[UNIT 1 PHYSICS ON THE GO 1.

0 MECHANICS]

1.1 KINEMATICS
1.
2.
3.
4.

Kinematic equation of motion

Motion-related experiments
Graphical Method
Projectile Motion

1. Equation of motion
When acceleration, a is constant;

Listing down the known variables;

s = 30m
a = 2 ms-2
required, t = ?
Also, since car was stationary, initial velocity, u = 0
s = ut + at2
30 = 0t + (2)(t)2
t2 = 30
t = 30
Since time can only be positive,
t = 5.48 s
Using

v = u + at

Example 2

v2 = u2 +2as

In designing an airport for small planes, one kind of airplane that

might use this airfield must reach a speed before takeoff of at least
27.8 ms-1 (100km/h), and can accelerate at 2ms-2. (a) If the runway is
150m long, can this airplane reach the required speed for take off?
(b) If not, what is minimum length must the runway have?

s = ut + at2
where u = initial velocity
v = final velocity
t = time

(a)

s = displacement

Listing down the known variables;

s = 150m
a = 2 ms-2
required, v = ?
Also, since car was stationary, initial velocity, u = 0
Using v2 = u2 +2as
v2 = 02 + 2(2)(150)
= 600
v
= 600
= 24.5 ms-1 which is <27.8ms-1
Therefore, the runway is too short and the airplane cant reach the
required speed.

Example 1
How long does it take a car to cross a 30m wide intersection after
the light turns green, if the car accelerates from rest at a constant
2ms-2?
Solution 1

(b)
Listing down the known variables;
v = 27.8ms-1
a = 2 ms-2
u=0
Using
Using

required, s = ?

v
= u +2as
(27.8)2 = 02 +2(2)s
s
= 193.2 m

Suggested runway length = 200 m

2. Motion Related Experiments

TICKER-TIMER EXPERIMENT
Exp A
AIM:
This activity is about velocity, acceleration, and deceleration, as
influenced by forces of friction and gravitation.
And you will be introduced to a device called a ticker-timer.
At the end of the activity, the learner should be able to:
Describe how friction compensation happens on a runway.
Describe how a ticker-timer works.
Describe the experimental procedures to measure the
velocity of a trolley.

Identify ticker-timer tapes that show uniform velocity and

those that show accelerated motion.
Calculate velocity from a ticker tape.
Determine acceleration due to gravity using a ticker-timer.

APPARATUS:
To set up this activity, the following equipment is needed: Trolleys,
runways, ticker-timers, ticker tapes, and rulers.
PROCEDURES:
Set up the trolley to move on a horizontal runaway as shown
in figure below (under the guidance of your teacher). A ticker
tape passing through the ticker timer is attached to the
trolley.

Observe and describe how the trolley moves along the

runaway.

Suggest how the trolley can be made to moves down the

runway at a constant speed.

Ask your teacher to help you produce various tapes for

constant velocity and accelerated motion.

Examine the various tapes obtained

[UNIT 1 PHYSICS ON THE GO 1.0 MECHANICS]

Figure 1

Describe the various tapes that show uniform velocity and

those showing accelerated motion.

Exp B
DETERMINING VELOCITY
Tape (take initial part
Describe in each Tape
Describe the
of the tape to be on the
case how A
type of
left)
spacing between
motion
B
dots varies
represented
C
A

The distance x = 18cm

The distance y = 30cm

C
D

If the frequency of the ticker timer is f, what is the time

interval between two successive dots?.

If frequency of the ticker timer is 50Hz, what is the time

interval for the following cases:
o From the 1st to the 2nd dot;

Time interval

Velocity

From the 1st to the

100th dot;
The following examples show
various tapes each of length 8cm
obtained using a ticker timer of
frequency 50Hz.
In each case find the time interval
of the tape and the velocity in ms-1.

Time for initial interval x

or final interval y, t/s
Initial velocity, u/ms-1
Final velocity, v/ms-1

Time, t
Initial velocity, u
The distance x = 14cm
The distance y = 24cm

Final velocity, v
Time, T
Acceleration, a

FROM THE TICKER TAPE

Answer the following questions:

From the 1st to the 5th

dot;
o

Time to change from

average velocity u to average
velocity v, T/s
Acceleration, a

Exp C
DETERMINING
ACCELERATION FROM THE
TICKER TAPE
Set up the experiment and
produce a number of ticker tapes using a trolley running on
an inclined runway.
Sample ticker tape

Discuss how to choose the interval for the initial and final
velocities on the accelerated tape.

