Topic: Speed, Velocity and Acceleration

Class: SSS 1

Lesson Objectives:

At the end of this lesson students should be

able to;

1. Distinguish between Speed, Velocity and

Acceleration

2. Explain the Concept of Uniform Motion

3. Perform calculations in the aforementioned

SPEED

Speed is the rate of change of distance with

time. It is measured in m/s.

Average Speed: sometimes, distances covered

during moments in a journey are not steady.

This can be referred to as a non-uniform

speed. To calculate the total speed covered by

the journey we calculate average speed.

Instantaneous Speed: is the speed of a moving

.
object at a particular instant of time It tells

how fast the object is moving at that exact

moment, not over a period of time.

CALCULATIONS I

Case 1: A car travels a distance of 150km in 3

hours. What is the average speed?

Distance ---- 150km (150,000m)

Time ----- 3 hours (10,800s)

Case 2: A man covers a distance of 3000

meters in 1200 seconds by running. What is

his average speed?

Solution

Distance =3000m

Time = 1200s

Note: Always convert kilometer to meter and

hour/ minute to seconds unless you were

instructed to do otherwise.

VELOCITY

Velocity is the rate of change of displacement

with time. It is measured in m/s. Speed is a

scalar quantity while velocity is a vector

quantity, that is the only difference between

them.

i
Uniform Velocity: s when a body moves in a

straight line and covers equal distances in

equal intervals of time, no matter how small

the intervals are.

Displacement - Time Graph

Using the graph above

Velocity =

RECTILINEAR ACCELERATION

The term rectilinear acceleration is the rate of

increase of velocity along a straight line path

in a unit time.

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity

with time. Deceleration is the opposite. Other

names for deceleration are " negative

acceleration and retardation.

Acceleration/Deceleration is measured in m/s . ²

CALCULATIONS II

Case 1: A bus starts from rest and reaches a

velocity of 25m/s in 10 seconds. Find the

acceleration.

Solution

Initial velocity, u = 0m/s (from rest)

final velocity, v = 25m/s

time, t = 10s

Acceleration =?

Acceleration

= 2.5m/s ²

Case 2: An object moving at 15m/s stops

uniformly in 3s. What is its acceleration?

Solution

initial velocity, u = 15

final velocity, v = 0 ( stops uniformly)

time, t = 3

acceleration = ?

Acceleration = Change in velocity

Time
: . Acceleration (a) = -5 m/s² ( the minus is
there because it's a negative acceleration).

Instantaneous Acceleration is the rate at which

velocity changes at a particular instant (or

moment) of time.

Mathematically, it is defined as:

where a = instantaneous acceleration

v = velocity

t = time

dv/dt = the rate of change of velocity

with respect to time ( which can be obtained

using differential calculus).

In other words, if you plot a velocity - time

graph, the instantaneous acceleration at any

point is the slope (gradient) of the curve at that

point.

CALCULATIONS III

Case 1: If the velocity of a car at a moment

changes from 10.0 to 10.2 m/s in 0.1 seconds,

what is the instantaneous acceleration?

acceleration = ds/dt = ∆s/∆t = 10.2 - 10.0/0.1

= 2m/s ²

Case 2: Calculate the instantaneous velocity at

7s of a rocket undergoing uniformly

accelerated motion, if the position is given by

s = 5t + 12t ², where s is in meters and t is in

seconds.
 Solution

In differential calculus

If y = x ⁿ
then dy/dx = nx ⁿ⁻¹
Differentiating s = 5t + 12t ²
ds/dt = 5t¹⁻¹ + 2(12t²⁻¹) = 5t⁰ + 24t¹

= 5 + 24t

:. for t = 7s,

ds/dt = 5 +24(7)

= 173m/s (instantaneous velocity)

Case 3: The velocity, v of a space shuttle in a

time, t is given by v = 25 + 3t ². Find the

instantaneous acceleration at t = 9s

Solution

When velocity is differentiated with respect to

time acceleration is obtained

Differentiating v = 25 + 3t ²
We obtain instantaneous acceleration

dv/ dt = 0 + 2(3t ²⁻¹)

= 6t

:. for t = 9s

dv/dt = 6×9 = 54m/s ²

Uniform Acceleration : A body is in uniform

acceleration if the rate of change of the

velocity of the body is constant i.e. the body's

velocity increases or decreases by equal

amount in equal interval of time.

