Name: solving constant acceleration motion problems
Uploaded: 2023-04-30T10:50:50.000Z
Duration: 1 min 15 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

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North Carolina K-12 Science Standard Course of Study

9-12

Physics

motion-and-stability-forces-and-interactions

Motion and Stability- Forces and Interactions

PS.Phy.1.1

Kinematic Equations: Problem Solving

The kinematic equations of motion are useful to solve problems involving one-dimensional&#160;motion of objects under constant acceleration.
Consider a couple driving to a nearby coffee shop. They start the car and apply a constant acceleration of 2 meters per second squared. What will be the car&#39;s velocity after 20 seconds and the distance covered by it in that time?
The choice of the equation to solve the problem depends on the known quantities and the unknown quantities.
Here, the known quantities are constant acceleration, time, the initial position, and the initial velocity, as the car was at rest. The unknown quantities are the velocity and distance covered after 20 seconds, which can be calculated using the first and second kinematic equations.
Substituting known values in the first kinematic equation gives the velocity of the car, which equals 40 meters per second.&#160;
Then, substituting the known values in the second kinematic equation, simplifying and solving it gives the distance covered by the car equal to 400 meters.

kinematic equations: problem solving

When analyzing one-dimensional motion with constant acceleration, the problem-solving strategy involves identifying the known quantities and choosing the appropriate kinematic equations to solve for the unknowns. Either one or two kinematic equations are needed to solve for the unknowns, depending on the known and unknown quantities. Generally, the number of equations required is the same as the number of unknown quantities in the given example. Two-body pursuit problems always require two equations to be solved simultaneously to derive the value of the unknown.
In complex problems, it is not always possible to identify the unknowns or the order in which they should be calculated. In such scenarios, it is useful to make a list of unknowns and draw a sketch of the problem to identify the directions of motion of an object. To solve the problem, substitute the knowns along with their units into the appropriate equation. This step provides a numerical answer, and also provides a check on units that can help find errors. If the units are incorrect, then an error has been made. However, correct units do not necessarily guarantee that the numerical part of the answer is also correct.
The final step in solving problems is to check the answer to see if it is reasonable. This final step is crucial as the goal of physics is to describe nature accurately. To see if the answer is reasonable, check both its magnitude and its sign, in addition to its units. This enables us to get a conceptual understanding of the problems that are being solved. Sometimes the physical principle may be applied correctly to solve the numerical problem, but produces an unreasonable result. For example, if an athlete starting a foot race accelerates at 0.4 m/s&#178; for 100 seconds, their final speed will be 40 m/s (about 150 km/h). This result is unreasonable because a person cannot run at such a high speed for 100 seconds. Here, the physics is correct in a sense, but there is more to describing nature than just manipulating equations correctly.
This text is adapted from <a href="https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/3-4-motion-with-constant-acceleration">Openstax, University Physics Volume 1, Section 3.4: Motion with Constant Acceleration</a>.

When analyzing one-dimensional motion with constant acceleration, the problem-solving strategy involves identifying the known quantities and choosing the ...

Education

JoVE Core

Unit 1

Motion Along a Straight Line

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

solving constant acceleration motion problems

Solving one-dimensional motion problems with constant acceleration starts with identifying the known quantities and choosing the right kinematic equation. A kinematic equation is a motion formula that relates displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time. Depending on what is known and unknown, you may need one equation or two equations to find the answer.

In many problems, the number of equations needed matches the number of unknowns. Two-body pursuit problems are different. They always require two equations solved at the same time to find the unknown value.

For more complex problems, it may not be easy to see the unknowns or the order for finding them. In that case, it helps to make a list of unknown quantities and draw a sketch of the situation. The sketch can show the direction of motion for each object and make the setup clearer.

After choosing the equation, substitute the known values with their units. This gives a numerical answer and also checks the units. If the units do not work out, an error has been made. Correct units do not always mean the number is correct, so the result still needs a final check.

The last step is to decide whether the answer is reasonable. Check the size of the value, its sign, and its units. This matters because physics aims to describe nature accurately. For example, if an athlete starts a foot race and accelerates at 0.4 m/s^2 for 100 seconds, the final speed would be 40 m/s, or about 150 km/h. That answer is not realistic for a person, even if the equation was used correctly.

