One-Dimensional Kinematics[edit]
Many kinematics problems are given to students in high school and college physics courses which involve the five following measurable quantities of a body in motion:
- - acceleration (most often assumed to be constant)
- - time elapsed
- - final velocity (this variable may also be represented by just )
- - initial velocity (this variable may also be represented by or )
- - distance traveled (this variable may also be represented by or )
If one knows any three of the above quantities for a given situation, then one may solve for any of the other two. The equations below demonstrate this property.
Solving for (constant) acceleration[edit]
Time is unknown[edit]
Final velocity is unknown[edit]
Initial velocity is unknown[edit]
Distance is unknown[edit]
Solving for time[edit]
Acceleration is unknown (but constant)[edit]
Final velocity is unknown[edit]
Initial velocity is unknown[edit]
Distance is unknown[edit]
Solving for final velocity[edit]
Acceleration is unknown (but constant)[edit]
Time is unknown[edit]
Initial velocity is unknown[edit]
Distance is unknown[edit]
Solving for initial velocity[edit]
Acceleration is unknown (but constant)[edit]
Time is unknown[edit]
Final velocity is unknown[edit]
Distance is unknown[edit]
Solving for distance[edit]
Acceleration is unknown (but constant)[edit]
Time is unknown[edit]
Final velocity is unknown[edit]
Initial velocity is unknown[edit]
Two-dimensional and vector kinematics[edit]