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Secondary 6 · Physics
Interaction · Kinematics

Uniform Rectilinear Motion

Before you start, make sure you know: Velocity (Secondary Year 3 (first cycle))

A bus (guagua) travels along a straight stretch of the Autopista Duarte with its speedometer stuck at the same value, without braking or speeding up. If another vehicle leaves behind it, going faster, when and where will it catch up? This section is a review of the simplest model in kinematics, URM, the basis for the 2D motion you will see later.

What URM is

A skater glides along a straight rink: 5 m in the first second, another 5 m in the second, and another 5 m in the third. How do we describe motion that never changes its pace or direction?

A ball moves along a straight line and passes the marks at 0, 1, 2, and 3 seconds; the sections d between marks are all equal. 0 s 1 s 2 s 3 s d d d the same distance in each equal time interval

We use "speed" for the value (a scalar) and "velocity" for the vector, which also has direction and sense.

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An airport moving walkway moves in a straight line and always advances at the same speed. a) What type of motion does it describe? b) State the two conditions that…

An airport moving walkway moves in a straight line and always advances at the same speed.

  1. a) What type of motion does it describe?
  2. b) State the two conditions that motion must satisfy to be uniform and linear.
Solve
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A luggage conveyor belt moves at $0.5\ \text{m/s}$. If the belt is $30\ \text{m}$ long, how long does it take a suitcase to travel from end to end?

A luggage conveyor belt moves at $0.5\ \text{m/s}$. If the belt is $30\ \text{m}$ long, how long does it take a suitcase to travel from end to end?

Solve

The position equation

Why is it this way? If you advance $v$ meters every second, in $t$ seconds you advance $v \times t$ meters, which are added to where you already were. Since the distance traveled is proportional to time, the $x$-$t$ graph is a straight line.

Move the values of $x_0$ and $v$: the y-intercept of the line is $x_0$ and its slope is $v$.

When the object starts from the origin ($x_0 = 0$) and does not change direction, the position equals the distance traveled.

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A pedestrian moves with uniform linear motion according to the equation $x = x_0 + v \times t$, with $x_0 = 10\ \text{m}$ and $v = 2\ \text{m/s}$. Calculate their…

A pedestrian moves with uniform linear motion according to the equation $x = x_0 + v \times t$, with $x_0 = 10\ \text{m}$ and $v = 2\ \text{m/s}$. Calculate their position when $t = 5\ \text{s}$.

Solve
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The position of a cyclist is given, in International System units, by the equation $x = 5 + 3 \times t$. a) What is their initial position $x_0$ and their velocity $v$?…

The position of a cyclist is given, in International System units, by the equation $x = 5 + 3 \times t$.

  1. a) What is their initial position $x_0$ and their velocity $v$?
  2. b) Calculate their position when $t = 10\ \text{s}$.
Solve
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The position of a scooter, in International System units, is $x = 50 - 4 \times t$. a) Explain what the minus sign on the velocity means: is it moving away from or…

The position of a scooter, in International System units, is $x = 50 - 4 \times t$.

  1. a) Explain what the minus sign on the velocity means: is it moving away from or towards the origin?
  2. b) Calculate its position when $t = 5\ \text{s}$.
Solve
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A cyclist leaves the origin and pedals in a straight line at a constant speed of $6\ \text{m/s}$. a) What is their position after $20\ \text{s}$? b) What distance have…

A cyclist leaves the origin and pedals in a straight line at a constant speed of $6\ \text{m/s}$.

  1. a) What is their position after $20\ \text{s}$?
  2. b) What distance have they covered in that time? Explain why it coincides with their position.
Solve
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The position of a cyclist, in International System units, is $x = 20 + 5 \times t$. a) What is their position when $t = 6\ \text{s}$? b) At what instant do they pass…

The position of a cyclist, in International System units, is $x = 20 + 5 \times t$.

  1. a) What is their position when $t = 6\ \text{s}$?
  2. b) At what instant do they pass through position $x = 120\ \text{m}$?
Solve

Solving for time and distance

Many problems ask for the time or the distance. With $x_0 = 0$ the equation reduces to $d = v \times t$, and from there:

$$t = \frac{d}{v} \qquad\qquad d = v \times t$$

If the object does not start from the origin, solve $x = x_0 + v \times t$ for $t$: $t = \dfrac{x - x_0}{v}$.

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A car travels on a motorway at a constant speed of $90\ \text{km/h}$. What distance does it cover in $3\ \text{h}$?

A car travels on a motorway at a constant speed of $90\ \text{km/h}$. What distance does it cover in $3\ \text{h}$?

Solve
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A toy car moves according to the equation $x = 200 - 10 \times t$, in International System units. a) At what instant does it reach the origin? b) What is its position…

A toy car moves according to the equation $x = 200 - 10 \times t$, in International System units.

