DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES

Motion of a Particle
Particle is a term used to denote an object of point size. A system of
particles which formed into appreciable size is termed as body. These terms
may apply equally to the same object. The earth for example may be
assumed as a particle in comparison with its orbit, whereas to an observer on
the earth, it is a body with appreciable size. In general, a particle is an object
whose size is so small in comparison to the size of its path.
I.

Kinematics
1) Rectilinear Translation (Motion Along a Straight Line)
a) Motion with constant velocity (uniform motion)
s=t
b) Motion with constant acceleration
f = i+ at
1
s= i t + a t 2
2
f 2= i2 +2 as
c) Free Falling Body

1
h= g t 2
2
2=2 gh
Note:
From motion with constant acceleration, set:
s=h , and

a=g

to get the free-fall formulas.

d) Motion with variable acceleration

d
a=
dt
=

ds
dt

ads=vdv

Where
s = distance

i=0

f =

h = height
= velocity
i = initial velocity
f = final velocity
a = acceleration
g = acceleration due to gravity (g = 9.81 m/s2 in SI = 32.2 ft/s2 in
English)
t = time
Note:
a is positive (+) if is increasing (accelerate).
a is negative (-) if is decreasing (decelerate).
a is positive (+) if the particle is moving downward.
a is negative (-)if the particle is moving upward.
Useful conversion factors:
From
Kilometers per hour (km/hr
or kph)
Meters per second (m/s or
mps)
Miles per hour (mi/hr or
mph)
Feet per second (ft/s fps)

To
Meters per second (m/s or
mps)
Kilometers per hour (km/hr
or kph)
Feet per second (ft/s fps)
Miles per hour (mi/hr or
mph)

Multiply
By
1/3.6
3.6
22/15
15/22

Problems:
(Problem Set 1/ Take Home Quiz 1)
3

1. The motion of a particle is given by

t
s=2 t 4 2t 2 , where s is in feet
6

and t is in seconds. Compute the values of linear velocity and

acceleration after 2 seconds.
2. A stone is dropped down a well and 5 sec later, the sounds of the
splash is heard. If the velocity of sound is 1120 ft/s (341.376 m/s),
what is the depth of the well?
(Ans. 353.31 ft; 107.64 m)

3. A hot-air balloon is ascending at the rate of 10 kph. If a bomb is

dropped from the balloon such that it takes 8 seconds to reach the
ground, determine the balloons altitude when the bomb was
released. (Ans. 291.6 m)
4. On a certain stretch of track, trains run at 60 mph (96.56 kph). How
far back of a stopped train should be a warning torpedo be placed to
signal an oncoming train? Assume that the brakes are applied at
once and retard the train at the uniform rate of 2 ft/s2 (0.61 m/s2).
(Ans. 1936 ft; 589.7 m)
5. A stone is thrown vertically upward and return to earth in 10 sec.
What was its initial velocity and how high did it go?
(Ans. 49.05 m/s, 122.625 m; 161 ft/s, 402.5 ft)
6. A ball is dropped from the top of a tower 80 ft (24.38 m) high at the
same instant that a second ball is thrown upward from the ground
with an initial velocity of 40 ft/s (12.19 m/s). When do they pass?
Where do they pass based on the top of the tower?
(Ans. They pass each other after 2 seconds at 64.4 ft from the top of
the tower.)
(Ans. They pass each other after 2 seconds at 19.62 m from the top
of the tower.)
7. A stone is dropped from a captive balloon at an elevation of 1000 ft
(304.8 m). Two seconds later another stone is thrown vertically
upward from the ground with a velocity of 248 ft/s (75.6 m/s). If g =
32 ft/s2 (9.75 m/s2), when and where the stones pass each other?
(Ans. The stones will pass each other 5 seconds after the first stone
was dropped from the captive balloon & the stones will meet at a
point 600 ft above the ground; The stones will pass each other 5
seconds after the first stone was dropped from the captive balloon &
the stones will meet at a point 182.925 m above the ground.)
8. A stone is thrown vertically upward from the ground with a velocity
of 48.3 ft/s (14.72 m/s). One second later another stone is thrown
vertically upward with a velocity of 96.6 ft/s (29.44 m/s). How far
above the ground will the stones be at the same level?
(Ans. 36.064 ft; 10.994 m)
9. A ball is shot vertically into the air at a velocity of 193.2 ft/s (58.9
m/s). After 4 seconds, another ball is shot vertically into the air.
What initial velocity must the second ball have in order to meet the
first ball 386.4 ft (117.8 m) from the ground?
(Ans. 158.67 ft/s; 48.36 m/s)