Equations of Uniformly Accelerated Motion

If an object travelling with a uniform

acceleration, a increases its velocity from a

value u to a final velocity v in a time, t.

Its average velocity =

Distance covered by the object in this time is

given by

s = average velocity × time

s = ................. (a)

From the definition of acceleration

a =

By rearranging the above expression, the final

velocity, 'v' attained would be

v = u + at...............(i)

the distance covered by the object can be

obtained by substituting for 'v' in (a) using (i)

i.e. distance, s = ½[ (u + at) +u ]t

= ½( 2u + at )t

= ut + ½at²

:. distance, s = ut + ½at².............( ii )

Another useful equation can be obtained when

the time, 't' is not required in determining the

final velocity

From equation (i),

t =

substituting for 't' in equation (a)

s =

s =

² - u²
:. 2as = v

Hence, v² = u² + 2as................( iii )

Below are the equations of motion as derived

above;

v = u + at.........................(I)

s = ut + ½at²..................(II)
v ² = u² + 2as..................(III)

The basic equations of motion above become

negative only when an object undergoes u ni-

form deceleration. Under this situation, the

equations become ;
v = u - at.........................(I)

s = ut - ½at²..................(II)
v ² = u² - 2as..................(III)
NOTE:

(i) When an object moves or accelerates from

rest, its initial velocity, u = 0

(ii) When a body comes to rest or stops, its

final velocity, v = 0

(iii) When a body's velocity is constant or not

changing, its acceleration, a = 0

CALCULATIONS IV
Case 1: A car travelling at 54 km/h slows down

uniformly to a velocity of 18 km/h when the

brakes were gradually applied.

a. How long does it take to cover a distance of

50m?

b. What is its deceleration?

Solution

a. initial velocity, u = 54 km/h (15 m/s)

final velocity, v = 18 km/h (5 m/s)

distance covered, s = 50 m

since time, t is required, apply

s = ½(u + v)t
s = ½(15 + 5)t

50 = 10t

5 = t

:. t = 5s

b. To determine the deceleration, we can apply

v = u - at

v = 5m/s u = 15m/s t = 5s

substituting into the equation

v = u - at
5 = 15 - a(5)

5 = 15 - 5a

5 - 15 = -5a

-10 = -5a

2 = a

:. deceleration (a) = 2 m/s ²

Case 2: A body accelerates from rest at the rate

of 3ms ⁻² for 8s. Calculate the distance covered

by the body during acceleration. WAEC 1992

Solution

u = 0 m/s

a = 3 m/s ²
t = 8 s

distance, s =?

The most appropriate equation that includes

a,u,t and s is the second equation of motion.

s = ut + ½at²
substituting, we have;

s = 0×8 + ½×3×64
=96m

Case 3: A particle starts from rest and moves

with a uniform acceleration of 4m/s ². What is

the velocity after covering a distance of 8m?

Solution

initial velocity, u = 0

acceleration, a = 4m/s ²
distance, s = 8m

final velocity, v = ?

The equation containing u, a, s and v is the 3 ʳᵈ

equation of motion;

v² = u² + 2as
v² = 0 +2×4×8
v ² = 64
v = √64

v = 8m/s

Case 4: Starting from rest, a Formular One car

accelerates uniformly at 25m/s ² for 30s. What

distance does it cover in the

(i) Last one second of motion

(ii) Seventeenth second of motion

Solution

(i) The distance covered in the last one second

of motion is the distance between time

interval of the 29ᵗʰ and 30ᵗʰ second. For us to

get it we subtract 29ᵗʰ(S₂₉) from 30ᵗʰ(S₃₀)

Distance, S = S₃₀ - S₂₉

But, S₃₀ = ut + ½at₃₀² and S₂₉ = ut + ½at₂₉²

Starting from rest, initial velocity, u = 0.

