Motion at constant velocity
A train on a straight track that never changes speed. A baggage conveyor belt at the airport. An elevator that always rises at the same rate. They all have something in common: they move in a straight line without speeding up or slowing down. This kind of motion has a simple equation. Later we'll answer the question: can a cyclist catch a friend who has a head start?
What is motion at constant velocity?
A suitcase on an airport conveyor belt moves forward without veering off course and takes exactly the same time to cover each meter of belt. How do we describe mathematically a motion that does not slow down, speed up or change direction?
Explain what is meant by uniform rectilinear motion (motion in a straight line at constant velocity) and describe two real-life examples of motion that, at least for a…
Explain what is meant by uniform rectilinear motion (motion in a straight line at constant velocity) and describe two real-life examples of motion that, at least for a while, can be considered uniform rectilinear motion.
The position equation
If a cyclist rides at $6\ \text{m/s}$, after $2\ \text{s}$ they will have gone $12\ \text{m}$ and after $5\ \text{s}$, $30\ \text{m}$, but their position on the path will depend on where the stopwatch started. How can we predict with a single formula where they will be at any instant if they did not start from the origin?
We'll use SI units (m, s, m/s). For everyday speeds, remember $1\ \text{m/s} \approx 2.24\ \text{mph}$. Some problems give speeds in km/h (for example, $80\ \text{km/h}$ on a highway). To convert km/h to m/s, multiply by $1{,}000$ and divide by $3{,}600$, which is the same as dividing by $3.6$: $80\ \text{km/h} \approx 22.2\ \text{m/s}$. You can also work directly in km and h if the distance is in km and the time is in h.
Move the sliders for the initial position $x_0$ and the velocity $v$: the line on the graph of $x(t)$ and the equation above update with your values.
A walker starts from position $x_0 = 10\ \text{m}$ and moves forward in a straight line at $2\ \text{m/s}$, as shown in the figure. Using the equation…
A walker starts from position $x_0 = 10\ \text{m}$ and moves forward in a straight line at $2\ \text{m/s}$, as shown in the figure.
Using the equation $x = x_0 + v\times t$, calculate her position after $5\ \text{s}$.
A runner starts from the origin ($x_0 = 0\ \text{m}$) and runs at a constant speed of $4\ \text{m/s}$. What position are they at after $10\ \text{s}$?
A runner starts from the origin ($x_0 = 0\ \text{m}$) and runs at a constant speed of $4\ \text{m/s}$. What position are they at after $10\ \text{s}$?
The position of a train is given by the equation $x = 20 + 5\times t$, in SI units. From what position does it start? At what velocity is it moving? Where will it be at…
The position of a train is given by the equation $x = 20 + 5\times t$, in SI units. From what position does it start? At what velocity is it moving? Where will it be at time $t = 10\ \text{s}$?
A robot vacuum cleaner moves forward in a straight line at $0.5\ \text{m/s}$. How long does it take to cover the $6\ \text{m}$ hallway?
A robot vacuum cleaner moves forward in a straight line at $0.5\ \text{m/s}$. How long does it take to cover the $6\ \text{m}$ hallway?
An escalator moves up at a constant speed of $0.6\ \text{m/s}$. At what position is a person $15\ \text{s}$ after passing the origin?
An escalator moves up at a constant speed of $0.6\ \text{m/s}$. At what position is a person $15\ \text{s}$ after passing the origin?
A bus leaves kilometer marker $50$ on a straight highway and travels at $80\ \text{km/h}$. a) At which kilometer marker is it located after $1.5\ \text{h}$? b) What…
A bus leaves kilometer marker $50$ on a straight highway and travels at $80\ \text{km/h}$.
- a) At which kilometer marker is it located after $1.5\ \text{h}$?
- b) What distance has it covered?
A hiker starts from position $x_0 = 20\ \text{m}$ and walks at $4\ \text{m/s}$. How long does it take them to reach position $x = 100\ \text{m}$?
A hiker starts from position $x_0 = 20\ \text{m}$ and walks at $4\ \text{m/s}$. How long does it take them to reach position $x = 100\ \text{m}$?
