Chapter 2

Uniformly Accelerated
Motion
 Speed
total distance traveled
Average Speed 
time taken

s
vav 
t
 Velocity
vector displaceme nt
Average Velocity 
time taken

 s
vav 
t
 Acceleration
change in the velocity vector
Average Accelerati on 
time taken
 
 v f  vi v
aav  
t f  ti t
What are the units for acceleration?
Uniformly Accelerated Motion
Along a Straight Line
 In this case…
• acceleration is a constant
• and the acceleration vector lies in the
line of the displacement vector.
The 5 Equations!
(1) s  si  vi t  at 1
2
2

(2) v f  vi  at

(3) v  v  2as
2
f
2
i

(4) s  vavt
v f  vi
(5) vav 
2
 Problem Solution Guidelines

 Draw a sketch
– Indicate origin and positive direction
 List the given quantities using the symbols of the
equations. (si, vi, a)
– Is time known or do we need to find it?
– What are we to solve for?

 Write the general equations of kinematics

v f  vi  at s  si  vi t  12 at 2
 More Guidelines

 Rewrite the general equations using the

known quantities.
 Look at the knowns and unknowns and map
a strategy of solution.
 Check your units
 Make sure you are answering the question.
 Problem Solution Time

 Fifteen minutes
 Definitions

 Instantaneous Velocity
– the slope of the displacement versus time graph

 Instantaneous Acceleration
– the slope of the velocity versus time graph
 Slopes
Displacement

Time
Teaming Exercise
Next Problem solutions
 Free Fall

 The force of gravity points downward

– Acceleration of gravity near the surface of
Earth is called g = 9.8 m/s2 = 32.1 ft/s2
 Air resistance ignored

 We have then the conditions of one-

dimensional kinematics – straight line
motion with constant acceleration.
 Sample Problem

 A ball is thrown vertically upward at 10

m/s. How high will it get, how long will it
be in the air, and how fast will it be moving
when it hits the ground.
Projectile Problems – Two
Dimensional Kinematics

 Ignore air resistance.

 ax = 0

 ay = g = 9.81 m/s2 downward

 The motions in the two
directions are independent
Horizontal

Vertical
Real Motion is the
Combination of the Two
2-D Problem Guidelines

 Set up two 1-D solutions

Origin x Origin y
Positive x Positive y
xi = yi =
vxi = vyi =
ax = 0 ay = g
 2-D Guidelines Cont’d

 Write general kinematic equations for each

direction
 Rewrite them for the problem at hand
 Find the condition that couples the motions
(usually time)
 Uniformly Accelerated
Motion Along a Straight Line

s  vavt
s  vi t  at
1
2
2

v f  vi
vav  v f  vi  at
2

v  v  2as
2
f
2
i