Therefore ut = 0 in each case.

:. s = ½at₃₀² - ½at₂₉²
= ½a(t₃₀² - t₂₉²).

From the question,

acceleration, a = 25m/s ²
t₃₀ = 30s
t₂₉ = 29s

So substituting into the above equation

S = ½×25( 30² - 29² )

= 12.5(900 - 841)

= 12.5(59)

= 737.50m

(ii) From question;

acceleration, a = 25m/s ²
initial velocity, u = 0

time, t is not equal to 17s because the

seventeenth second is actually the time inter-

val between the 16 ᵗʰ and 17ᵗʰ second, therefore
time, t = t ₁₇ - t₁₆
Substituting into s = ½a( t₁₇² - t₁₆²)
s = ½×25(17² - 16²)

= 12.5(289 - 256)

= 12.5×33

= 412.5m

Note: In calculating distance between time

intervals, the second equation of motion,

½at² is modified to s = ½a(t₂² - t₁²)

s = ut +

Where initial velocity, u = 0, t₂ and t₁ are the

time intervals.

Gravitational Acceleration (Motion Under

Gravity)

When an object is thrown upwards, it

undergoes negative acceleration (-g) because

it's in opposition to the gravitational pull of the

earth. When an object is released from a

height, it experiences positive acceleration

(+g).

Equations of motion for gravitational

acceleration are derived from the equations of

uniformly accelerated motion and they are

stated below;

FOR A BODY THROWN UPWARDS

v = u - gt

h = ut - ½gt²
v ² = u² - 2gh
FOR A BODY FALLING DOWNWARD S
v = u + gt

h = ut + ½gt²
v ² = u² + 2gh
Where v = final velocity in m/s

u = initial velocity in m/s

 h = height in m

t = time in s

g = acceleration due to gravity in m/s ²

NOTE :

(i) For an object going upwards, final velocity at

its maximum height, v = 0

(ii) For a falling object or one released from a

height, initial velocity u = 0

(iii) The time it takes an object to travel

upwards is the same time it takes to come

down

CALCULATIONS V

Case 1: Calculate the maximum height a ball of

mass 1.2 kg will attain if projected vertically

upward with an initial velocity of 17 m/s.

Solution

Initial velocity, u = 17m/s

final velocity, v = 0 ( at maximum height)

acceleration due to gravity, g = 10 m/s ²

height, h = ?

the mass of the ball is not required.

substituting into v ² = u² - 2gh

0 = 17² - 2×10×h

17² = 20h

289/20 = h

:.h = 14.45m

Case 2: A carpenter working at a construction

site mistakenly drops his hammer from a

height of 125m. How long does it take to reach

the ground?

Solution

initial velocity, u = 0

acceleration due to gravity = 10m/s ²

height , h = 125m

time, t = ?
Substituting into h = ut + ½gt²
125 = 0 + ½×10×t²

125 = 5t²

t² = 125/5

t² = 25

t = √25

t = 5s

Graphical Solution to Acceleration

Velocity - time (v - t) Graphs are commonly

used to solve rectilinear acceleration problems

and could be in different shapes depending on

whether velocity increases, decreases or is

constant.

VARIOUS V - T GRAPHS

FOR AN OBJECT WITH CONSTANT VELOCITY

The graph AB is drawn parallel to the time axis

FOR AN OBJECT ACCELERATING FROM REST

The slope of line OA gives the acceleration of

the object .

FOR AN OBJECT DECELERATING TO REST

The slope OR gives the deceleration of the

object.

CALCULATIONS VI

Case 1: A body which is uniformly retarded

comes to rest in 5s after travelling a distance of

10m. What is its initial velocity?

