Chapter 3 --Motion in a Straight Line
Class 11 Notes Physics
Motion An object is said to be in motion if its position changes with time
Two Branches In Physics that examine the motion of an object.
(i) Kinematics: It describes the motion of objects, without looking at the cause
of the motion.
(ii) Dynamics: It relates the motion of objects to the forces which cause them.
Point Object
If the length covered by the objects are very large in comparison to the size of
the objects, the objects are considered point objects.
Reference Systems
The motion of a particle is always described with respect to a reference
system. A reference system is made by taking an arbitrary point as origin and
imagining a co-ordinate system to be attached to it. This co-ordinate system
chosen for a given problem constitutes the reference system for it. We
generally choose a co-ordinate system attached to the earth as the reference
system for most of the problems.
Total Path Length (Distance)
The total length of the actual path traversed between initial and final positions
of the particle is known as the ‘total path length’ or distance covered by it.
Types of Motion
In order to completely describe the motion of an object, we need to specify its
position. Based on these, motion can be classified as:
(i) One dimensional motion. A particle moving along a straight-line or a path
is said to undergo one dimensional motion.
For example, motion of a train along a straight line, freely falling body
under gravity etc.
(ii) Two dimensional motion. A particle moving in a plane is said to undergo
two dimensional motion. For example, motion of a shell fired by a gun,
carrom board coins etc.
(iii) Three dimensional motion. A particle moving in space is said to
undergo three dimensional motion. For example, motion of a kite in sky,
motion of aeroplane etc.
Displacement
Displacement of a particle in a given time is defined as the change in the
position of particle in a particular direction during that time. It is given by a
vector drawn from its initial position to its final position.
Factors Distinguishing Displacement from Distance
—> Displacement has direction. Distance does not have direction.
—> The magnitude of displacement can be both positive and negative.
—> Distance is always positive. It never decreases with time.
—> Distance ≥ | Displacement |
Uniform Speed and Uniform Velocity
Uniform Speed. An object is said to move with uniform speed if it covers equal distances in
equal intervals of time, howsoever small these intervals of time may be.
Uniform Velocity. An object is said to move with uniform velocity if it covers equal
displacements in equal intervals of time, howsoever small these intervals of time may be.
Variable Speed and Variable Velocity
Variable Speed. An object is said to move with variable speed if it covers unequal
distances in equal intervals of time, howsoever small these intervals of time may be.
Variable Velocity. An object is said to move with variable velocity if it covers unequal
displacements in equal intervals of time, howsoever small these intervals of time may be.
Average Speed and Average Velocity
Average Speed. It is the ratio of total path length traversed and the corresponding time
interval.
Or
The average speed of an object is greater than or equal to the magnitude of the average
velocity over a given time interval.
Instantaneous Speed and Instantaneous Velocity
Instantaneous Speed. The speed of an object at an instant of time is called instantaneous
speed.
Or
“Instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as the time interval becomes
infinitesimally small”.
Instantaneous velocity
The instantaneous velocity of a particle is the velocity at any instant of time or at any point
of its path.
or
“Instantaneous velocity or simply velocity is defined as the limit of the average velocity as
the time interval Δt becomes infinitesimally small.”
• Acceleration
The rate at which velocity changes is called acceleration.
• Uniform Acceleration
If an object undergoes equal changes in velocity in equal time intervals it is called uniform
acceleration.
• Average and Instantaneous Acceleration
Average Accelerating. It is the change in the velocity divided by the time-interval during
which the change occurs.
Instantaneous Acceleration. It is defined as the limit of the average acceleration as the
time-interval Δt goes to zero.
• Kinematical Graphs
The ‘displacement-time’ and the ‘velocity-time’ graphs of a particle are often used to
provide us with a visual representation of the motion of a particle. The ‘shape’ of the
graphs depends on the initial ‘co-ordinates’ and the ‘nature’ of the acceleration of the
particle (Fig.)
Equations of Motion for Uniformly Accelerated Motion
For uniformly accelerated motion, some simple equations can be derived that relate
displacement (x), time taken (f), initial velocity (V0), final velocity (v) and acceleration (a).
Following equation gives a relation between final and initial velocities v and u of an object
moving with uniform acceleration
1. V=V0 +at
2. X= V0 t + ½ at2
3. V2 = V02 + 2ax
• Suppose a body is projected vertically upward from a point A with velocity u.
In some problems it is convenient to take the downward direction as positive, in such case
all the measurements in downward direction are considered as positive i.e., acceleration
will be +g. But sometimes we may need to take upward as positive and if such case
acceleration will be -g.
Equations of Motion for Freely Falling Bodies
A common example of motion in a straight line with constant acceleration is free fall of a
body nearthe earth's surface. If air resistance is neglected and a body is dropped near the
surface of the earth, it falls along a vertical straight line. The acceleration is in the vertically
downward direction and its magnitude is almost constant if the height is small as
compared with the radius of the earth (6400 km). This magnitude is approximately equal to
9.8 m/s and is denoted by the letter g.
If we take vertically upward as the positive Y-axis, acceleration is along the negative Y-
axis and we write a = — g. The equation of motion can be written as
1. V=V0 -at
2. x= V0 t - ½ at2
3. V2 = V02 - 2ax
(Take x=y, if fall is in y direction)
Sometimes it is convenient to choose vertically downward as the positive Y-axis. Then
a=g
Relative Velocity
What is relative velocity?
The relative velocity is defined as the velocity of an object with respect to another [Link] is the time
rate of change of relative position of one object with respect to another object.
Relative velocity of an object A with respect to another object B is the time rate at which
the object A changes its position with respect to the object B.
—> The relative velocity of two objects moving in the same direction is the difference of
the speeds of the objects.
—> The relative velocity of two objects moving in opposite direction is the sum of the
speeds of the objects.