A cyclist travels at $72\ \text{km/h}$ along a straight road. Express their speed in $\text{m/s}$ and calculate what position they will be at after $30\ \text{s}$ if…
A cyclist travels at $72\ \text{km/h}$ along a straight road. Express their speed in $\text{m/s}$ and calculate what position they will be at after $30\ \text{s}$ if they started from the origin.
A ship travels along a straight canal at $18\ \text{km/h}$. Express its speed in $\text{m/s}$ and calculate how many meters it advances in $5\ \text{min}$.
A ship travels along a straight canal at $18\ \text{km/h}$. Express its speed in $\text{m/s}$ and calculate how many meters it advances in $5\ \text{min}$.
A car travels along a straight line and its position follows the equation $x = 40 + 12\times t$, in SI units. a) Where was it at $t = 0\ \text{s}$ and what is its…
A car travels along a straight line and its position follows the equation $x = 40 + 12\times t$, in SI units.
- a) Where was it at $t = 0\ \text{s}$ and what is its velocity?
- b) What position will it be in after $20\ \text{s}$?
- c) At what time does it pass through position $280\ \text{m}$?
- d) If another car follows the equation $x = 300 - 8\times t$, at what time and at what position do the two cross paths?
The position of a cyclist is given by the equation $x = 50 + 10\times t$, in SI units. a) What position does the cyclist occupy at $t = 2\ \text{s}$? And at…
The position of a cyclist is given by the equation $x = 50 + 10\times t$, in SI units.
- a) What position does the cyclist occupy at $t = 2\ \text{s}$? And at $t = 4\ \text{s}$?
- b) What distance does the cyclist cover between those two moments?
- c) Your classmate says: "at $t = 4\ \text{s}$ twice as much time has passed as at $t = 2\ \text{s}$, so the cyclist is twice as far from the origin." Is she right? Explain her error using the previous parts.
Distance, displacement and negative velocity
A toy cart moving at constant velocity (uniform rectilinear motion) passes position $5\ \text{m}$ at time $t = 0\ \text{s}$ and position $45\ \text{m}$ at…
A toy cart moving at constant velocity (uniform rectilinear motion) passes position $5\ \text{m}$ at time $t = 0\ \text{s}$ and position $45\ \text{m}$ at $t = 10\ \text{s}$. What is its velocity?
A cyclist starts from kilometer marker $12$ on a greenway and pedals to kilometer marker $32$, as shown in the figure. What is their final position? What distance have…
A cyclist starts from kilometer marker $12$ on a greenway and pedals to kilometer marker $32$, as shown in the figure.
What is their final position? What distance have they covered? Explain the difference between the two concepts.
A drone is at position $x_0 = 100\ \text{m}$ and flies toward the origin at $4\ \text{m/s}$, so that its velocity is negative: $v = -4\ \text{m/s}$, as shown in the…
A drone is at position $x_0 = 100\ \text{m}$ and flies toward the origin at $4\ \text{m/s}$, so that its velocity is negative: $v = -4\ \text{m/s}$, as shown in the figure.
- a) Write down its position equation.
- b) What is its position at time $t = 10\ \text{s}$?
- c) At what time does it pass through the origin?
A train undergoing constant-velocity motion (uniform rectilinear motion) is at position $14\ \text{m}$ when $t = 2\ \text{s}$ and at position $30\ \text{m}$ when…
A train undergoing constant-velocity motion (uniform rectilinear motion) is at position $14\ \text{m}$ when $t = 2\ \text{s}$ and at position $30\ \text{m}$ when $t = 6\ \text{s}$.
- a) Calculate its velocity.
- b) What was its initial position, at $t = 0\ \text{s}$?
- c) Write its position equation.
Meetings and chases
Two friends set off on bicycles at the same time from two points on a straight street in Denver, heading toward each other, to meet halfway. At exactly which point on the street and after how many seconds will their paths coincide?
A cyclist leaves the origin at $8\ \text{m/s}$. At the same time, his friend starts $30\ \text{m}$ ahead, in the same direction, at $5\ \text{m/s}$, as shown in the…
A cyclist leaves the origin at $8\ \text{m/s}$. At the same time, his friend starts $30\ \text{m}$ ahead, in the same direction, at $5\ \text{m/s}$, as shown in the figure.
