How can the first order kinematic (SUVAT) equations be derived?

We start with the following two observations about an object undergoing constant acceleration. First, its acceleration is equal to the change in its velocity over time, hence,

a=(v-u)/t.

Rearranging gives the first SUVAT equation,

v=u+at.

Secondly, we observe that the average velocity of the object is equal to the distance it travels over time. The average velocity of an object undergoing constant acceleration is the average of its initial and final velocities, hence,

(u+v)/2=s/t.

Substituting the value of v in the first SUVAT equation, we have,

(2u+at)/2=s/t.

Rearranging, we have the second SUVAT equation,

s=ut+(at^2)/2.

To derive the third equation, the original equations are rearranged to give,

v-u=at

and

v+u=2s/t.

These equations can be multiplied to give,

(v+u)(v-u)=2as.

Multiplying out the brackets and rearranging gives the third SUVAT equation,

v^2=u^2+2as.

PT

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A car undergoes uniform acceleration from a starting velocity of 10ms^-1 to 20ms^-1 in 10s. Assuming the car's mass is 2000kg, calculate the net force in the direction of the acceleration.


If you have 1.33g of oxygen (Mr = 32) in a container of volume 1000cm^3 at atmospheric pressure (101.3*10^3 Pa), what is the temperature of the gas in Celsius? R=8.314


Explain why a jet fighter pilot experiences "weightlessness" when at the top of a loop-the-loop manoeuvre.


Discuss how the graph of orbital velocities in rotational galaxies against distance from the galactic centre implies the existence of dark matter.