1.3 Kinematic Equations

The Big 3

The Big 3 are a set of 3 equations in Kinematics that can be derived using calculus from the definitions of displacement, velocity, and acceleration. These equations have parameters such as only being useful in 1-dimension and having a constant acceleration as a requirement for any of these equations to work. These equations are often the basis of all the Kinematics problems that you will have to solve in AP Physics 1. The Big 3 equations include:

Velocity Update Equation

v=v_o+at

Position Update Equation

x=x_o+v_ot+\frac{1}{2}at^2

Time Independent Equation

v_2=v_o^2+2a(x-x_o)

Where

${v}$ is final velocity
${v_o}$ is initial velocity
${a}$ is acceleration
${t}$ is the time interval
${x}$ is the final position
${x_o}$ is the initial position

MCQ Reading Checkpoint

A person walks from point A to B over a known time interval. On this journey, the person accelerates at a known rate. To find the person’s initial velocity, you would likely use the equation:

Choose the best option:

The Big 3

In this unit

Continue the full lesson in Stellar