NNPC FSTP Technicians

Physics

Course Code:
Lesson 1
 Contents

Equations of Motion
 Performance Objectives

Upon completion of this Course, students will be able to:

• Draw and explain velocity – time graphs, showing
acceleration, deceleration and constant velocity;
Provided the motion is in a straight line
• Calculate the total distance travelled from a velocity –
time graph.
• Calculate the final displacement travelled from a
velocity –time gragh
• Calculate acceleration, deceleration, and constant
velocity from a velocity –time graph
• Draw and explain acceleration – time graphs.
• State the three Laws of Motion explaining the
elements of each one
• Use the three Laws of Motion to calculate results of
problem scenarios.
Graphs of Motion in a Straight
Line
 From Figures (a) and (b):

The object has move from its starting position to

a point 4 m due north after 2 seconds. It remains
there for 1 second then changes its direction of
movement to due south for a distance of 8 m,
passing its starting position, to arrive 4 m due
south of its starting point 5 second (s) after the
start.
 From Figures (a) and (b):

• It now travels north for 1 s to arrive back at its

straight point, i.e. a total displacement of 0 m.
• Figure (b) shows the distance time graph
obtained from the displacement time graph.
Because a distance time graph gives no
information about direction it cannot be used
to obtain a displacement-time graph.
 Note on the S-T Graph

• A Constant gradient indicates a constant

velocity.
• A Positive gradient represents a velocity
north.
• A Negative gradient represents a velocity
south.
 From Figure (A) this gives:

Time interval Velocity

0s 2s + 4/2 = 2 ms-1 north

2s 3s Zero velocity

3s 5s Constant velocity = -8/2 = 4 ms -1 south

5s 6s Constant velocity = + 4/1 = 4ms-1 north

This information in the above table can be used
to obtain the following velocity – time graph.
 Velocity – Time Graph

If the velocity –time graph had been the starting point for
the problem then the displacement –time graph could
be constructed from the area under the velocity – time
graph as fellows:
Time Displacement at this time Distance up to this time

1s 2m 2m
2s 4m 2m +2m=4m
3s 4m+0 =4m 4m+0m =4m
4s 4m-4m =0m 4m+4m=8m
5s o-4m=-4m 8m +4m =12m
6s 4m -4m =0m 12m+4m =16m
 Velocity – Time Graph

In a similar way we can obtain an acceleration-

time graph if the velocity –time graph of the
motion is given. This is achieved by calculating
the gradient of different sections of the velocity –
time graph.
 Note : When producing a speed –time graph only
the magnitude of the velocities are retained.

• A constant gradient on v-t graph indicates a

constant acceleration.
• A provide gradient on a v-t graph indicates an
acceleration north.
• A negative gradient on a v-t graph indicates
acceleration south.
The example below where the velocity-time
graph is given illustrates the method.
 Motion of an Object

Graph (a) illustrates the motion of an object

which starts from rest and moves due south with
a constant acceleration for 1 s. After this time
the acceleration decreases it reaches a
maximum velocity of 4ms-1 due south at 3 s. the
velocity now decreases until after the 5th second
it is travelling due north.
 Motion of an Object

• After the 6th second its velocity remains fixed

at 2ms-1 due north. The corresponding speed-
time graph is show in (b).
• Calculation of the gradients during the time
intervals when the acceleration is constant
gives the table below
Calculation of the gradients…
This Data gives the graph below:
 Note

Note that object may have a velocity due south

while its acceleration is due north, e.g. at the 4th
second. A common mistake is to take the
displacement to be 0 at the 5th second on this
type of graph. The displacement is really 11m
due south the starting position.
Graphs for Constant Speed and
Constant Acceleration
 From Figure (b) above

• The three graphs of figure (b) above are plots

of the equations of motion for constant
acceleration.
• S=u t +1/2 a t2 a parabola
• V=u +a s t a straight line
 Graphs for Varying Acceleration

• The simplest case of varying acceleration is

when the acceleration is directly proportional
to time.
• This is shown in figure (b). Since the
acceleration in increasing with time the v-t
graph must show an increasing slope as t
increases as in figure
Graphs for Varying Acceleration
 Vectors

• A vector quantity is one which can only

be fully described by both magnitude
and direction (and the appropriate units).
• A scalar quantity is one which can be
fully described by the magnitude alone
(and the appropriate units).
Vectors
Some Examples of Scalers and
Vectors
Directions and Bearings
Directions and Bearings
 Distance and Displacement

Distance, scalar, requires only a size or

magnitude to define it. Distance along a
path of travel of an object are added
arithmetically to obtain the total distance
moved by the object.
 Distance and Displacement

Displacement, a vector, requires a size

and direction to describe it fully. The
resultant displacement for a journey is
found by vector addition of the parts of the
journey. The problem may be solved by
scale drawing or mathematically
 Example

A man walks 8km W then 6 km South. What is (a) the total distance
travelled and (b) the displacement from the starting point?

