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Suppose we have a material point. If it is moving from position $X_0$ with initial velocity $V_0$ and constant acceleration $A$, then from elementary physics course I remember that its movement is described by the equation

$$X(t) = X_0 + V_0t + At^2/2.$$

Now, my question is, what is the equation of the movement of the material point if its acceleration is an arbitrary function of $t$: $A(t)$. Is it simply:

$$X(t) = X_0 + V_0t + A(t)t^2/2,$$

or is it more complicated than that? From the looks of $At^2/2$ I have a suspicion that integrals may be involved.

Armen Tsirunyan
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1 Answers1

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It's not as simple as that. You'll have to obtain velocity and displacement by integrating your given acceleration and using correct boundary conditions.

For example:

Suppose the acceleration is given by A(t) = 2t [m/s²] and the problem states that the particle starts its movement from rest and from the origin of your coordinate system, so that X(t=0)=0 and V(t=0)=0.

The velocity of that particle would be an integral in time of the acceleration, that is V(t) = t² + C [m/s], where C is a constant of integration.

Now, you know that V(0) = 0, so C = 0 is the only possible value that satisfies your movement.

Integrating velocity in time you´ll obtain the displacement, that is

X(t) = t³/3 + B [m], where, again, B is a constant of integration. Since X(0)=0 , B = 0.

Sometimes boundary conditions are imbued within text, so you gotta pay attention to some details, but the method of obtaining the equation of movement is the same for every problem.

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Friquinho
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