Equations of kinematics

Let d be the symbol for displacement, t be the symbol for time, v be the symbol for velocity,

and a be the symbol for acceleration. The symbol D (the Greek capital letter, Delta)

represents the change in a quantity. A change is always defined as the final value minus the

initial value. Then

a.

v = Dd / Dt : velocity is the change is displacement divided by a change

in time.

b. a = Dv / Dt: acceleration is the change in velocity divided by a change

in time.

c. If the velocity is constant, then the first equation can be manipulated to read

d = d0 +

v t where d is the final displacement, d0 is the initial position of the

object at time t = 0, t is the elapsed time and v is the velocity.

d. If acceleration is constant, then

d= d0 + v0t + 1/2at2 where d is the final displacement, d0 and v0 are the initial position

and velocity of the object at time t = 0, t is the elapsed time and a

is the acceleration.

e. For constant acceleration and an object starting from rest, the previous equation can be

simplified to

d = d0 + 1/2at2

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