Dec-12

CHAPTER 6
KINEMATICS OF PARTICLE
CLO 1. apply the principles of statics and dynamics to solve engineering
problems (C3)
CLO 3. study the theory of engineering mechanics to solve related
engineering problems in group (A3)

6.1 Concepts of kinematics

6.1.1 Explain the concepts of kinematics of

particles.(C2)
The study of how particle move WITHOUT
regard to the forces associated with that
motion.

Prepared by:
Mohd Rizan bin Abdul

6.2 Rectilinear motion of particles

6.2.1 Describe position, velocity and acceleration motion of
particles.(C1)
Position = the straight line path of a particle will be defined using a single
coordinate axis, s .
s
P

Distance = measure of the total length of a

particle's path
Displacement = measure of the diff. between
the beginning and the end of a particle's path.
Velocity = the time rate change of a particle's
position
Acceleration = the time rate of change of a
particle's velocity

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In terms of a fixed, rectangular, Cartesian

coordinate system,
Position

Rectilinear Motion

Displacement
Velocity

If the coordinate system is oriented such that the x-axis coincides with the line of motion, the
general equations for position, displacement, velocity, and acceleration simplify to

Position

Displacement

Acceleration

Velocity

Acceleration

Rectilinear Motion (cont.)

Velocity acts in the same direction as displacement.
Accelerations acts colinearly with velocity.
If v and a have the same sign, then v is increasing (particle is
accelerating).
If v and a have opposite signs, then v is decreasing (particle is
decelerating).
Distance traveled (a scalar) is a measure of the total length of
a particle's path.
Displacement (a vector) is a measure of the difference
between the beginning and the end of a particle's path.

Rectilinear Motion: Position, Velocity

& Acceleration
Particle moving along a straight line is said
to be in rectilinear motion.
Position coordinate of a particle is defined by
positive or negative distance of particle from
a fixed origin on the line.
The motion of a particle is known if the
position coordinate for particle is known for
every value of time t. Motion of the particle
may be expressed in the form of a function,
e.g.,
x 6t 2 t 3
or in the form of a graph x vs. t.

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Rectilinear Motion: Position, Velocity

& Acceleration
Consider particle which occupies position P
at time t and P at t+Dt,
Dx
Average velocity
Dt
Dx
Instantaneous velocity v lim
Dt 0 Dt
Instantaneous velocity may be positive or
negative. Magnitude of velocity is referred
to as particle speed.
From the definition of a derivative,
Dx dx
v lim

dt
Dt 0 Dt

Rectilinear Motion: Position, Velocity

& Acceleration
Consider particle with velocity v at time t and
v at t+Dt,
Dv
Instantaneous acceleration a lim
Dt 0 Dt
Instantaneous acceleration may be:
- positive: increasing positive velocity
or decreasing negative velocity
- negative: decreasing positive velocity
or increasing negative velocity.
From the definition of a derivative,
a lim

Dt 0

e.g., x 6t 2 t 3

e.g.

dx
v
12t 3t 2
dt

Rectilinear Motion: Position, Velocity

& Acceleration

Dv dv d 2 x

2
Dt dt
dt

v 12t 3t 2
a

dv
12 6t
dt

6.2.2 Describe uniform rectilinear

Consider particle with motion given by

x 6t 2 t 3
v

dx
12t 3t 2
dt

dv d 2 x

12 6t
dt dt 2

at t = 0,

x = 0, v = 0, a = 12 m/s2

at t = 2 s,

x = 16 m, v = vmax = 12 m/s, a = 0

at t = 4 s,

x = xmax = 32 m, v = 0, a = -12 m/s2

at t = 6 s,

x = 0, v = -36 m/s, a = 24 m/s2

Uniform Rectilinear Motion

For particle in uniform rectilinear motion, the acceleration is zero and
the velocity is constant.

dx
v constant
dt
x

x0

dx v dt
x x0 vt
x x0 vt

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Uniformly Accelerated Rectilinear

Motion
For particle in uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion, the acceleration of
the particle is constant.
v
t
dv
a constant
v v0 at
dv a dt
dt
v
0
0

v v0 at
dx
v0 at
dt

x0

dx v0 at dt

dv
a constant
dx

v0

x0

v dv a dx

1
2

Recall, motion of a particle is known if position is known for all time t.

Typically, conditions of motion are specified by the type of acceleration
experienced by the particle. Determination of velocity and position requires
two successive integrations.
Three classes of motion may be defined for:
- acceleration given as a function of time, a = f(t)
- acceleration given as a function of position, a = f(x)
- acceleration given as a function of velocity, a = f(v)

x x0 v0t 12 at 2

x x0 v0t 12 at 2
v

6.2.3Determine motion of a Particle

v 2 v02 ax x0

v 2 v02 2a x x0

Determination of the Motion of a

Particle

Acceleration given as a function of time, a = f(t):

v t
t
dv
a f t
dv f t dt
dv f t dt
dt
v
0

dx
vt
dt

x t

dx vt dt

Acceleration given as a function of velocity, a = f(v):

t

vt v0 f t dt
0

dx vt dt

x0

Determination of the Motion of a

Particle

xt x0 vt dt

dv
a f v
dt
v t

dv
dt
f v

dx
dx
v
or dt
dt
v
v dv f x dx

v x

v dv f x dx

v0

dv
dv
a
or a v f x
dt
dx

x0

1 v x 2
2

12 v02

f x dx

dv

dt

v0 f v 0

dv

f v t

v0

Acceleration given as a function of position, a = f(x):

v t

dv
a f v
dx

xt x0

v t

dx

v dv
f v

x t

v t

v dv

dx f v
x0
v0

v dv

f v

v0

x0

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6.2.4 Solve problems in relative motion of two

particles.

6.2.5 Solve by graphical method of rectilinear

motion problem