STUDY

GUIDE 1D MOTION (LINEAR MOTION)

Variables and Kinematic Equations

Variables SI Unit Subscripts delta

vx
Variable
t time s i 0 initial Δ final initial

x horizontal position m f _ final

Δx xf xi
y vertical position m Subscript x horizontal or
Δx x x0
m y vertical
v velocity
s “horizontal velocity “
m
a acceleration
s2

Horizontal motion Vertical motion

y (m)

2
1
x (m) x (m) 0
-2 -1 0 1 2
-1
-2

y (m)

Displacement: Δx xf xi Δy yf yi

Δx Δy
Velocity: vx vy
Δt Δt

Velocity
(rearranged):
xf xi v xΔt yf yi v y Δt

Δv x Δv y
Acceleration: ax ay
Δt Δt

Acceleration
(rearranged):
v xf v xi a xΔt v yf v yi a y Δt

Kinematic equations for 1 1

xf xi v xi t a xt 2 yf yi v yit a yt 2
constant acceleration: 2 2

2 2 2 2
v xf v xi 2 ax( xf xi) v yf v yi 2 ay ( yf yi )

• The kinematic equations for horizontal motion and vertical motion are the same, but we use different variables and
subscripts to represent the different directions. Any equation can be rearranged algebraically.
• “Δ _ “ and “ _ f _ i “ are interchangeable. “t “ and “ Δ t “ are often used interchangeably.

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 1D Motion (Linear Motion)

Horizontal motion Vertical motion

y (m)

2
1
x (m) x (m) 0
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
-1
-2
• 1-dimensional motion (1D motion or linear motion) is a category of motion
where an object only moves along a straight line, in either direction. y (m)
• The x axis is typically used to describe horizontal motion and the y axis is
typically used to describe vertical motion.

Average Speed
300 km
v avg 60 km/h
5 hours
Average speed

total distance 150 km 150 km

v avg 3 hours 2 hours
total time 50 km/h 75 km/h

50 km/h 75 km/h

v1 v2 ( 50 km/h ) ( 75 km/h )
v avg v avg 62.5 km/h
2 2

• The average speed of an object over some period of time is the total distance traveled divided by the total amount
of time. The average speed is not the average or mean of the different speeds during that period.
• Average speed is the “time-weighted-average speed” where each of the different speeds is weighted based on the
amount of time spent traveling at that speed (instead of the amount of distance traveled at that speed).

Scalar and Vector Quantities

ude
magnit gth)
len
(value, on
Scalars Vectors directi

distance displacement
displacement velocity acceleration
5m 5 m in the north direction
2 km 2 km in the +x direction d v a

speed velocity
3 m/s
8 m/s 8 m/s to the left 2m 9.8 m/s²
60 km/h 60 km/h in the east direction

• A scalar quantity includes only a magnitude (a value) and no direction. Distance and speed are scalars.
• A vector quantity includes both a magnitude and a direction. Displacement and velocity are vectors.
• When a vector quantity is represented using an arrow, the length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the
vector and the arrow points in the direction of the vector.

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 Motion Graphs
velocity = acceleration =
slope of slope of
position graph velocity graph

Position Velocity Acceleration

20 20 20

15 15 15
x (m) v (m/s) a (m/s²)
10 10 10
5 5 5

0 0 0
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
Time, t (s) Time, t (s) Time, t (s)
Δ position = Δ velocity =
area under area under
velocity graph acceleration graph

• A motion graph shows an object’s position, velocity or acceleration over time.

• The instantaneous slope of the position graph (the slope at a single point or instant in time) is the instantaneous
velocity of the object at that time. Using calculus, velocity is the derivative of position with respect to time.
• The area under the curve of the velocity graph for a period of time (the area between the graph line and the
horizontal axis between two time points) is the displacement or the change in position of the object during that time
(areas above the horizontal axis are positive and areas below the horizontal axis are negative). Using calculus, the
change in position is the integral of velocity with respect to time.
• The instantaneous slope of the velocity graph is the instantaneous acceleration of the object.
• The area under the curve of the acceleration graph for a period of time is the change in velocity during that time.

Examples of motion graphs:

Position Velocity Acceleration

x (m) v (m/s) a (m/s²)
20 20 20
0 s, 1 s, 2 s, 3 s
Constant 15 15 15

Position 10 10 10
x
(non-zero) 5 5 5 0m 5m 10 m 15 m 20 m 25 m
0 0 0
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
Time t (s) Time t (s) Time t (s)

20 20 20
0s 1s 2s 3s
Constant 15 15 15

Velocity 10 10 10

(non-zero) 5 5 5
x
0m 5m 10 m 15 m 20 m 25 m
0 0 0
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
Time t (s) Time t (s) Time t (s)

20 20 20
0s 1s 2s 3s
Constant 15 15 15

Acceleration 10 10 10

(non-zero) 5 5 5
x
0m 5m 10 m 15 m 20 m 25 m
0 0 0
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
Time t (s) Time t (s) Time t (s)

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 Instantaneous vs Average Velocity

Instantaneous velocity Average velocity

x (m) x (m)
Position-time graph Position-time graph
20 slope: 20
18 12 m/s 18
16 16 average slope:
10 m/s
14 14
12 12
slope:
10 8 m/s 10 average slope:
8 8 6 m/s
6 slope: 6
4 m/s average slope:
4 slope: 4 2 m/s
2 0 m/s 2
0 t (s) 0 t (s)
0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3

Instantaneous Average
t x v t x v
0s 0m 0 0s 0m
(2 m - 0 m)/(1 s) = 2 m/s
1s 2m 4 1s 2m
(8 m - 2 m)/(1 s) = 6 m/s
2s 8m 8 2s 8m
(18 m - 8 m)/(1 s) = 10 m/s
3s 18 m 12 3s 18 m

6m
6 m/s
1s
2m 10 m
2 m/s 10 m/s
0 m/s 4 m/s 8 m/s 12 m/s 1s 1s

0s 1s 2s 3s 0s 1s 2s 3s

x (m) x (m)
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20

• Instantaneous velocity (or instantaneous speed) is the • The average velocity (or average speed) of an object
velocity of an object at a single instant in time. is the displacement divided by a period of time.
• It is represented as the instantaneous slope of the • It is represented as the average slope of the position-
position-time graph at a single point. time graph for a period of time (between two points).

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