Solution

For a ( v - t ) graph as the one above

The area of ∆AOB = Distance covered

Area of ∆AOB = 10m

½ OB×OA = 10
½×5×OA = 10
5OA = 10

Make '10' a fraction by giving it a denominator

'1'

5OA = 10

2 1

Cross multiplying, we have;

5OA = 20

OA = 4 m/s

Case 2: A train starts from rest and accelerates

uniformly at the rate of 2m/s ² until it attains a

maximum velocity in 20s. It maintains this

velocity for 60s and then retards uniformly to

rest after a further 20s.

a. Draw a graph of the motion

b. Use the graph to determine

(i) the maximum velocity reached

(ii) the retardation and

(iii) the distance covered.

Solution

(a)

(b)

(i) Acceleration,

i.e. v = 2×20

= 40m/s

:. Maximum velocity, v = 40m/s

(ii) Retardation,

= -2m/s ² ( carrying '-' because

it's negative acceleration )

(iii) Total distance covered (s)

= Area of the entire shape

= Area of trapezium OABC

= ½(AB + OC)AE
= ½(60 + 100)40

= ½×160×40

= 3200m

Real Life Application

*The understanding of speed is used in

producing speedometers used by drivers to

monitor the speed of cars to avoid accident.

*Knowledge of Velocity is used in weather

forecasting by meteorologists to track velocity

of wind and storms to predict their path.

*The knowledge of acceleration is used in

elevators to design brake and emergency

systems that slow the elevator gradually, not

abruptly, to prevent injuries.

Practice Questions

1. A body starts from rest and accelerates

uniformly at 5m/s ² until it attains a velocity of

25m/s. Calculate the time taken to attain this

velocity. WAEC 2005 Ans 5s

2. If a car starts from rest and moves with a

uniform acceleration of 10m/s ² for ten

seconds, the distance it covers in the last one

second of motion is

A. 95m B. 100m C.500m D. 905m E. 1000m

JAMB 1985 Ans 95m

3. A boy cycles continuously through a

distance of 10km in 5 minutes. Calculate his

average speed. WAEC 1995 Ans 3.33m/s

4. A ball is dropped from a height of 45m

above the ground. Calculate the velocity of the

ball just before it strikes the ground.

WAEC 1994 Ans 30ms ⁻¹

5. The graph below describes the motion of a

particle. The acceleration of the particle during

the motion is

A. 0.00m/s ² B. 0.25m/s ² C. 4.00m/s ² D.

8.00m/s ² E. 10.00m/s ²
JAMB 1985 Ans 4.00m/s ²
References

New School Physics - M.W. Anyakoha Ph. D

All Inclusive Calculations in Physics - Solomon

Dauda

Comprehensive Physics - Dr. Ndupu M.A. and

Dr. Okeke PN

Online Resources - Internet

Topic : Work, Energy and Power
Class: SSS 1

Lesson Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students should

be able to:

(i) Define and explain Work, Energy and

Power

(ii) Understand the differences and

relationship among the three

(iii) Tackle the calculative aspect of the

topic adequately

WORK

Work is defined as the product of a force

and the distance covered in the direction

of the force.

Work done, W = force × distance

(displacement)

W = f × s or

W = mg × s (remember f = mg)

Work Done by an Inclined Plane

If the force applied is at an angle Ѳ to the

horizontal as shown below, the work done

depends on what direction the object

moves.
If the box moves in the horizontal

direction, the work done (W) is;

W = F CosѲ × s or

W = mg CosѲ × s

If the box moves in the vertical direction,

the work done (W) is;

W = F sinѲ × s or

W = mg sinѲ × s

Where F = force in Newton(N)

s = distance or displacement in

metre(s)

m = mass in kilogram(kg)

g = acceleration due to gravity(m/s ) ²

work is measured in in joules

Work Done in Moving A Load up an

Inclined Plane.

Where P = Applied Force (W ₓ +F)

F = Frictional Force ( μR)
W ₓ = Weight component along the plane
( = W sinѲ)

If the crate is moved a distance 's' up the

inclined plane then,

The work done = P × s

(Wₓ + F) × s
(W sinѲ + μR)s

CALCULATIONS I
Case 1: A boy drags a bag of rice along a

smooth horizontal floor with a force of 2N

applied at an angle 60° to the floor. The

work done after a distance of 3m is

Solution

Force, F = 2N

Angle, Ѳ = 60°

Distance, s = 3m

Work done, W = FcosѲ × s

= 2×cos 60°×3

= 2×0.5×3

= 3J

Case 2: A constant force of 40N acting on a

body initially at rest gives an acceleration

of 0.1m/s ² for 4s. Calculate the work done

by the force.