  1. a) At what instant does it reach the origin?
  2. b) What is its position when $t = 12\ \text{s}$?
Solve
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You leave home walking at $1.5\ \text{m/s}$ towards the bus stop, which is $450\ \text{m}$ away. a) How many seconds does it take you to arrive? b) Express the result in…

You leave home walking at $1.5\ \text{m/s}$ towards the bus stop, which is $450\ \text{m}$ away.

  1. a) How many seconds does it take you to arrive?
  2. b) Express the result in minutes.
Solve
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You shout in front of a vertical wall that is $170\ \text{m}$ away and hear the echo. Sound travels through air at $340\ \text{m/s}$. The situation is shown in the…

You shout in front of a vertical wall that is $170\ \text{m}$ away and hear the echo. Sound travels through air at $340\ \text{m/s}$. The situation is shown in the figure.

wall outward: 340 m/s return: 340 m/s 170 m d = ?
  1. a) What distance does the sound travel from the moment you shout until you hear the echo? Remember that it travels there and back.
  2. b) How long does it take for the echo to reach you?
Solve

Average velocity and unit conversion

On the road, velocity is given in km/h, but in the equations of the International System we need m/s.

Velocity conversion: 108 km/h equals 30 m/s; from km/h to m/s you divide by 3.6 and from m/s to km/h you multiply by 3.6. 108 km/h 30 m/s ÷ 3.6 × 3.6
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A runner maintains a constant speed of $18\ \text{km/h}$. a) Express their speed in $\text{m/s}$. b) How long does it take them to cover $200\ \text{m}$?

A runner maintains a constant speed of $18\ \text{km/h}$.

  1. a) Express their speed in $\text{m/s}$.
  2. b) How long does it take them to cover $200\ \text{m}$?
Solve
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A train passes through a station without stopping, at $108\ \text{km/h}$, and maintains that speed. We take the station as the origin. a) Express the speed in…

A train passes through a station without stopping, at $108\ \text{km/h}$, and maintains that speed. We take the station as the origin.

  1. a) Express the speed in $\text{m/s}$.
  2. b) Write the equation for its position.
  3. c) Calculate its position $45\ \text{s}$ after passing through the station.
Solve
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Light travels in a vacuum at $3 \times 10^{8}\ \text{m/s}$ and the average distance from the Sun to the Earth is $1.5 \times 10^{11}\ \text{m}$. The diagram is shown in…

Light travels in a vacuum at $3 \times 10^{8}\ \text{m/s}$ and the average distance from the Sun to the Earth is $1.5 \times 10^{11}\ \text{m}$. The diagram is shown in the figure.

Sun Earth c = 300 000 000 m/s d = 150 000 000 000 m t = ?
  1. a) Calculate the time it takes for sunlight to reach us, in seconds.
  2. b) Express it in minutes, to one decimal place.
Solve

Comparing two motions on a graph

Two cyclists ride along a straight road at the same velocity, but one starts two kilometers ahead. How does that look on a position-versus-time graph? For more detail on graphs, see CINE-GRAF.

Position-time graph with two parallel lines, x1 and x2, representing two objects with the same velocity and constant separation. t x 0 x₁ x₂ same slope: same velocity constant distance between them
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Two runners describe their motion, in International System units, using the equations $x = 8 + 2 \times t$ and $x = 8 + 5 \times t$. The $x$-$t$ graphs for both are…

Two runners describe their motion, in International System units, using the equations $x = 8 + 2 \times t$ and $x = 8 + 5 \times t$. The $x$-$t$ graphs for both are shown in the figure.

t (s) x (m) 8 4 x = 8 + 2·t x = 8 + 5·t
  1. a) What do the two motions have in common, and how do they differ?
  2. b) Calculate the position of each runner when $t = 4\ \text{s}$.
Solve
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Along a straight cycle path, two people are travelling in the same direction: A at $x_A = 5 \times t$ and B at $x_B = 60 + 2 \times t$, in International System units.…

Along a straight cycle path, two people are travelling in the same direction: A at $x_A = 5 \times t$ and B at $x_B = 60 + 2 \times t$, in International System units. The initial situation is shown in the figure.

x (m) 0 A 5 m/s B 2 m/s 60 m
  1. a) Calculate the position of each person when $t = 8\ \text{s}$.
  2. b) What distance separates them at that instant?
Solve
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Two objects describe their motion, in International System units, using the equations $x_A = 3 + 5 \times t$ and $x_B = 10 + 5 \times t$. The $x$-$t$ graphs for both are…

Two objects describe their motion, in International System units, using the equations $x_A = 3 + 5 \times t$ and $x_B = 10 + 5 \times t$. The $x$-$t$ graphs for both are shown in the figure.

t (s) x (m) 3 10 4 x = 3 + 5·t x = 10 + 5·t
  1. a) Try to calculate the instant at which they would meet by equating the two equations, and explain what happens.
  2. b) What distance separates them at any instant? Prove it by calculating their positions at two different instants.
  3. c) State the condition that the speeds of two objects undergoing uniform linear motion must satisfy in order for them to meet.
Solve

Meetings and catch-ups between two moving objects

Two trains leave at the same time from two stations 200 km apart and travel toward each other. At what point and how long after do they cross?