Solving Constant Acceleration Motion Problems

solving-constant-acceleration-motion-problems

position and displacement

Reference Frames and Motion in a Line

Position in straight-line motion depends on a frame of reference. A frame of reference is an arbitrary set of axes used to describe an object’s position and motion. It gives meaning to where something is located at a particular time. Earth is often used as the reference frame. In that case, we describe an object’s position relative to stationary objects on Earth. A rocket launch can be described this way. A cyclist’s position can also be described relative to the buildings they pass. <br...

average velocity

Average Velocity and Average Speed

Average velocity and average speed help describe motion in kinematics. To compare motion over time, we use the time variable. Time lets us track an object’s position and how fast that position changes. For motion between two points, each position x_i is paired with a time t_i. When the details of motion at each instant are not important, we use average velocity. Average velocity is a vector quantity, so it includes direction. It is found by dividing total displacement, Δx, by the time...

instantaneous velocity - i

Instantaneous Speed and Direction

Instantaneous velocity describes how fast an object is moving at a specific instant. It gives the motion of a particle at one point in time or at one point along its path. Average velocity over a time interval cannot show this level of detail. Instantaneous velocity, often written as v x , is the limit of average velocity as the elapsed time approaches zero. It can also be found as the derivative of x with respect to t . Like average velocity, it is a vector with dimensions of length per unit...

instantaneous velocity - ii

Instantaneous Velocity from Position Graphs

Instantaneous velocity describes how fast an object is moving at a specific moment along its path. It is the limit of average velocity as the elapsed time approaches zero. It can also be written as the derivative of displacement with respect to time. Like average velocity, instantaneous velocity is a vector, so it has both size and direction. Its units are length per unit time. Instantaneous velocity can be positive or negative. A position-time graph can show it at any point on the motion...

average acceleration

Average Acceleration and Velocity Change

Average acceleration describes how velocity changes over time. In physics, acceleration is not just about speeding up. It also includes slowing down and changing direction. Since velocity is a vector, it has both magnitude and direction. A change in velocity can come from a change in speed, a change in direction, or both. For example, a runner may travel at 10 km/h due east, stop, reverse direction, and then continue at 10 km/h due west. Even though the speed is the same, the velocity has...

instantaneous acceleration

Negative Acceleration and Instant Speed Change

Acceleration shows how velocity changes, and it does not always point in the same direction as motion. When an object slows down, its acceleration points opposite to its motion. This is often called deceleration, but that term can cause confusion because deceleration is not a vector and does not point in a specific direction in a coordinate system. A subway train is a simple example. When the train slows down, it is still accelerating, but the acceleration points opposite to the direction it...

kinematic equations - i

Velocity from Constant Acceleration

Velocity from constant acceleration shows how an object’s speed and direction change when the acceleration stays the same. The first kinematic equation connects initial velocity, acceleration, and time for motion with constant acceleration. It helps describe how velocity changes at a steady rate throughout the motion. The equation matches common sense in several cases. If acceleration is zero, the final velocity is the same as the initial velocity, so the object keeps a constant velocity. If...

kinematic equations - ii

Using the Second Kinematic Equation

The second kinematic equation relates an object’s final position to its initial position, its starting velocity, and the extra distance gained as velocity changes. It is used only when acceleration stays constant during the motion. That makes it useful for straight-line motion problems with a steady rate of acceleration. A car merging onto a 200 m freeway ramp is a good example. In the example, the car starts at 10 m/s and accelerates at 2 m/s². The known values are the distance, the initial...

kinematic equations - iii

Constant-Acceleration Kinematics Formulas

Constant-acceleration kinematics formulas connect an object’s motion when acceleration stays the same. They help describe how velocity and position change over time. These equations are useful for solving motion problems and for understanding the relationships among distance, time, velocity, and acceleration. The third kinematic equation does not use time as a variable. Instead, it gives final velocity in terms of acceleration and the distance over which that acceleration acts. The fourth...

Solving one-dimensional motion problems with constant acceleration starts with identifying the known quantities and choosing the right kinematic equation. A kinematic equation is a motion formula that relates displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time. Depending on what is known and unknown, you may need one equation or two equations to find the answer. In many problems, the number of equations needed matches the number of unknowns. Two-body pursuit problems are different. They always...

free-falling bodies: introduction

Gravity and Free-Fall Motion

Gravity and free-fall motion explain how objects move when only Earth’s gravity acts on them. In free-fall, the motion is caused by gravitational force, and air resistance is neglected. This means the object accelerates toward Earth’s center. This result is surprising because everyday experience includes friction and air resistance. We often expect lighter objects to fall more slowly than heavier ones. People held that idea until Galileo Galilei proved that mass does not change the...

free-falling bodies: example

Gravity-Driven Free Fall Motion

Gravity-driven free fall motion is the motion of an object when gravity is the only force acting on it and air resistance is absent. In this case, the object is in free-fall. The acceleration due to gravity stays constant, no matter how much the object weighs. Free-fall is not limited to objects moving straight down. It also includes motion that is affected only by gravity. Because the acceleration is constant, the motion can be described with kinematic equations. Objects dropped from the...

