Knowledge Points

Comprehensive guides and explanations covering linear motion concepts and principles.

Linear Motion - Free Fall Motion

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Linear motion - Key concepts

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Linear motion - Motion with Constant Acceleration

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Browse Problems

51 problems tagged with linear motion

Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics

P0218

Intermediate Mechanics › Kinematics

Car Acceleration Between Utility Poles

A car undergoes uniformly accelerated linear motion. The distance between any two consecutive utility poles along the road is 50 m. The car takes 5 s to pass the first interval and 4 s to pass the second interval.

Find the acceleration of the car.
linear motion

P0252

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Minimum Deceleration to Avoid Train Collision

Train A is moving forward at a speed $v_1$. The driver suddenly notices another train B on the same track at a distance $s$ ahead, moving in the same direction at a smaller constant speed $v_2$, where $v_2 < v_1$. The driver of train A immediately applies the brakes, causing a constant deceleration of magnitude $a$.

What condition must the deceleration $a$ satisfy to prevent the two trains from colliding?
linear motion

P0231

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Finding Initial Height from Final Velocity

An object in free fall starts from rest. Its final velocity upon hitting the ground is 10 m/s.

What was the approximate initial height from which it was dropped?
linear motion

P0292

Intermediate Mechanics › Kinematics

Particle Kinematics with Time-Varying Acceleration

A particle moves in a plane with acceleration given by $\vec{a}(t) = (k_x t)\hat{i} + (k_y t)\hat{j}$, where $k_x$ and $k_y$ are constants. At $t=0$, its initial position is $\vec{r}_0 = r_{0x}\hat{i} + r_{0y}\hat{j}$ and its initial velocity is $\vec{v}_0 = v_{0x}\hat{i} + v_{0y}\hat{j}$.

  1. What is its position vector $\vec{r}(t)$ at time $t$?
  2. What is the angle $\phi(t)$ its velocity vector makes with the positive x-axis at time $t$?
calculus linear motion

P0235

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Tower Height from Free Fall in Last Second

An object is dropped from rest from the top of a tower. The distance it travels during the final second of its fall is 9/25 of the total height of the tower.

Find the height of the tower.
linear motion

P0241

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Ejection Speed of Volcanic Rocks on Io

Rocks from a volcano on Jupiter's moon Io are ejected vertically and reach a maximum height of 200 km. The gravitational acceleration on Io is $g_{Io} = 1.80$ m/s², and air resistance is negligible.

What is the initial ejection speed of these rocks?
linear motion

P0247

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Airplane Landing Deceleration Analysis

An airplane undergoes uniformly decelerated linear motion after landing. In the first $10$ s, it travels a distance of $450$ m. At the end of this period, its velocity is half of its initial landing velocity.

  1. Find the airplane's landing velocity.
  2. How far is the airplane from the landing point $20$ s after landing?
  3. How long after landing does it take for the airplane to travel $540$ m?
  4. How long after landing does it take for the airplane to come to a complete stop?
  5. What is the total distance from the landing point to where the airplane stops?
linear motion

P0251

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Kinematics of a Catch-Up Scenario

Object A moves with a constant velocity of $v_A = 1$ m/s. 5 seconds after A starts, object B starts from rest from the same location. B undergoes uniformly accelerated linear motion with an acceleration of $a_B = 40$ cm/s² in the same direction as A.

  1. How many seconds after B starts will it catch up to A?
  2. What is the maximum distance between them before they meet?
  3. How far is the meeting point from the starting point?
linear motion

P0248

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Proof: Average Velocity and Mid-Time Velocity

An object is undergoing uniformly accelerated linear motion over a time interval of duration $T$. The initial velocity at the start of the interval is $v_i$ and the final velocity is $v_f$.

Prove that the average velocity over this interval is equal to the instantaneous velocity at the mid-time point, $t = T/2$.
linear motion

P0283

Intermediate Mechanics › Kinematics

Relative Motion Analysis of Two Cars

Car A starts at position $x_{A0}$ with a constant velocity $v_A$. Car B starts at the origin with an initial velocity $v_{B0}$ and a constant negative acceleration $a_B$. Assume $v_{B0} > v_A > 0$ and $x_{A0} > 0$.

  1. What must $a_B$ be such that the cars are at the same position at time $t_1 > 0$?
  2. For this acceleration, what is the other time $t_2$ when the cars are at the same position?
  3. Find the critical magnitude of acceleration, $A_{crit} = |a_B|_{crit}$, for which the cars meet only once.
  4. For $A = |a_B|$, how many times do the cars meet if $A > A_{crit}$ or if $A < A_{crit}$?
linear motion relative motion

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