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Mechanics 1
for Edexcel
M1.3 Kinematics
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Contents
Motion graphs
Motion graphs
Formulae for constant acceleration
Examination-style questions
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Kinematics
Kinematics involves the study of how things move.
It is only concerned with the motion itself, not the forces that
cause this motion.
The kinematics of an object is described in terms of its
distance,
displacement,
speed,
velocity,
acceleration.
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Motion graphs
The kinematics of a body can be represented graphically.
The most common graphs are position-time, speed-time,
velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs.
The gradient of a distance-time graph gives speed.
The gradient of a displacement-time graph gives velocity.
The gradient of a velocity-time graph gives acceleration.
The area under a speed-time graph gives the distance
travelled.
The area under a velocity-time graph gives the change in
displacement.
The area under an acceleration-time graph gives the change
in velocity.
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Displacement-time graph
Displacement (m)
600
400
200
0
20 40 60 80 100 120
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Distance-time graph
This graph also shows a journey of 2000 m with a 1 hour stop.
However, for this graph there is no indication of direction.
The gradient of this graph
gives speed.
Distance (m)
2000
1600
1200
800
400
0
20 40 60 80 100 120
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Velocity-time graph
Velocity (ms1)
12.5
10
7.5
5
2.5
0
Time (s)
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Acceleration-time graph
This graph shows constant acceleration.
Acceleration (ms2)
6
4
2
0
2
10 12 14
Time (s)
4
6
Acceleration-time graph
The area under an acceleration-time graph gives change in
velocity.
Acceleration (ms2)
6
4
2
0
2
10 12 14
Time (s)
4
6
Graphs example 1
A man travels in a lift from the top floor of a hotel to reception
on the ground floor.
The lift accelerates with a constant acceleration of 1 ms 2
until it reaches a constant velocity of 4 ms1.
It then travels at this constant velocity for t seconds before
decelerating with a constant deceleration of 2 ms2 until it
reaches the ground floor.
Given that the man has descended 44 m,
a) sketch the velocity-time graph of the lift and use it to find t
b) sketch the acceleration-time graph of the lift.
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Graphs solution 1
( 21 4 4) + (4t ) + ( 21 4 4) = 44
4
t
Time (s)
The acceleration-time
graph for the lift can
then be sketched as
follows:
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8 + 4t + 4 = 44
4t = 32
t = 8 secs
Acceleration (ms2)
Velocity (ms1)
1
0
8 10 12 14
Time (s)
1
2
Boardworks Ltd 2005
Graphs example 2
A car and a motorcycle are travelling along a straight road.
The car accelerates from rest to a constant speed of 28 ms 1.
The motorcycle accelerates from rest to a constant speed of
25 ms1 in 10 seconds.
After travelling for 90 seconds the car hits traffic and
decelerates to a constant speed of 22 ms1 in 5 seconds.
The motorcycle is unaffected by the traffic and maintains his
speed.
The motorcycle overtakes the car after they have both
travelled 3700 m.
Draw a speed-time graph and use it to find the time when the
motorcycle overtakes the car and how long the car was initially
accelerating for.
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Velocity (ms1)
Graphs solution 2
t1
28
25
22
Motorbike
Car
10
Time (s)
90 95
Graphs solution 2
Velocity (ms1)
t2
Motorbike
Car
10
Time (s)
90 95
153
Graphs solution 2
Since the area under the graph for the car between 0 and 153
seconds is equal to 3700 so we can write,
( 21 t2 28) + ((90 t2 ) 28) + ( 21 (22 + 28) 5) + (58 22) = 3700
14t2 + 2520 28t2 + 125 + 1276 = 3700
14t2 = 221
t2 = 15.8 (to 3 sf)
Therefore the car was initially accelerating for 15.8 s (to 3 s.f.)