Discuss why the initial dots could be ignored (cut off).

Calculate initial and final velocities on the accelerated tapes.

Discuss how to obtain the time taken to change from initial

to final velocity.

Calculate acceleration on the accelerated tapes.

Calculate acceleration for the tapes below, in the steps given. Take
frequency f = 50Hz

[UNIT 1 PHYSICS ON THE GO 1.0 MECHANICS]

Exp D

Figure 2

DETERMINING ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY USING

THE TICKER TIMER

number of ticker tapes.

Discuss the set up of the experiment.

Tape

Time interval

Set up the experiment as shown in diagram and produce a

Velocity

Use the method of finding acceleration (from above) to

determine the acceleration due to
gravity.

Time for initial interval x or

final interval y, t/s
Review your understanding
Initial velocity, u

Final velocity, v

Time to change from average

velocity u to average velocity
v, T/s
Acceleration, a

The following examples show various

tapes each of length 8cm got using a ticker
timer of frequency 50Hz.
In each case find the time interval and the
time interval of the tape and the velocity in
ms-1.

ICT APPLICATION
Alternative experiment: Using Light Gates
Sketch an alternative for Exp A using light gates. Label
appropriately.

1) State the difference major difference of the apparatus set-up of

the above with that of Figure 1.
Track
Displacement

[UNIT 1 PHYSICS ON THE GO 1.0 MECHANICS]

________________________________3.
Time

Graphical Method
What significance of the slope and area under the graph of the
following:

2) Describe why one method is better than the other.

_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________

I.

Displacement-time graph
10

5
0

3) Explain why a stopwatch is not used instead.

2
t

Gradient = 0
Velocity = 0

II.

10

Velocity-time graph
10

5
0

v
0

4
0

Gradient is increasing linearly

Velocity = increasing linearly

Gradient = 0
Acceleration = 0

10
8
6

Area under the graph = displacement

s 4
2
0
0

10

t
v
Gradient increasing exponentially
Velocity increasing exponentially

5
0
0

[UNIT 1 PHYSICS ON THE GO 1.0 MECHANICS]

4. Projectile Motion

III.

Gradient increasing
Acceleration increasing

Objects moving freely under the influence of gravity.

Area under the graph = displacement

At time, t = 0, (x0 = y0 =0)

Acceleration-time graph
10

Vertical Component; When t=0, vy0 = 0.

0
0

2
t

Constant acceleration

Taking upward as positive, then ay = =g

Applying v = u + at,
; vy = -gt
1
1
Applying s = ut +
at2 ; sy =
2
2
Horizontal Component;
No other force acting; F = 0, a =0
v = vx0 [vx remains constant]
1
Applying s = ut +
at2 ; sx = vx0t
2

gt2

Does the ball on the left fall faster than the ball on the right?

Vertical Component;
When t=0, v = vy0 which gradually decreases until..
highest point where vy = 0 and
increases downward direction (becoming more negative).
Horizontal Component;
vy remains constant

[UNIT 1 PHYSICS ON THE GO 1.0 MECHANICS]

Applying

Example 1

y = vyot -

1
2

gt2

= (12)(1.22) -

1
2

(9.80)(1.22)2

= 7.35 m
b) Consider y=0
Applying

y = vyot -

1
2

(0) = (12)t -

gt2

1
(9.8)t2
2

Factoring the equation,

[4.95t 12] t = 0

A ball is kicked at an angle 0=37 o with a velocity of 20 ms-1.

Ignoring air resistance and assuming ball leaves at ground level.
Calculate :
a) the maximum height
b) the time of travel before the ball hits the ground
c) how far away it hits the ground
d) the velocity vector at the maximum height
e) the acceleration vector at maximum height.
Resolving intial velocity into components:
vx0 = v0 cos 37o = 16 ms-1
vy0 = v0 sin 37o = 12 ms-1
a) At highest point, vy = 0
t=

vy0
g

12
9.80

= 1.22 s

Two solutions t = 0 s [corresponds to initial point y0]

and t = 2.45 s [total travel time of ball]
c) Known that t = 2.45 s taken to travel from O to B.
sx = vx0t
= (16) (2.45)
= 39.2 m
d)
v = vx0 + vy0
Since no vertical component,
v = vxp = 16 ms-1e) Acceleration is constant throughout flight.
a = 9.80 ms-2