Skip to content

Kinematics

Fundamental Quantities

Scalars and Vectors

Scalar (magnitude only)Vector (magnitude and direction)
DistanceDisplacement
SpeedVelocity
MassWeight
EnergyForce
TemperatureAcceleration
TimeMomentum

Distance and Displacement

  • Distance: total path length travelled (scalar).
  • Displacement: change in position from start to finish (vector).

Speed and Velocity

  • Speed: rate of change of distance. s=dts = \dfrac{d}{t}
  • Velocity: rate of change of displacement. v⃗=Δs⃗Δt\vec{v} = \dfrac{\Delta \vec{s}}{\Delta t}

Acceleration

  • Acceleration: rate of change of velocity. a⃗=Δv⃗Δt\vec{a} = \dfrac{\Delta \vec{v}}{\Delta t}

Average acceleration:

{ˉa}={v−u}{t}\bar\{a\} = \frac\{v - u\}\{t\}

Instantaneous acceleration is the derivative of velocity with respect to time.


Kinematics Equations (SUVAT)

For motion with constant acceleration in a straight line:

EquationVariablesMissing
v=u+atv = u + atv,u,a,tv, u, a, tss
s=ut+12at2s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2s,u,a,ts, u, a, tvv
v2=u2+2asv^2 = u^2 + 2asv,u,a,sv, u, a, stt
s=12(u+v)ts = \frac{1}{2}(u+v)ts,u,v,ts, u, v, taa

Where:

  • ss = displacement
  • uu = initial velocity
  • vv = final velocity
  • aa = acceleration
  • tt = time

Uniformly Accelerated Motion in Two Dimensions

When acceleration is constant (both magnitude and direction), the SUVAT equations can be applied Separately to each component.

Equations

Vx=ux+axt,vy=uy+aytV_x = u_x + a_x t, \quad v_y = u_y + a_y t X=uxt+{1}{2}axt2,y=uyt+{1}{2}ayt2X = u_x t + \frac\{1\}\{2\}a_x t^2, \quad y = u_y t + \frac\{1\}\{2\}a_y t^2

Projectile Motion Revisited (Vector Form)

For a projectile launched with initial velocity u⃗=ucos⁡θ i^+usin⁡θ j^\vec{u} = u\cos\theta\,\hat{i} + u\sin\theta\,\hat{j}:

  • ax=0a_x = 0, ay=−ga_y = -g
X(t)=ucos⁡θ⋅tX(t) = u\cos\theta \cdot t Y(t)=usin⁡θ⋅t−{1}{2}gt2Y(t) = u\sin\theta \cdot t - \frac\{1\}\{2\}gt^2 Vx(t)=ucos⁡θV_x(t) = u\cos\theta Vy(t)=usin⁡θ−gtV_y(t) = u\sin\theta - gt

Additional IB Exam-Style Questions

Question 8 (Paper 2 style)

A particle moves along a straight line. Its acceleration is given by a=4−2tm/s2a = 4 - 2t\mathrm{ m/s}^2.

(a) Find the time when the particle is momentarily at rest.

V=∫0t(4−2t′) dt′=4t−t2V = \int_0^t (4-2t')\,dt' = 4t - t^2

When v=0v = 0: t(4−t)=0  ⟹  t=0t(4 - t) = 0 \implies t = 0 or t=4st = 4\mathrm{ s}.

(b) Find the displacement at t=4st = 4\mathrm{ s}.

S=∫04(4t−t2) dt=[2t2−{t3}{3}]04=32−{64}{3}={32}{3}{m}S = \int_0^4 (4t - t^2)\,dt = \left[2t^2 - \frac\{t^3\}\{3\}\right]_0^4 = 32 - \frac\{64\}\{3\} = \frac\{32\}\{3\}\mathrm\{ m\}

(c) Find the distance travelled between t=0t = 0 and t=4st = 4\mathrm{ s}.

Since v≥0v \ge 0 for 0≤t≤40 \le t \le 4 The distance equals the displacement: 323m\dfrac{32}{3}\mathrm{ m}.

Question 9 (Paper 1 style)

A ball is projected at speed vv at angle θ\theta above horizontal on level ground. For what value of θ\theta is the horizontal range maximised?

The range is R=v2sin⁡2θgR = \dfrac{v^2 \sin 2\theta}{g}. This is maximised when sin⁡2θ=1\sin 2\theta = 1 I.e., 2θ=90°2\theta = 90\degree So θ=45°\theta = 45\degree.

Question 10 (Paper 2 style)

An object is released from a hot air balloon ascending at 5m/s5\mathrm{ m/s}. At the moment of Release, the balloon is at a height of 120m120\mathrm{ m}.

(a) Find the maximum height reached by the object.

At release: uy=5m/su_y = 5\mathrm{ m/s}, sy=120ms_y = 120\mathrm{ m}.

Vy2=uy2−2g⋅Δs  ⟹  0=25−2(9.81)ΔsV_y^2 = u_y^2 - 2g \cdot \Delta s \implies 0 = 25 - 2(9.81)\Delta s Δs={25}{19.62}=1.27{m}\Delta s = \frac\{25\}\{19.62\} = 1.27\mathrm\{ m\}

Maximum height =120+1.27=121.3m= 120 + 1.27 = 121.3\mathrm{ m}.

(b) Find the time to reach the ground.

S=120+5t−4.905t2S = 120 + 5t - 4.905t^2

At ground: 4.905t2−5t−120=04.905t^2 - 5t - 120 = 0.

T={5+{25+2354}}{9.81}={5+48.72}{9.81}=5.48{s}T = \frac\{5 + \sqrt\{25 + 2354\}\}\{9.81\} = \frac\{5 + 48.72\}\{9.81\} = 5.48\mathrm\{ s\}

(c) Find the velocity just before impact.

Vy=5−9.81(5.48)=5−53.76=−48.76{m/s}V_y = 5 - 9.81(5.48) = 5 - 53.76 = -48.76\mathrm\{ m/s\}

Speed =48.8m/s= 48.8\mathrm{ m/s} (downward).

For the A-Level treatment of this topic, see Kinematics.


See Also

References

  1. Halliday, D., Resnick, R. & Walker, J. (2013). Fundamentals of Physics (10th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
  2. Giancoli, D. C. (2014). Physics: Principles with Applications, International Student Edition (7th ed.). Pearson.
  3. Cripps, C. (2014). Cambridge Physics for the IB Diploma. Cambridge University Press.
  4. Kerr, J. (2020). Physics for the IB Diploma (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
  5. Hewitt, P. G. (2015). Conceptual Physics (12th ed.). Pearson.