A. 8J B. 10J C. 32J D. 160J JAMB 1987

Solution

Force, F = 40N

Initial velocity, u = 0m/s

Acceleration, a = 0.1m/s ²
Time, t = 4s

Distance, s = ?

From 2 ⁿᵈ equation of motion

s = ut + ½at²

s = 0×4 + ½×0.1×4²

s = 0 + 0.05×16

s = 0.8m

Work done = F×s

= 40×0.8

= 32J (option C)
Case 3: A crate of mass 50kg is pulled up a

rough inclined plane at an angle of 60° to

the horizontal. Determine the work done

in moving the crate to the top of the

inclined 20m high.

Solution

Mass of crate, m = 50kg

Weight of crate, W = 500N ( W = mg)

Length of inclined plane, s = h

sinѲ

= 20

sin60°

= 23.09

Coefficient of friction, μ = tanѲ = tan 60°

= 1.732

Reaction Force to weight, R = W cos60°

Total work done = (W sinѲ + μR)s

= [500sin60° + (1.732×500cos60°)]23.09

= (433 + 433)23.09J

= 20KJ

ENERGY

Energy is defined as the capacity to do

work. It is a scalar quantity. It shares the

same unit with work i.e Joules.

Energy is relevant in the world for so

many purposes.

Forms of Energy

According to World energy resources,

energy can be grouped into two;

a. Renewable energy e.g. solar, wind, hydro

and ocean waves

b. Non - renewable e.g. petroleum, coal,

nuclear and biomass

Principles of Conservation of Energy

The principle of conservation of energy

states that energy can neither be created

nor destroyed but can be converted from

one form to another.

Mechanical Energy

This is an energy possessed either by a

moving body or one at rest. It is made up

of

i. Kinetic Energy and

ii. Potential Energy

Kinetic Energy (K.E)

This is the energy possessed by a body in

motion.

K.E = ½mv²
Change in kinetic energy = ½mv² - ½mu²
= ½m(v² - u²)

But v ² - u² = 2as (3ʳᵈ equation of motion).

Therefore, change in kinetic energy =

½m(2as)
i.e. ∆ K.E = mas

= F×s

= Work done (J)

Potential Energy (P.E)

Potential Energy is the energy possessed

by a body at rest or at a height. If a body

of mass, m is held at a height 'h' metres

above the ground:

then potential energy,

P.E = Weight of body ×height

= mg×h

i.e P.E = mgh

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

By the principle of conservation of

Mechanical Energy

P.E at A = Total Energy at B = K.E at C

i.e

Energy of Pendulum

When a simple pendulum is displaced

through an angle Ѳ and allowed to

oscillate about its rest position, the P.E at

its maximum point of displacement is

maximum in magnitude while the K.E is

zero. But on swinging past its rest position,

the speed becomes maximum, so is its K.E.

This shows the energy changes i.e

between K.E and P.E during oscillation.

Energy Change of an oscillating pendulum

P.E at maximum point of displacement

If length of pendulum = L

Angle of displacement = Ѳ

Mass of pendulum bob = m

Acceleration due to gravity = g

Height of bob from rest position = h

(i.e height of displacement)

From ∆ OAB

OA = L CosѲ

:.h = L - L CosѲ = L(1 - CosѲ)

:.P.E = mgh

= mgL (1 - CosѲ)

CALCULATIONS II

Case 1: A body of mass 5kg falls from a

height of 10m above the ground, what is

the kinetic energy of the body just before

it strikes the ground?

