Chapter 2

Motion in one
Dimension
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A frame of reference is a choice of coordinate axis that defines the starting point for
measuring any quantity,

Polar coordinate system

2.1.1 Displacement
The displacement ∆x of an object is defined as its change in position.

SI unit: meter (m)

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 Distance and displacement
The displacement of an object is not the same as the distance it travels. Toss a tennis
ball up and catch it. The ball travels a distance equal to twice the maximum height
reached, but its displacement is zero.
2.1.2 Velocity

Average speed

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EXAMPLE 2.1

A turtle and a rabbit engage in a footrace over a distance of 4.00 km. The rabbit runs 0.500 km
and then stops for a 90.0 - min nap. Upon awakening, he remembers the race and runs twice as fast.
Finishing the course in a total time of 1.75 h, the rabbit wins the race. (a) Calculate the average speed of
the rabbit. (b) What was his average speed before he stopped for a nap? Assume no detours or doubling
back.

Solution

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 Estimate the average speed of the Apollo spacecraft in meters per second,
given that the craft took five days to reach the Moon from Earth. (The Moon is 3.8 x 108 m
from Earth.)

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Average velocity

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Figure 2.5 (a) Position [Link] graph for the motion of a car moving along the x-axis at constant velocity. (b)
Position vs. time graph for the motion of a car with changing velocity, using the data in Table 2.1.
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• The average velocity of an object during the time interval ∆t is equal to the slope of
the straight line joining the initial and final points on a graph of the object’s position
versus time.

instantaneous Velocity

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EXAMPLE 2.2
A train moves slowly along a straight portion of track
according to the graph of position vs. time in Figure 2.7a. Find (a) the
average velocity for the total trip, (b) the average velocity during the first
4.00 s of motion, (c) the average velocity during the next 4.00 s of motion,
(d) the instantaneous velocity at t = 2.00 s, and (e) the instantaneous
velocity at t = 9.00 s.

(a)

(d)

(b)

(e)

(c)

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 Figure 2.7b graphs another run of the train. Find (a) the
average velocity from Ⓞ to Ⓒ; (b) the average velocity from Ⓞ to Ⓐ
and the instantaneous velocity at any given point between Ⓞ and Ⓐ; (c)
the approximate instantaneous velocity at t = 6.0 s; and (d) the average
velocity on the open interval from Ⓑ to Ⓒ and instantaneous velocity at
t = 9.0 s.

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2.1.3 Acceleration
Average Acceleration

When the object’s velocity and acceleration are in the same direction, the speed of
the object increases with time. When the object’s velocity and acceleration are in
opposite directions, the speed of the object decreases with time.

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Instantaneous Acceleration

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 Instantaneous acceleration

Average acceleration

(a) A car, modeled as a particle, moving along the x-axis from to , has velocity 𝒗𝒙𝒊 at t = 𝑡𝑖
and velocity 𝒗𝒙𝒇 at t = 𝑡𝑓 . (b) Velocity vs. time graph for an object moving in a straight line.
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EXAMPLE 2.3
A baseball player moves in a straight - line path in
order to catch a fly ball hit to the outfield. His velocity as a
function of time is shown in Figure 2.11a. Find his
instantaneous acceleration at points Ⓐ, Ⓑ, and Ⓒ.

(a)

(b)

(c)

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EXERCISE 2.3
Find his instantaneous acceleration at points Ⓐ, Ⓑ,
and Ⓒ., using Figure 2.11b.

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2.2 Motion Diagrams

Figure 2.12 Motion diagrams of a car moving along a straight roadway in a single direction. The velocity
at each instant is indicated by a red arrow, and the constant acceleration is indicated by a purple arrow.
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 Figure 2.14a is a diagram of a multiflash image of an
air puck moving to the right on a horizontal surface. The
images sketched are separated by equal time intervals,
and the first and last images show the puck at rest. (a) In
Figure 2.14b, which color graph best shows the puck’s
position as a function of time? (b) In Figure 2.14c, which
color graph best shows the puck’s velocity as a function
of time? (c) In Figure 2.14d, which color graph best
shows the puck’s acceleration as a function of time?

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2.5 One dimensional motion with constant acceleration

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 Example 2.4
(a) A race car starting from rest accelerates at a
constant rate of 5.00 m/𝑠 2 . What is the velocity of the car after
it has traveled 1.00 x 102 ft? (b) How much time has elapsed?
(c) Calculate the average velocity two different ways.

(a)

(c)

(b)

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 Suppose the driver in this example now slams on the brakes, stopping
the car in 4.00 s. Find (a) the acceleration, (b) the distance the car travels while braking,
assuming the acceleration is constant, and (c) the average velocity.

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 Example 2.5
A car traveling at a constant speed of 24.0
m/s passes a trooper hidden behind a billboard, as in
Figure 2.17. One second after the speeding car passes
the billboard, the trooper sets off in chase with a
constant acceleration of 3.00 m/s2. (a) How long does it
take the trooper to overtake the speeding car? (b) How
fast is the trooper going at that time?

(a)

(b)

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 A motorist with an expired license tag is traveling at 10.0 m/s down a
street, and a policeman on a motorcycle, taking another 5.00 s to finish his donut, gives
chase at an acceleration of 2.00 m/s2. Find (a) the time required to catch the car and (b)
the distance the trooper travels while overtaking the motorist.

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Example 2.6
A typical jetliner lands at a speed of 1.60
3 102 mi/h and decelerates at the rate of (10.0
mi/h)/s. If the plane travels at a constant speed of
1.60 3 102 mi/h for 1.00 s after landing before
applying the brakes, what is the total displacement of
the aircraft between touchdown on the runway and
coming to rest?

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 A jet lands at 80.0 m/s, the pilot applying the brakes 2.00 s after landing. Find the
acceleration needed to stop the jet within 5.00 x 102 m after touchdown.

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 2.6 free falling object
A freely falling object is any object moving freely
under the influence of gravity alone, regardless of
its initial motion.
Example 2.8
A ball is thrown from the top of a building
with an initial velocity of 20.0 m/s straight upward, at an
initial height of 50.0 m above the ground. The ball just
misses the edge of the roof on its way down, as shown in
Figure 2.20. Determine (a) the time needed for the ball
to reach its maximum height, (b) the maximum height,
(c) the time needed for the ball to return to the height
from which it was thrown and the velocity of the ball at
that instant, (d) the time needed for the ball to reach the
ground, and (e) the velocity and position of the ball at t 5
5.00 s. Neglect air drag.

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 A projectile is launched straight up at 60.0 m/s from a height of 80.0 m, at the edge of a
sheer cliff. The projectile falls, just missing the cliff and hitting the ground below. Find (a) the maximum height
of the projectile above the point of firing, (b) the time it takes to hit the ground at the base of the cliff, and (c)
its velocity at impact.

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 A rocket moves straight upward, starting
from rest with an acceleration of 129.4 m/s2. It runs out
of fuel at the end of 4.00 s and continues to coast
upward, reaching a maximum height before falling back
to Earth. (a) Find the rocket’s velocity and position at the
end of 4.00 s. (b) Find the maximum height the rocket
reaches. (c) Find the velocity the instant before the
rocket crashes on the ground.

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 An experimental rocket designed to land upright falls freely from a
height of 2.00 3 102 m, starting at rest. At a height of 80.0 m, the rocket’s engines start
and provide constant upward acceleration until the rocket lands. What acceleration is
required if the speed on touchdown is to be zero? (Neglect air resistance.)

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