8.09. DERIVATION OF EQUATIONS FOR UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION BY CALCULUS METHOD

(i) Velocity-Time Equation(v = u + at)
Consider an object moving along a straight line with uniform acceleration a'. Let u be the initial velocity i.e., velocity at t = 0. Let v be the final velocity i.e., velocity at time t. If dv is the infinitesimally small change in velocity in infinitesimally small time-interval dt, then
acceleration, a = dv/dt
or dv = a dt
Let us integrate it within the conditions of motion (that is, when 't' = 0, 'v' = u and when 't' = t, 'v' = v).
dv = a dt
| v
| = a | t |
v - u = a(t-0)
v = u + (at)
Derivation of v = v 0 + (at)
Here v 0 is the velocity at 't' = 0.
v v 0 dv = a dt
v - v 0 = at or v = v 0 + (at)
(ii) Displacement-Time Equation (S = (ut) + [(1/2)(at 2 )] )
Consider an object moving along a straight line with uniform acceleration 'a'. Let u be the initial velocity of the object. Let S be the displacement of the object in time t. Let, at an instant, dS be the infinitesimally small displacement of the object in infinitesimally small time-interval dt. The instantaneous velocity v is given by
v = dS/dt or dS = v dt
But v = u + (at)
∴ dS = [u + (at)] dt
Let us integrate it within the conditions of motion (that is, when t=0, S=0 and when 't' = t, 'S' = S).
dS = [u + (at)]dt
| S | = u dt + a t dt
S - 0 = u
| t | + a | t 2 /2 |
S = [u(t-0)] + [(1/2)a(t 2 - 0)]
S = (ut) + [(1/2)at 2 ]
Derivation of Position-Time Equation (x = x 0 + (v 0 t) + [(1/2)at 2 ])
With reference to the origin of position-axis, let x 0 be the displacement at 't' = 0. Let x be the displacement at time t. Let v 0 be the velocity at 't' = 0.
The instantaneous velocity of the object is given by
v = dx/dt or dx = v dt
or dx = v 0 dt + (at) dt [ ∵ v = v 0 + (at)]
Integrating within conditions of motion,
x x 0 dx = v 0 dt + (at) dt
| x | x x 0 = v 0 | t | + a | t 2 /2 |
x - x 0 = v 0 (t-0) + [(1/2)a( t 2 - 0)]
or x = x 0 + (v 0 t) + [(1/2)at 2 ]
(iii) Velocity-Displacement Equation (v 2 - u 2 = 2aS)
Consider an object moving along a straight line with uniform acceleration 'a'.
Then a = dv/dt
or a = (dv/dS) . (dS/dt) (Chain rule)
or a = v dv/dS
or v dv = a dS
Let u be the velocity of the object at start, that is, at S = 0. Let v be the velocity at a distance S from the starting point.
Integrating within the conditions of motion, we get
v dv = a dS
| v 2 /2 | = a | S |
or (v 2 /2) - (u 2 /2) = a(S-0)
or v 2 - u 2 = 2aS
Derivation of v 2 - v 0 2 = 2a(x - x 0 )
a = dv/dt = (dv/dx) . (dx/dt)
a = v(dv/dx) or v dv = a dx
Integrating within the conditions of motion,
v v 0 v dv = x x 0 a dx
| v 2 /2 | v v 0 = a | x | x x 0
v 2 - v 0 2 = 2a (x - x 0 )
(iv) Equation for displacement in nth second of motion [S nth = u + [(a/2)(2n-1)] ]
We know that v = dS/dt or dS = v dt
or dS = [u + (at)] dt [ ∵ v = u + (at)]
or dS = u dt + (at) dt
When t = n-1, then S = S n-1
When t = n, then S = S n
Integrating within the conditions of motion,

S n S n-1 dS = n n-1 u dt + n n-1 (at) dt

| S | S n S n-1 = u | t | n n-1 + a | t 2 /2 | n n-1

or S n - S n-1 = u[n-(n-1)] + (a/2)[n 2 - (n-1) 2 ]
or S nth = u + [(a/2)(2n-1)]
S nth represents displacement of the object in nth second of motion.
Derivation of x nth = v 0 + [(a/2)( 2n-1)]
v = dx/dt or dx = v dt
or dx = [v 0 + (at)] dt
or dx = v 0 dt + (at) dt
Integrating within the conditions of motion,

x n x n-1 dx = n n-1 v 0 dt + n n-1 (at) dt

| x | x n x n-1 = v 0 | t | n n-1 + a | t 2 /2 | n n-1

or x n - x n-1 = v 0 [n - (n-1)] + {(a/2)[n 2 - (n-1) 2 ]}
or x nth = v 0 + [(a/2)(2n-1)]

If v and v' are the velocities at times t and t' respectively, then v' = v + a(t' - t).
Note that by a clever use of chain rule, we have eliminated 't'.
If x and x' are the positions of the particle at times t and t' respectively, then v' 2 - v 2 = 2a(x' - x) where v and v' are the velocities of the particle at times t and t' respectively.

The kinematic equations of motion in vector form are:

(i)
v = u + a t
(ii) S = u t + [(1/2)( a t 2 )]
(iii)
S nth = u + [( a /2)(2n-1)]
(iv)
( v . v ) - ( u . u ) = 2 a . S
While the first three equations are vector equations, the fourth equation is a scalar equation.
If acceleration and velocity are not collinear, then vector equations are useful.