(Neglect energy losses and take g as

10ms ⁻². WAEC 1992

Solution

Before calculating for the kinetic energy,

we need to get the velocity. In order to get

this we need one of the three equations of

motion. From the question;

initial velocity, u = 0

height, h = 10m

acceleration due to gravity, g = 10ms ⁻²

mass, m = 5kg

v² = u² + 2gh
v² = 0² + 2×10×10

v² = 200

v = 200

v = 14.14m/s

:. K.E =½mv²
= ½×5×14.14²

= 500J

Case 2: A 5kg mass is dropped from a

height of 30m above the ground.

Determine the velocity of the mass when it

is 18m above the ground. (Take g =

10ms ⁻²).
Solution

At A; P.E = mgh

= 5×10×30

= 1500J (Total energy possessed at A)

At B; Total energy

i.e 1500 = ½×5× + 5×10×18

Cross- multiplying, we have;

Case 3: A simple pendulum of length 1.2m

is released from rest when the string

makes an angle of 30° with the vertical.

Calculate:

a. The maximum potential energy of the

pendulum bob (mass = 0.2kg)

b. The maximum speed of the bob as it

passes through the lowest point (take g =

9.8m/s )²
Solution

(a)

height of displacement, h = L - L CosѲ

= 1.2 - 1.2Cos30

= 0.6m

Maximum Potential Energy, PE = mgh

= (0.2)(9.8)(0.6)

= 1.18J

(b)

K.E = ½mv²
1.18 = ½(0.2)v²
 v = 3.44

POWER

Power is defined as the rate of doing work

or the rate of energy transfer.

Power is measured in joules per second (J/

s) or Watts

1 horse power (hp) = 746 W = 0.746KW

CALCULATIONS III

Case 1: An engine raises 100kg of water

through a height of 60m in 20s. What is

the power of the engine? (Take g = 10m/s )²

Solution

mass, m = 100kg

acceleration, g = 10ms ⁻²
distance, s = 60m

time, t = 20s

Power = ?
: Case 2: A machine of efficiency 80% is
used to raise a body of mass 75kg through

a vertical height of 3m in 30s. Calculate the

power input (g = 10m/s ). ² WAEC 2000

Solution

Efficiency, E = 80%

mass, m = 75kg

distance (height), s = 3m

time, t = 30s

Real Life Application

*Lifting Objects: When you lift a box from

the floor you do work against gravity.

*Kinetic energy: A moving car or flowing

river possesses kinetic energy used in

turbines to generate electricity.

*Vehicles: The engine power (in

horsepower or kilowatts) determines how

fast work can be done to move the car.

Practice Questions

1. A ball of mass 0.1kg is thrown vertically

upward with a speed of 10m/s from the

top of a tower 10m high. Neglecting air re-

sistance, its total energy just before hitting

the ground is (g = 10ms ⁻²).

JAMB 1999 Ans 15J

2. A steam engine of efficiency 70% burns

20g of coal to produce 10KJ of energy. If it

burns 200g of coal per second, calculate

its output power. NECO 2009 ¹⁷ Ans 70KW

3. A car travelling with uniform velocity of

30ms ⁻¹ along a horizontal road overcomes

a constant frictional force of 600N.

Calculate the power of the engine of the

car. WAEC 2008 ⁶ Ans 18000W or 18KW

4.

A body is under the action of a force F

such that the force - displacement graph

of the body is semicircle as shown above.

The work done on the body by the force in

moving through 24 metres is

A. 36 πJ πJ
B. 72 πJ
C. 144 πJ
D. 288

JAMB 1991 Ans72 πJ

5. A pendulum bob of mass 0.5kg is pulled

sideways until it is 0.25m higher than its

lowest point and then released from rest.

Calculate:

a. The potential energy of the bob at the

highest point

b. Its kinetic energy and speed as it passes

through the lowest point (take g = 9.8ms ⁻²)
Ans (a)P.E = 1.225J

(b)K.E = 1.225J, V= 2.21ms ⁻¹

References

All Inclusive Calculations in Physics -

Solomon Dauda

Comprehensive Physics - Dr. Ndupu M.A

and Dr. PN Okeke

Online Resources - Internet