- a) Write down the position equation for each person.
- b) How long does it take the cyclist to catch up with his friend?
Two ships set sail at the same time from two ports $120\ \text{km}$ apart, sailing toward each other at $25\ \text{km/h}$ and $15\ \text{km/h}$. a) How many kilometers…
Two ships set sail at the same time from two ports $120\ \text{km}$ apart, sailing toward each other at $25\ \text{km/h}$ and $15\ \text{km/h}$.
- a) How many kilometers closer to each other do they get every hour?
- b) How long does it take for them to meet?
- c) At what distance from the first port do they meet?
Two trains depart at the same time from two stations separated by $240\ \text{km}$, one from each station and traveling toward each other, at $100\ \text{km/h}$ and…
Two trains depart at the same time from two stations separated by $240\ \text{km}$, one from each station and traveling toward each other, at $100\ \text{km/h}$ and $60\ \text{km/h}$, as shown in the figure.
- a) Write down the position equation for each train, taking the first station as the origin.
- b) Calculate at what time and at what position they cross paths.
- c) Check the result by substituting the time into both equations.
In a charity race, Emma runs at $4\ \text{m/s}$ and has a $60\ \text{m}$ head start over Liam, who runs at $6\ \text{m/s}$. The finish line is $200\ \text{m}$ ahead of…
In a charity race, Emma runs at $4\ \text{m/s}$ and has a $60\ \text{m}$ head start over Liam, who runs at $6\ \text{m/s}$. The finish line is $200\ \text{m}$ ahead of Emma, as shown in the figure.
- a) Write down the position equation for each runner, taking Liam's position as the origin.
- b) Calculate at what time and at what position Liam catches up with Emma.
- c) Does he manage to catch up with her before the finish line? Justify your answer using calculations.
A ship leaves port at $10\ \text{km/h}$. Two hours later, another ship sets off in the same direction at $15\ \text{km/h}$. a) What distance has the first ship covered…
A ship leaves port at $10\ \text{km/h}$. Two hours later, another ship sets off in the same direction at $15\ \text{km/h}$.
- a) What distance has the first ship covered when the second ship sets off?
- b) Write the position equations for both ships (careful: the second one leaves $2\ \text{h}$ later).
- c) How long does it take for the second ship to catch up with the first ship, counting from its own departure time? At what distance from the port?
On an airport walkway moving forward at $0.5\ \text{m/s}$, a passenger walks at $1.5\ \text{m/s}$ relative to the walkway, in the same direction, as shown in the figure.…
On an airport walkway moving forward at $0.5\ \text{m/s}$, a passenger walks at $1.5\ \text{m/s}$ relative to the walkway, in the same direction, as shown in the figure.
- a) At what speed does the passenger move relative to the airport floor?
- b) The walkway is $60\ \text{m}$ long: how long does it take to walk along it?
- c) Another passenger walks on the floor alongside the walkway at $1.5\ \text{m/s}$. Who takes less time to cover the $60\ \text{m}$? What is the difference in seconds?
In a park, there is a straight path of $300\ \text{m}$ between two fountains. Delia leaves the first fountain at $3\ \text{m/s}$ and, at the same time, Eloy leaves the…
In a park, there is a straight path of $300\ \text{m}$ between two fountains. Delia leaves the first fountain at $3\ \text{m/s}$ and, at the same time, Eloy leaves the second at $2\ \text{m/s}$, each heading toward the other's fountain.
- a) Write the position equation for each person, taking the first fountain as the origin.
- b) At what time and at what position do they cross paths?
- c) How long after crossing paths does Delia reach the second fountain?
A car travels along a highway at $108\ \text{km/h}$ and a truck is $500\ \text{m}$ ahead, in the same direction, traveling at $72\ \text{km/h}$. a) Express both speeds…
A car travels along a highway at $108\ \text{km/h}$ and a truck is $500\ \text{m}$ ahead, in the same direction, traveling at $72\ \text{km/h}$.
- a) Express both speeds in $\text{m/s}$.
- b) Write down the position equations taking the initial position of the car as the origin.
- c) Calculate how long it takes for the car to catch up with the truck and what distance it has covered by then.