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Question

Which of the following is an equation of motion?

I. u = v + at

II. 2as = v 2– u 2

The correct answer is

Only II

Motion Equations Analysis

Equations of motion are fundamental formulas used in physics to describe the movement of objects. These equations typically relate displacement, velocity (initial and final), acceleration, and time for objects moving under constant acceleration.

Statement I: u = v + at Analysis

Statement I is given as u = v + at. This equation can be rearranged to solve for the final velocity ($v$):

$$ u = v + at $$

Subtracting '$at$' from both sides gives:

$$ u - at = v $$

Or equivalently,

$$ v = u - at $$

This form is related to the standard first equation of motion, which is typically written as $v = u + at$. The equation $v = u - at$ correctly describes motion where the acceleration is constant and negative (i.e., deceleration). However, the way statement I is presented ($u = v + at$) is not the standard or most common representation used to define the relationship between initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration, and time. Questions often test the recognition of these standard forms.

Statement II: 2as = v^2 - u^2 Analysis

Statement II is given as 2as = v^2 - u^2. This equation relates final velocity ($v$), initial velocity ($u$), acceleration ($a$), and displacement ($s$). It can be rearranged to the more commonly recognized form:

$$ v^2 = u^2 + 2as $$

This is a standard and widely used kinematic equation derived for motion with constant acceleration. It is one of the core equations describing how velocity changes over distance in the absence of time.

Conclusion on Motion Equations

Comparing the two statements with the standard kinematic equations:

  • Statement II ($v^2 = u^2 + 2as$) is a correct and standard equation of motion.
  • Statement I ($u = v + at$), while algebraically related to a valid motion scenario ($v = u - at$), is not presented in the conventional format ($v = u + at$) and might be considered incorrect or non-standard in the context of identifying primary equations of motion.

Therefore, based on the typical conventions in physics education, only statement II is considered a standard equation of motion.

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Important Questions from Kinematic equations for uniformly accelerated motion

  1. A ball is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 40 m/s. The time taken by the ball to reach the maximum height would be approximately
  2. A ball thrown up vertically returns to the ground after 10 second. Find the velocity with which it was thrown up? (if g = 10 m/s2).
  3. If the distance travelled by a body in the $n^{th}$ second is given by $(7 + 5n)$ m, then find the initial velocity and acceleration of the body respectively.

  4. Which of the following is an equation of motion?

    I. u = v + at

    II. 2as = v 2– u 2

  5. A stone is dropped from a ballon going up with a uniform velocity of 5m/sec. If the ballon was 50 m high, then the stone was dropped, the height the ballon from ground when stone hits the ground will be:

    (g = 10 m/s 2)

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