Kinematics Practice Problems
Name:_______________ Block:____ Date:__________
Kinematics is the study of motion. In 1-D motion, most every kinematic problem can be solved using
one of 4 equations. These equations will allow you to solve for almost any aspect of the motion of an
object: displacement, velocity and acceleration. The 4 equations are as follows:
𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑒 =
∆𝑣
∆𝑡
1
𝑑𝑓 = 𝑑𝑖 + 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡 2
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡
𝑣𝑓2 = 𝑣𝑖2 + 2𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑒 (𝑑𝑓 − 𝑑𝑖 )
Part 1: Uniform Accelerated Motion
1. A rock is falling downwards at 12.0 m/s. After 2.0 seconds it is falling at downwards at
31.6 m/s. What was its acceleration?
2. An NFL caliber wide receiver can reach a top speed of 10.0 m/s in only 2.4 s. What is
their acceleration during this time?
3. A student is gliding along on a scooter at a comfortable 2.8 m/s when Mr. Jones walks
around the corner and the two collide. If the student is brought to rest in 0.15 s, what is
their acceleration (hint: should it be acceleration or deceleration)?
4. A car is moving at 30.0 km/h when it accelerates at 2.0 m/s for 3.6 s. What is the car's
final speed?
Part 2: Using the 4 equations and the 7 step method we discussed in class, try your hand at the following
problems.
1. An airplane accelerates down a runway at 5.20 m/s2 for 32.8 s until it finally lifts off the
ground. Determine the distance traveled before takeoff.
d=
vi=
vf=
a=
t=
2. A race car accelerates uniformly from 19.5 m/s to 50.1 m/s in 2.47 seconds. Determine
the acceleration of the car and the distance traveled.
d=
vi=
vf=
a=
t=
3. An engineer is designing the runway for an airport. Of the planes that will use the
airport, the lowest acceleration rate is likely to be 3 m/s2. The takeoff speed for this
plane will be 70 m/s. Assuming this minimum acceleration, what is the minimum
allowed length for the runway?
d=
vi=
vf=
a=
t=
4. A bullet leaves a rifle with a muzzle velocity of 521 m/s. While accelerating through the
barrel of the rifle, the bullet moves a distance of 0.740 m. Determine the acceleration of
the bullet (assume a uniform acceleration).
d=
vi=
vf=
a=
t=
5. A bullet is moving at a speed of 367 m/s when it embeds into a lump of moist clay. The
bullet penetrates for a distance of 0.0621 m. Determine the acceleration of the bullet
while moving into the clay. (Assume a uniform acceleration.)
6. A stone is dropped into a deep well and is heard to hit the water 3.41 s after being
dropped. Determine the depth of the well. (Remember acceleration is -9.80 m/s).
7. Upton Chuck is riding the Power Tower at ValleyFair. If Upton free falls for 2.60 seconds,
what will be his final velocity and how far will he fall? (Remember acceleration is -9.80
m/s).
7 Steps for solving physics problems.
1. Draw a picture of the situation (detailed).
2. Identify what is known.
3. Determine what you need to solve for.
4. Manipulate equations/Insert numbers
5. Insert numbers/manipulate equations
6. Solve
7. Check (ask is it reasonable).