Constant Acceleration – Kinematic Equations
Name: ___________________________________________________ Period: _______ Date: ______________________
Complete the following problems. Show all work!
1. The flight speed of a small bottle rocket can vary greatly, depending on how well its powder burns. Suppose a
rocket is launched from rest so that it travels 12.4 m upward in 2.0 s. What is the rocket’s net acceleration?
2. A cross-country skier with an initial forward velocity of +4.42 m/s accelerates uniformly at −0.75 m/s2.
a. How long does it take the skier to come to a stop?
b. What is the skier’s displacement in this time interval?
3. With a time of 6.92 s, Irina Privalova of Russia holds the women’s record for running 60 m. Suppose she ran this
distance with a constant acceleration, so that she crossed the finish line with a speed of 17.34 m/s. Assuming
she started at rest, what was the magnitude of Privalova’s average acceleration.
4. A freight train traveling with a velocity of −4.0 m/s begins backing into a train yard. If the train’s average
acceleration is −0.27 m/s2, what is the train’s velocity after 17 s?
5. A bicyclist accelerates –0.87 m/s2 during a 3.8 s interval. If the final velocity of the bike is 5.2 m/s what is the
initial velocity of the bicyclist and bicycle?
6. A dump truck filled with sand moves 1.8 km/h when it begins to accelerate uniformly at a constant rate. After
traveling 4.0 × 102 m, the truck’s speed is 24.0 km/h. What is the magnitude of the truck’s acceleration in m/s2?
7. Most hummingbirds can fly with speeds of nearly 50.0 km/h. Suppose a hummingbird flying with a velocity of
50.0 km/h in the forward direction accelerates uniformly at -9.20 m/s2 until it comes to a hovering stop. What is
the hummingbird’s displacement?
8. A thoroughbred race horse accelerates uniformly at 7.56 m/s2, reaching its final speed after running 19.0 m. If
the horse starts at rest, what is its final speed?
9. A hippopotamus can run up to 8.33 m/s. Suppose a hippopotamus uniformly accelerates at 0.678 m/s2 until it
reaches a top speed of 8.33 m/s. If the hippopotamus has run 46.3 m, what is its initial speed?
Position vs. Time Graphs
Explain the object’s motion based on the position vs. time graph. If more than one type of motion exists in a given
graph, identify where the each type of motion changes and explain each section. Include the direction and whether or
not the object is speeding up or slowing down.
Example
The object is slowing down while moving to the right and then the
object speeds up while moving to the right.
Position vs. Time
Change
occurs
here
10000
Position (m)
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0
10
20
30
40
Time (s)
10.
12.
Position vs. Time
Position vs. Time
Time (s)
5
0
8000
10
0
6000
-5
4000
2000
0
0
10
20
30
Position (m)
Position (m)
10000
-10
-15
-20
Time (s)
-25
11.
Position vs. Time
13.
Position vs. Time
25
3
2
Position (m)
Position (m)
20
15
10
5
1
0
-1
-2
0
-3
0
5
Time (s)
10
0
10
20
Time (s)
30
40