The Equations of Motion 1 T.H. The Professional Development Service for Teachers is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan Q. 1 A car is moving at a velocity of 25 m s–1. It accelerates at a rate of 6 m s–2. Find its velocity after 3 seconds. PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 2 Ans. 1 A car is moving at a velocity of 25 m s–1. It accelerates at a rate of 6 m s–2. Find its velocity after 3 seconds. ANSWER u v a 25 ? 6 s t 3 Use the no s equation: v u at 25 6 3 43 m s1 PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 3 Q. 2 An object is dropped from rest. Calculate its velocity after 2.5 seconds if it is dropped: (a) on earth, where the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m s–2 (b) on mars, where the acceleration due to gravity is 3.8 m s–2? PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 4 Ans. 2 Note: when an object is dropped from rest, its initial velocity is 0. (a) u v a s 0 ? 9.8 t 2.5 v u at 0 9.8 2.5 24.5 m s 1 (b) u v a 0 ? 3.8 s t 2.5 v u at 0 3.8 2.5 9.5 m s 1 PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 5 Q. 3 A motorbike is travelling with a velocity of 3 m s–1. It accelerates at a rate of 9.3 m s–2 for 1.8 seconds. Calculate the distance it travels in this time. PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 6 Ans. 3 A motorbike is travelling with a velocity of 3 m s–1. It accelerates at a rate of 9.3 m s–2 for 1.8 seconds. Calculate the distance it travels in this time. ANSWER u v 3 a s t 9.3 ? 1.8 1 2 s ut at 2 1 3 1.8 9.3 1.82 20.47 m 2 PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 7 Q. 4 A Tesla Roadster car accelerates from rest at a rate of 7.1 m s–2 for a time of 3.9 s. Calculate the distance it travels in this time. PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 8 Ans. 4 A Tesla Roadster car accelerates from rest at a rate of 7.1 m s–2 for a time of 3.9 s. Calculate the distance it travels in this time. ANSWER u v 0 a s t 7.1 ? 3.9 1 2 1 2 s ut at 0 3.9 7.1 3.9 54.0 m 2 2 PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 9 Q. 5 A bullet accelerates at a rate of 90 000 m s–2 from rest. Calculate its velocity if it travels a distance of 0.5 m while accelerating. PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 10 Ans. 5 A bullet accelerates at a rate of 90 000 m s–2 from rest. Calculate its velocity if it travels a distance of 0.5 m while accelerating. ANSWER u v a s t 0 ? 90000 0.4 v 2 u 2 2as 02 2 90000 0.5 90000 v 90000 300 m s 1 PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 11 Q. 6 An aircraft is travelling along a runway at a velocity of 25 m s–1. It accelerates at a rate of 4 m s–2 for a distance of 750 m before taking off. Calculate its take-off speed. PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 12 Ans. 6 An aircraft is travelling along a runway at a velocity of 25 m s–1. It accelerates at a rate of 4 m s–2 for a distance of 750 m before taking off. Calculate its take-off speed. ANSWER u v a s t 25 ? 4 750 v u 2as 25 2 4 750 6625 2 2 2 v 6625 81.4 m s PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 1 13 Q. 7 A car is travelling at a speed of 21 m s–1. It accelerates at an average rate of 3 m s–2 for a time of 4 seconds. Find the distance it travels during the 4 seconds. PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 14 Ans. 7 A car is travelling at a speed of 21 m s–1. It accelerates at an average rate of 3 m s–2 for a time of 4 seconds. Find the distance it travels during the 4 seconds. ANSWER u 21 v a s t 3 ? 4 1 2 1 s ut at 21 4 3 4 2 108 m 2 2 PDST Resources for Leaving Certificate Physics 15