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Contents
Motion graphs
Formulae for constant acceleration
Examination-style questions
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Where
s = displacement in metres
u = initial velocity in ms1
v = final velocity in ms1
a = acceleration in ms2
t = time taken in seconds
These are sometimes called
the suvat formulae.
v = u + at
The motion of an object with initial velocity u and final velocity
v over time t can be illustrated using a velocity-time graph.
Velocity (ms1)
By definition, acceleration is
the rate of change of velocity.
vu
t
at = v u
a=
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Time (s)
v = u + at
Boardworks Ltd 2005
s = (u + v)t
We can use the same graph to find the distance s travelled by
an object with initial velocity u and final velocity v over time t.
Velocity (ms1)
s = 21 (u + v )t
This can also be written as
t
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Time (s)
u + v
s =
t
2
Boardworks Ltd 2005
s = ut + at2
vu
a=
so at = v u
t
This gives us
distance travelled = ut + 21 t ( at )
So
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s = ut + 21 at 2
Boardworks Ltd 2005
s = vt at2
distance travelled = vt 21 t ( at )
s = vt 21 at 2
Boardworks Ltd 2005
v2 = u2 + 2as
We can show that v2 = u2 + 2as as using
1
v = u + at
u + v
s=
t
2
2
Rearranging equation 1 to make t the subject gives
(v u )
t=
a
Substituting this into equation 2
u + v v u
s =
a
2
2as = (u + v )(v u )
2as = v 2 u 2
So
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v 2 = u 2 + 2as
Boardworks Ltd 2005
(Take g to be 9.8)
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B
t=6
C
t = 10
v = 50
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s = (0)(3.2) + 2 (9.8)(3.2)2
s = 50.2 (to 3 s.f )
Therefore the height of the cliff is 50.2 m (to 3 s.f.)
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Contents
Examination-style questions
Motion graphs
Formulae for constant acceleration
Examination-style questions
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Examination-style question 1
A ball is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity of
ms1 from a point 1.2 m above the ground. It reaches a
maximum height of 23 m above the ground.
Calculate
a) the initial velocity
b) the velocity with which the ball strikes the ground
c) the total time the ball is in the air.
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Solution 1
a) Taking as positive, v = 0, s = 21.8, a = 9.8
v2 = u2 + 2as
0 = u2 + 2(-9.8)(21.8)
0 = u2 427.28
u = 427.28 (to 3 s.f.) initial velocity is 20.7ms1 (to 3 s.f.)
b) Method 1 - Using downward motion only
Taking to be positive, u = 0, a = 9.8, s = 23
v2 = u2 + 2as
v2 = 02 + 2(9.8)(23)
v2 = 450.8
v = 21.2 (to 3 s.f.)
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Solution 1
b) Method 2 Using whole motion
Taking to be positive, u = 427.28, a = 9.8, s = 1.2
v2 = u2 + 2as
v2 = 427.28 + 2(9.8)(1.2)
v2 = 450.8
v = 21.2 (to 3 s.f.)
ball strikes ground with a velocity
of 21.2 ms-1 (to 3 s.f.)
c) Taking as positive, u = 427.28, v = 450.8, a = 9.8
v = u + at
(v u )
t=
a
( 450.8 427.28 )
t=
9.8
t = 4.28 (to 3 s.f.) ball is in the air for 4.28 s (to 3 s.f.)
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Examination-style question 2
A car is travelling with a uniform acceleration along a
straight road.
It passes a point A with a velocity of 8 ms1 and 5 seconds
later it passes a point B with velocity 25 ms1.
Find the velocity with which the car passes the mid-point of
AB.
The distance AB needs to be found first: u = 8, v = 25, t = 5
s = 21 (u + v)t
1
s = 2 (8 + 33)(5)
s = 82.5
the distance AB is 82.5 m and so the mid-point of AB is at a
distance of 41.25 m from A.
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Solution 2
Acceleration now needs to be found: u = 8, v = 25, t = 5
(v u )
a
=
v = u + at
t
(25 8)
a=
5
a = 3.4