One-Dimensional Kinematics
Many kinematics problems are given to students in high school and college physics courses which involve the five following measurable quantities of a body in motion:
-
acceleration (most often assumed to be constant)
-
time elapsed
- final
velocity (this variable may also be represented by just
)
- initial velocity (this variable may also be represented by
or
)
- distance traveled (this variable may also be represented by
or
)
If one knows any three of the above quantities for a given situation, then one may solve for any of the other two. The equations below demonstrate this property.
Solving for (constant) acceleration
Final velocity is unknown
Initial velocity is unknown
Acceleration is unknown (but constant)
Final velocity is unknown
Initial velocity is unknown
Solving for final velocity
Acceleration is unknown (but constant)
Initial velocity is unknown
Solving for initial velocity
Acceleration is unknown (but constant)
Final velocity is unknown
Acceleration is unknown (but constant)
Final velocity is unknown
Initial velocity is unknown
Two-dimensional and vector kinematics