General Uses

Ê These are used to describe the

relationships between the following
kinematic quantities:
ż Distance/displacement
ż Speed/velocity
ż Time
ż Acceleration
Ê When there is an unknown, it can be
solved for when the values of the other
quantities are given
The Four Basic Kinematic
Equations are:

Ê V = V0 + a ǻt

Ê V2 = V02 + 2aǻs

Ê S = V0ǻt + 0.5 a ǻt2

Ê S = (V0 + V)/2 × t
V = V0 + a ǻt

E.g. A car starts at rest and accelerates

uniformly at 2 m/s2 for 5 seconds and
stops accelerating from here on.
Calculate its velocity after t = 5 seconds.

Using V = V0 + a ǻt, we sub in values 0 for

V0, 2 for a and 5 for t. Solving for V, we
get:
V = 10 m/s
V2 = V02 + 2aǻs

E.g. A train accelerates from 10 m/s to 40

m/s at an acceleration of 1m/s 2. what
distance does it cover during this time.

Using V2 = V02 + 2aǻs, we sub in values

40 for V, 10 for V0 and 1 for a. Re-
arranging to solve for s, we get:

S = 750 m
S = V0ǻt + 0.5 a ǻt2

E.g. A body starts from rest at a uniform

acceleration of 3 m/s2. how long does it
take to cover a distance of 100m.

Using S = V0ǻt + 0.5 a ǻt2, we sub in values 3

for a, 0 for V0 and 100 for s. Re-arranging
the equation and solving for t (using the
quadratic formula), we get:
t = 8.51 or -8.51 seconds. As time cannot be
negative, t = 8.51 seconds.
S = (V0 + V)/2 × t

A car decelerates from 20 m/s to 10 m/s

over a period of 10 seconds. How far
does it travel during this time period.

Using S = (V0 + V)/2 × t, we sub in values

20 for V0, 10 for V and 10 for t. Solving
for s, we get:
S = 150m
'ote:
Ê All units must be converted such that
they are uniform for different variable
throughout the calculations.

Ê Kinematic quantities that are scalar

CA'' T be negative, hence any such
alternate solutions obtained must be
disregarded.
Standard units for the various
quantities are as follows:
Ê Speed ± metres/second

Ê Acceleration ± metres/second squared

Ê Distance ± metres

Ê Time - seconds