velocity and position by graphical method

velocity-and-position-by-graphical-method

Acceleration Graphs for Motion Prediction

Acceleration graphs can be used to find velocity and position over time. The area under an acceleration-time graph gives the change in velocity. The area under a velocity-time graph gives the change in position, or displacement. A real example is an airplane using an inertial navigation system. Before takeoff, the pilot enters the airplane’s initial position and velocity. The system then uses acceleration data to calculate the airplane’s velocity and position during flight. When acceleration...

velocity and position by integral method

Finding Motion from Acceleration Data

Velocity and position can be found from acceleration using integral calculus. When acceleration is known as a function of time, the velocity function comes from integrating acceleration. The position function then comes from integrating velocity. For constant acceleration, these integral steps match the first and second kinematic equations for velocity and position. The example in this lesson uses a motorboat that is moving at 5.0 m/s and then begins to slow down as it approaches the dock. Its...

key terms and concepts

Learn how to solve one-dimensional constant acceleration problems using kinematic equations, unit checks, sketches, and reasonableness checks.

Solving Constant Acceleration Motion Problems | JoVE K12

physics

JoVE Core Physics introduces the theory and application of fundamental physics topics, including kinematics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, statics, waves, and acoustics, with concise and easy-to-understand animated videos. Additionally, the scientist-in-action videos demonstrate the application of related concepts in classical and original research experiments performed in today's laboratories worldwide.

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Ohio’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum

Motion

Problem Solving

Tennessee Academic Standards

High School

Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

PHYS.PS2.2

Virginia  Standards of Learning

HIgh School

Physical Science

PS.8

PS.8.a

PH.2

PH.2.b

Arizona Science Standards

HS.P3

HS.P3U1.6

Alabama Course of Study Science

9-12.P.1.1.b

9-12.P.1.1.d

Florida Department of Education

SC.912.P.12

SC.912.P.12.2

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

PHYS.5

PHYS.5.C

Georgia Standards of Excellence

SP1.

kinematic-equations-for-one-dimensional-motion

Kinematic Equations for One-Dimensional Motion

Position and Displacement

The position of an object defines its location relative to a convenient frame of reference at any particular time. A frame of reference is an arbitrary ...

Average Velocity

To calculate the other physical quantities in kinematics, we must introduce the time variable. The time variable allows us not only to state the position ...

Instantaneous Velocity - I

The average velocity during a time interval cannot tell us how fast or in what direction a particle is moving at any given time during the interval. To ...

Instantaneous Velocity - II

Instantaneous velocity is the quantity that measures how fast an object is moving along its path. In other words, the instantaneous velocity of an object ...

Average Acceleration

The importance of understanding acceleration spans our day-to-day experiences, as well as the vast reaches of outer space and the tiny world of subatomic ...

Instantaneous Acceleration

Acceleration is in the direction of the change in velocity, but it is not always in the direction of motion. When an object slows down, its acceleration ...

Kinematic Equations - I

When an object moves with constant acceleration, the velocity of the object changes at a constant rate throughout the motion. The kinematic equations of ...

Kinematic Equations - II

The second kinematic equation expresses the final position of an object in terms of its initial position, the distance traveled with the initial constant ...

Kinematic Equations - III

The first two kinematic equations have time as a variable, but the third kinematic equation is independent of time. This equation expresses final velocity ...

Free-falling Bodies: Introduction

All objects, neglecting air resistance, fall with the same acceleration towards the Earth&#39;s center due to the force exerted by the Earth&#39;s ...

Free-falling Bodies: Example

An object falling without any air resistance under the influence of gravitational force is said to be in free-fall. For free-falling bodies, the ...

Velocity and Position by Graphical Method

Velocity and position can be calculated from the known function of acceleration as a function of time. The total area under the acceleration-time graph ...

Velocity and Position by Integral Method

If acceleration as a function of time is known, then velocity and position functions can be derived using integral calculus. For constant acceleration, ...

Use models (graphs, equations, diagrams) to infer motion in one dimension.

Position and Displacement Vectors

To describe the motion of an object, one should first be able to describe its position (where it is at any particular time). More precisely, the position ...

average-and-instantaneous-velocity-vectors

Average and Instantaneous Velocity Vectors

To calculate other physical quantities in kinematics, the time variable must be introduced. The time variable not only allows us to state where an object ...

Acceleration Vectors

In everyday conversation, accelerating means speeding up. Acceleration is a vector in the same direction as the change in velocity, &#916;v, therefore the ...