Two objects, A and B, start from the ends of a line and move toward each other until they coincide at the meeting point. A B meeting xA = xB holds at the same instant
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Two cities are connected by a straight railroad line of $300\ \text{km}$. A train leaves city A for B at $90\ \text{km/h}$ and, at the same time, another leaves city B…

Two cities are connected by a straight railroad line of $300\ \text{km}$. A train leaves city A for B at $90\ \text{km/h}$ and, at the same time, another leaves city B for A at $60\ \text{km/h}$. The situation is shown in the figure.

A B 90 km/h 60 km/h 300 km ?
  1. a) How many kilometers do they get closer to each other every hour?
  2. b) How long do they take to cross paths?
  3. c) At what distance from city A do they cross paths?
Solve
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A cyclist leaves a point at $6\ \text{m/s}$. Ten seconds later, a scooter leaves from the same point in the same direction at $10\ \text{m/s}$. a) Write the position…

A cyclist leaves a point at $6\ \text{m/s}$. Ten seconds later, a scooter leaves from the same point in the same direction at $10\ \text{m/s}$.

  1. a) Write the position equation for each vehicle taking $t = 0$ when the scooter starts. Remember that when the scooter starts, the cyclist already has a $10\ \text{s}$ head start.
  2. b) How long does it take for the scooter to catch up with the cyclist?
  3. c) At what distance from the starting point does it catch up?
Solve
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Ana leaves her house walking at $4\ \text{m/s}$. Twenty seconds later, Bruno leaves the same house in the same direction, running at $6\ \text{m/s}$. The situation at…

Ana leaves her house walking at $4\ \text{m/s}$. Twenty seconds later, Bruno leaves the same house in the same direction, running at $6\ \text{m/s}$. The situation at the instant Bruno leaves is shown in the figure.

house Bruno 6 m/s Ana 4 m/s starts with a 20 s head start ?
  1. a) Write the position equations for both, counting time from when Bruno leaves.
  2. b) Calculate the time it takes for Bruno to catch up with Ana.
  3. c) At what distance from house does he catch up?
  4. d) Check who is ahead $10\ \text{s}$ after Bruno leaves and explain the result.
Solve
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Two objects move along the same straight line with equations, in International System units, $x_A = 5 \times t$ and $x_B = 90 - 4 \times t$. a) What distance separates…

Two objects move along the same straight line with equations, in International System units, $x_A = 5 \times t$ and $x_B = 90 - 4 \times t$.

  1. a) What distance separates them initially? Are they getting closer or further apart? Justify your answer using the signs of the velocities.
  2. b) Calculate the instant at which they cross paths.
  3. c) At what position do they do so?
Solve
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A truck leaves a town along a straight highway at $72\ \text{km/h}$. Half an hour later, a car leaves the same point at $108\ \text{km/h}$, heading in the same…

A truck leaves a town along a straight highway at $72\ \text{km/h}$. Half an hour later, a car leaves the same point at $108\ \text{km/h}$, heading in the same direction.

  1. a) Express both speeds in $\text{m/s}$.
  2. b) Write the position equations for both vehicles, counting time from when the car leaves.
  3. c) Calculate the time it takes for the car to catch up with the truck, expressed in hours.
  4. d) At what distance from the town does it catch up, in kilometers?
Solve
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On a test track, a motorbike leaves the origin at $25\ \text{m/s}$ at the same time as a car located $500\ \text{m}$ ahead starts off and travels at $15\ \text{m/s}$ in…

On a test track, a motorbike leaves the origin at $25\ \text{m/s}$ at the same time as a car located $500\ \text{m}$ ahead starts off and travels at $15\ \text{m/s}$ in the same direction. The initial situation is shown in the figure.

x (m) 0 motorbike 25 m/s car 15 m/s 500 m ?
  1. a) Write the position equations for both vehicles.
  2. b) Calculate the instant at which the motorbike catches up with the car.
  3. c) At what position does it catch up? Check your result by substituting the time into both equations.
Solve
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Two athletes train on a straight track with equations, in International System units, $x_A = 2 + 4 \times t$ and $x_B = 10 + 2 \times t$. a) Which of the two starts…

Two athletes train on a straight track with equations, in International System units, $x_A = 2 + 4 \times t$ and $x_B = 10 + 2 \times t$.

  1. a) Which of the two starts further ahead, and with how many meters head start?
  2. b) Calculate the instant and position where one catches up with the other.
  3. c) Determine the position of each athlete when $t = 10\ \text{s}$ and the distance between them.
  4. d) Explain, based on their speeds, why the one who started behind ends up taking the lead.
Solve

Back to the beginning: to find out when and where the fast vehicle catches up with the bus, you write the position equation of each one, set them equal, and solve for $t$.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section