleration a for a time t
until its velocity is v, then the speed time curve would look like that in Figure 1.3:

Fundamentals of Mechanics – Kinetics: Section 1 – Velocity and Acceleration 4