Derivation of Equation of Motion - 3 Equations of Motion

Derivation of Equation of Motion - 3 Equations of Motion

Vishal kumarUpdated on 02 Jul 2025, 04:26 PM IST

Derivation of Equation of Motion - 3 equations of motion relate the displacement of an associated object with its rate, acceleration, and time. The motion of the associated object will follow many various ways. Here we are going to specialize in motion during a line (one dimension). we will so simply use positive and negative magnitudes of the displacement, rate, and acceleration, wherever negative values are within the other way to positive quantities.
If there's no acceleration, we have the acquainted formula
s=vt

Derivation of Equation of Motion - 3 Equations of Motion
derivation of equation of motion

where s is the displacement, v is the (constant) speed, and t is the time over which the motion occurred. This is simply a special case (a=0) of a lot of general derivation of equations of motion for constant acceleration below.

NCERT Physics Notes :

For a continuing acceleration a, initial speed u and an initial position of zero:

Variable
Equation
Velocityv=u+at
Displacement(positive acceleration)s = s0 + ut + ½at2
Displacement(negative acceleration)s = s0 + ut - ½at2

The relation between speed and time could be a STRAIGHT one throughout the uniformly accelerated, straight-line motion. The longer the acceleration, the larger the modification in speed. change in speed is directly proportional to time once acceleration is constant. If speed is increased by a particular quantity during a certain time, it ought to increase by double that quantity in double the time. If an associate degree object already started with a particular speed, then its new speed would be the previous speed and this transformation. You must be compelled to be able to see the equation in your mind already. This is the best of the 3 equations to the derivation of equations of motion victimization pure mathematics. begin from the definition of acceleration.

Also read -

Derivation of First Equations of Motion:

$$
a=\Delta v / \Delta t
$$


Expand $\Delta v$ to $v-u$ and condense $\Delta t$ to $t$.

$$
a=(v-u) / t
$$
Then solve for $v$ as a function of $t$.

$$
\mathrm{v}=\mathrm{u}+\mathrm{at}
$$

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: How do the equations of motion change if the initial velocity is zero?
A:
If the initial velocity (u) is zero, the equations of motion simplify to:
Q: Why is it important to use consistent units when applying the equations of motion?
A:
Using consistent units is crucial when applying the equations of motion to ensure accurate results. Each term in the equations must have the same units for the mathematical operations to be valid. For example, in v = u + at, velocity (v and u) must be in m/s, acceleration (a) in m/s², and time (t) in seconds. Mixing units (like using km/h for velocity and m/s² for acceleration) will lead to incorrect calculations.
Q: How can we interpret the equation v = u + at in terms of a velocity-time graph?
A:
In a velocity-time graph, the equation v = u + at represents a straight line. The initial velocity (u) is the y-intercept of this line, while the acceleration (a) is the slope of the line. The final velocity (v) at any time (t) can be read directly from the graph. This linear relationship on the v-t graph is a visual representation of constant acceleration.
Q: Can the equations of motion be used for non-uniform acceleration?
A:
The standard equations of motion (v = u + at, s = ut + (1/2)at², v² = u² + 2as) are derived assuming constant acceleration. They cannot be directly applied to situations with non-uniform acceleration. For non-uniform acceleration, calculus-based methods or numerical approximations are typically used to analyze the motion.
Q: How can the equations of motion be used to solve problems involving free fall?
A:
The equations of motion can be directly applied to free fall problems by using the acceleration due to gravity (g ≈ 9.8 m/s²) as the constant acceleration. Usually, we consider the downward direction as positive. For example, for an object dropped from rest:

Derivation of Second Equations of Motion:

Start with the definition of average velocity.

$$
v=\Delta s / \Delta t
$$


Expand $\Delta s$ to $s-s_0$ and condense $\Delta t$ to $t$.

$$
v=\left(s-s_0\right) / t
$$
Solve for the position.

$$
\begin{aligned}
& s=s_0+v t \ldots[a] \\
& v=1 / 2(v+u) \ldots \ldots[4]
\end{aligned}
$$
To continue, we'd like to resort to a touch trick referred to as the mean speed theorem or the Merton rule. I prefer the latter since the rule is applied to any amount that changes at an even rate — not simply speed. The Merton rule was 1st revealed in 1335 at Merton faculty, Oxford by land thinker, a man of science, logician, and calculator William Heytesbury (1313–1372). Once the speed of modification of an amount is constant, its average price is halfway between its final and initial values.

Substitute the first equations of motion [1] into equation [4] and simplify with the intent of eliminating v.

$$
\begin{aligned}
& v=1 / 2[(u+a t)+u] \text { Now substitute }[b] \text { into }[a] \text { to eliminate } v \\
& v=1 / 2(2 u+a t) \\
& v=u+1 / 2 a t \ldots[b]
\end{aligned}
$$


And finally, solve for s as a function of t .

$$
s=s_0+u t+1 / 2 a t^2 \ldots \ldots . .[2]
$$
This is the second equation of motion. It's written sort of a polynomial —

a relentless term $\left(\mathrm{s}_0\right)$, followed by a primary order term (ut ), followed by a second-order term ( $1 / 2 \mathrm{at}^2$ ).

The image $s_0$ is commonly thought of because of the initial position. The image $s$ is that the position it slows to later. you'll decide the ultimate position if you need to. The amendment in position ( $\Delta s$ ) is termed the displacement or distance (depending on circumstances) and a few individuals like writing the second equations of motion or derivation of equations of motion like this.

$$
\Delta s=u t+1 / 2 a t^2
$$

Derivation of Third Equations of Motion:

The first 2 equations of the motion formula each describe one kinematic variable as an operation of your time. In essence…

1. Speed is directly proportional to time once acceleration is constant $(v \propto t)$.
2. Displacement is proportional to time square once acceleration is constant $\left(\Delta s \propto t^2\right)$.