Direction of Acceleration Vectors

Acceleration occurs when velocity changes in magnitude (an increase or decrease in speed), direction, or both. Although acceleration is in the direction ...

Projectile Motion

An object thrown in the air follows a parabolic path under the influence of Earth&#39;s gravitational force. The motion of such an object is called ...

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Projectile Motion: Equations

Projectile motion is commonly observed in our day-to-day life. For example, a basketball thrown by a player, an arrow shot from a bow, and kids jumping ...

Projectile Motion: Example

The theory of projectile motion is very useful for players of several sports to improve their performance. For example, a javelin thrower needs to throw ...

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Principle of Linear Impulse and Momentum for a Single Particle: Problem Solving

Consider a massless pulley system consisting of a wooden box and a cylinder of known masses. Determine the speed of the attached objects at a specific ...

Non-uniform Circular Motion

In&#160;uniform circular motion, the particle executing circular motion has a constant speed, and the circle is at a fixed radius. However, not all ...

Relative Velocity in One Dimension

The understanding of the concept of reference frames is essential to discuss relative motion in one or more dimensions. When we say that an object has a ...

Relative Velocity in Two Dimensions

Relative velocity is the velocity of an object as observed from a particular reference frame, or the velocity of one reference frame with respect to ...

Use models (graphs, equations, diagrams) to infer motion in two dimensions.

PS.Phy.1.2

Force

Forces affect every moment of our life. Our bodies are held to the Earth by force, and they are held together by the forces of charged particles. When we ...

Types of Forces

In most situations, forces can be grouped into two categories: contact forces and field forces.&#160; Contact forces occur as a result of direct physical ...

Drawing Free-body Diagrams: Rules

The first step in describing and analyzing most phenomena in physics involves the careful drawing of a free-body diagram. Free-body diagrams are useful in ...

Free Body Diagrams: Examples

Solving problems that involve forces is easy using free-body diagrams. A free-body diagram is a sketch showing all the external forces that are acting on ...

Use free body models to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze systems of forces in one dimension and two dimensions.

PS.Phy.2.1

Newton's First Law: Introduction

Motion draws our attention. Motion itself can be beautiful, causing us to marvel at the forces needed to create spectacular sights, such as that of a ...

Newton's First Law: Application

Experience suggests that an object at rest remains at rest if left alone, and that an object in motion tends to slow down and stop unless some effort is ...

Internal and External Forces

Newton&#39;s first law states that a net external force causes a change in motion. External forces act on an object or system, originating outside of the ...

Newton's Second Law

Newton&#39;s second law is closely related to his first law of motion. It mathematically gives the cause-and-effect relationship between force and changes ...

Mass and Weight

Mass and weight are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation. For example,&#160; medical records often show our weight in kilograms, but never ...

Weightlessness

When an object is dropped, it accelerates toward the center of the Earth. If the net external force on the object is its weight, it is said to be in free ...

Apparent Weight

True weight is the measure of the gravitational force acting on an object. However, if the object accelerates, its measured weight is different from its ...

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Newton's Third Law: Introduction

Whenever one body exerts a force on a second body, the first body experiences a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, to the force that it ...

Newton's Third Law: Examples

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first-law-particles-in-one-dimensional-equilibrium

First Law: Particles in One-dimensional Equilibrium

Newton&#39;s first law of motion states that a body at rest remains at rest, or if in motion, remains in motion at constant velocity, unless acted on by a ...

first-law-particles-in-two-dimensional-equilibrium

First Law: Particles in Two-dimensional Equilibrium

Recall that a particle in equilibrium is one for which the external forces are balanced. Static equilibrium involves objects at rest, and dynamic ...

Second Law: Motion under Same Force

Newton&#39;s laws can be applied to bodies at rest and bodies in motion. Newton&#39;s first law is applied to bodies in equilibrium, whereas the second ...

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Second Law: Motion under Same Acceleration

Newton&#39;s second law of motion applies to bodies moving under the same acceleration. For example, when a baggage tractor pulls luggage carts, each cart ...

Drag Force and Terminal Speed

An interesting force in everyday life is the force of drag on an object when it is moving in a fluid. Like friction, the drag force always opposes the ...

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Tension

Tension is a force along the length of a medium, in particular, a force carried by a flexible medium, such as a rope or cable. The word &#34;tension&#34; ...

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Carry out investigations to explain the interactions of forces on an object according to Newton's Laws of Motion.

PS.Phy.2.2

Analyze the motion of objects using time, distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration.

Solving Constant Acceleration Motion Problems

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