Body under Constant Acceleration/Distance after Time
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Theorem
Let $B$ be a body under constant acceleration $\mathbf a$.
Then:
- $\mathbf s = \mathbf u t + \dfrac {\mathbf a t^2} 2$
where:
- $\mathbf s$ is the displacement of $B$ from its initial position at time $t$
- $\mathbf u$ is the velocity at time $t = 0$.
Proof
From Body under Constant Acceleration: Velocity after Time:
- $\mathbf v = \mathbf u + \mathbf a t$
By definition of velocity, this can be expressed as:
- $\dfrac {\d \mathbf s} {\d t} = \mathbf u + \mathbf a t$
where both $\mathbf u$ and $\mathbf a$ are constant.
By Solution to Linear First Order Ordinary Differential Equation:
- $\mathbf s = \mathbf c + \mathbf u t + \dfrac {\mathbf a t^2} 2$
where $\mathbf c$ is a constant vector.
We are (implicitly) given the initial condition:
- $\bigvalueat {\mathbf s} {t \mathop = 0} = \mathbf 0$
from which it follows immediately that:
- $\mathbf s = \mathbf u t + \dfrac {\mathbf a t^2} 2$
$\blacksquare$
Also presented as
Some sources present Body under Constant Acceleration: Distance after Time in the form:
- $\mathbf s = \mathbf s_0 + \mathbf v_0 t + \dfrac {\mathbf a t^2} 2$
where:
- $\mathbf s_0$ is the displacement of $B$ at time $t = 0$
- $\mathbf v_0$ is the velocity of $B$ at time $t = 0$.
Sources
- 1914: G.W. Caunt: Introduction to Infinitesimal Calculus ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$: Functions and their Graphs: $1$. Constants and Variables
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): equation of motion