12.1 One-dimensional kinematics
12.1.1 Free Fall
12.1.2 Problem solving steps
As with any physics problem, you should always start by drawing a picture. For kinematics problems, we tend to have lots of variables to keep track of— it is very helpful to get organized. After you have drawn your picture, make a table of what you know and what you don’t know. Then, you can look at the relationships between these variables to see what kinematics equations you need to use to solve the problem.
To summarize:
- Draw a picture.
- Organize what you know and what you don’t know.
- Use the kinematic equations to identify connections between knowns and unknowns.
- Solve with appropriate algebraic steps.
Example
Note: in the previous example, the velocity should be negative. This indicates the direction of motion.