3. Displacement is proportional to speed square once acceleration is constant ( $\Delta s \propto v^2$ ). This statement is especially relevant to driving safety. Once you double the speed of an automobile, it takes fourfold a lot of distance to prevent it. Triple the speed and you may want ninefold a lot of distance. This is often an honest rule of thumb to recollect. The abstract introduction is finished.Time to derive the formula derivation of equations of motion. method 1 Combine the primary 2 equations along in a very manner that may eliminate time as a variable. $v=v_0+$ at..... [1]

solve it for time…

$\mathrm{t}=\left(\mathrm{v}-\mathrm{v}_0\right) /$ aand then substitute it into the second equations of motion formula...

$$
s=s_0+v_0 t+1 / 2 a t^2
$$
Substitute the value of $t$ in equation [2] and solving we get

$$
\begin{aligned}
& 2 a\left(s-s_0\right)=v^2-v_0^2 \\
& v^2=v_0^2+2 a\left(s-s_0\right)
\end{aligned}
$$
Also, check-

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What assumptions are made in deriving the equations of motion?
A:
The key assumptions in deriving the equations of motion are:
Q: What are the three equations of motion and why are they important?
A:
The three equations of motion are:
Q: How are the equations of motion derived?
A:
The equations of motion are derived from the definitions of velocity and acceleration, assuming constant acceleration. Starting with the definition of acceleration (a = dv/dt), we integrate to get v = u + at. Then, using the definition of velocity (v = ds/dt), we integrate again to get s = ut + (1/2)at². The third equation is derived by eliminating time from the first two equations.
Q: How does the equation v = u + at relate to the concept of average velocity?
A:
The equation v = u + at is related to average velocity in that it represents a special case where acceleration is constant. In this case, the average velocity (v_avg) is simply the arithmetic mean of the initial and final velocities: v_avg = (u + v)/2. This relationship can be derived from v = u + at by substituting v and solving for the average velocity.
Q: Why do we need three equations of motion? Isn't one enough?
A:
We need three equations of motion because different problems provide different known variables. Each equation is useful for specific scenarios:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can the equations of motion be applied to objects moving with non-zero initial velocity in free fall?
A:
Yes, the equations of motion can be applied to objects with non-zero initial velocity in free fall. We use:
Q: How do the equations of motion relate to the concept of momentum and impulse?
A:
While the equations of motion don't directly involve momentum, they are closely related. The equation v = u + at can be rewritten as m(v - u) = mat, where m is mass. The left side represents change in momentum, and the right side represents impulse (force × time). This shows that the equations of motion are consistent with the impulse-momentum theorem, linking kinematics (motion) to dynamics (forces and momentum).
Q: How can the equations of motion be used to analyze the motion of a projectile, considering both horizontal and vertical components?
A:
For projectile motion, we apply the equations of motion separately to the horizontal and vertical components:
Q: How does the equation s = ut + (1/2)at² represent the displacement graphically?
A:
The equation s = ut + (1/2)at² represents a parabola when graphed with displacement (s) on the y-axis and time (t) on the x-axis. The ut term represents the initial linear component of the motion, while the (1/2)at² term adds the curvature due to acceleration. For constant positive acceleration, the parabola opens upward; for constant negative acceleration, it opens downward.
Q: How do the equations of motion change when considering motion on an inclined plane?
A:
When considering motion on an inclined plane, the equations of motion remain the same in form, but the acceleration used is the component of gravity parallel to the incline. If θ is the angle of inclination:
Q: What is the relationship between the three equations of motion and the concept of average acceleration?
A:
The three equations of motion are derived assuming constant acceleration, which means the average acceleration is equal to the instantaneous acceleration at all times. The equation a = (v - u)/t, which defines average acceleration, is essentially a rearrangement of v = u + at. This relationship highlights that for constant acceleration, the change in velocity is directly proportional to the time elapsed.
Q: How can the equations of motion be used to analyze the motion of an object thrown vertically upward?
A:
For an object thrown vertically upward, we can use the equations of motion with a negative acceleration (due to gravity pulling downward). If we choose upward as positive:
Q: What is the physical interpretation of the area under a velocity-time graph, and how does it relate to the equations of motion?
A:
The area under a velocity-time graph represents the displacement of the object. This concept is directly related to the equation s = ut + (1/2)at². For constant acceleration, the v-t graph is a straight line, and the area under this line is a trapezoid. The area of this trapezoid gives the displacement, which is exactly what the equation s = ut + (1/2)at² calculates.
Q: Can the equations of motion be used to predict the time and position where two moving objects will meet?
A:
Yes, the equations of motion can be used to predict when and where two moving objects will meet. This typically involves setting up equations for each object's motion and then solving them simultaneously. For example, if two cars are moving towards each other, we can use s = ut + (1/2)at² for each car and set the total distance equal to the sum of their displacements to find the meeting time and position.
Q: How do the equations of motion relate to the concept of instantaneous velocity?
A:
The equations of motion deal with average velocities over time intervals, but they can approximate instantaneous velocity in the limit of small time intervals. The equation v = u + at gives the instantaneous velocity at time t, assuming constant acceleration. In calculus terms, this equation is equivalent to integrating the instantaneous acceleration over time.