The same result could have been achieved by scale diagram where
a scale of 1cm = 1 km and the vectors could have been drawn to
give the result
 Speed and Velocity

• Speed is the rate of change of distance with

time. Since distance and time are scalars than
speed must be scalars.
• Velocity is the rate of change of displacement
with time. Since displacement is a vector than
velocity must also be a vector.
• A woman drives 70km N in 1hour, 80km E in
1 hour then 60km S in 1 hour. What is her (a)
speed and (b) her velocity for the journey.
Speed and Velocity
 Relative and Resultant Velocity

• What is meant by relative velocity and how

can it be illustrate? Well, if an object A is said
to be moving relative to object B than object is
considered to be rest. In a vector diagram this
is shown by making the tail of the velocity
vector the object B and the tip of the vector
the object A.

• B A B A
Figure (a) Figure (b)
 Relative and Resultant Velocity

• Figure (a) represents a moving with a velocity

of 10ms-1 due E relative to B.
• Figure (b) represents B with a velocity of
10ms-1 due W relative to A.
• These figures illustrate exactly the same
situation but viewed from a different reference
point.
 Relative and Resultant Velocity

• An object may have a velocity resulting from

several causes. For example, the resultant
velocity of an aircraft is cause by:
(a) The aircraft engines moving it relative to
the air.
(b) The wind, whose velocity is usually given
relative to the ground.
 Example

• The engine of a Model plane a speed of 30 ms-1 in still

air. The plane is directed to fly due E into a wind that
has a velocity of 4 ms-1 due W. What is the velocity of
the plane relative to the ground?
air 20ms-1 plane
Resultant 16ms-1 plane

ground
Air/ wind 4ms-1
ground
Figure (a) Figure (b)
 Example

• First we draw the figure as in (a).

• Figure (b) shows that when the two vector are
added the resultant velocity of the plane is 16 ms-1
note that the two vectors in (a) have been drawn to
scale and in such a way that the “air“ which is
common to both vectors is at the tips of one vector
and the tail of another.
 Example

• The engine of the model plane gives the plane a speed

of 30 ms-1 in still air. The plane is flying due E when it is
hit by a gust of wind which has a velocity of 15 ms-1 due
N. Calculate the resultant velocity of the plane relative
to the ground.
• Again the vector are drawn to scale and combine “tip to
tall” in such a way that the common word “air” is at the
meeting point of the two vectors.
Example
 Example

• The magnitude of the velocity of the plane

relative to ground = 152+302 =33.54 ms -1
• The direction of this velocity is given by θ
where tan θ =30/10 =71.57---0 E of N
• This problem could also have been solved from
a scale diagram and using a protractor to
measure the angle.
 Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

• To cause an object to accelerate you must
apply an unbalanced force, since the direction
of the force will determine the direction of the
acceleration of the object, then acceleration,
like force must be a vector.
 Acceleration

• Acceleration a =v-u/t where u is the initial

velocity, v is the final velocity and t is the time
taken for the change in velocity.
• As change in velocity is a vector then an
acceleration can be observed as a change in
the magnitude and/or direction of the velocity
of an object.
Acceleration
 Acceleration

• Figure (a) illustrates a situation involving a

trolley accelerating with a change in speed only
• Figure (b) shows a sphere travelling at constant
speed and only the direction of motion
changes.
 Acceleration

• This last concept is clarified by observing that

an unbalance force is required to produce this
acceleration. This force must be directed
towards the center of the circle.
• If the movement of the object is in a straight
line then calculate of the acceleration is simple.
 Example

A ball, is traveling with a velocity of 2o ms-1,

strikes a wall at right angle so that it bounces back
along the same path with a velocity of 16ms-1. If
the time of the impact ball with the wall is 0.2s,
what is the average acceleration of the ball?
Example