# Homework Help: Embarassing question- Displacement equation

1. Apr 18, 2010

### literacola

Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Im just trying to understand why the equation for displacement along a line is $$x= 1/2(v_{0}+v)t$$. If the other equation for displacement is $$v*t$$, where does the 1/2 come from?

2. Relevant equations
$$v*t$$
$$x= 1/2(v_{0}+v)t$$

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Apr 18, 2010

### AtticusFinch

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

Derive the formula you are asking about by using these other two kinematic equations

$$\Delta x = v_0t + \frac{1}{2}at^2$$

$$v = v_0 + at$$

3. Apr 18, 2010

### literacola

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

Where does the 1/2 come from in the first equation you've given??

4. Apr 18, 2010

### Staff: Mentor

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

From integration needed to calculate displacement in uniformly accelerated linear motion.

5. Apr 18, 2010

### bolbol2054

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

you must take in consideration difference between Average velocity and Instantaneous velocity

x = vt v is average velocity

x= 1/2* (V0 + V )t now v is velocity at time t

Last edited: Apr 18, 2010
6. Apr 18, 2010

### Matterwave

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

Perhaps it's easy to see that the two equations are valid for different situations. Let's just consider the situation of a constant velocity v.

You will notice that if I have a constant velocity v, then the v0 the second equation: .5(v0+v)t is simply v (since velocity is constant, the initial velocity is equal to the velocity always). Therefore the second equation just reduces to: .5(v+v)t=vt the first equation!

7. Apr 18, 2010

### AtticusFinch

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

Yeah, the equation x = vt is not accurate for an object with an acceleration. Perhaps that is why you are confused?

8. Apr 18, 2010

### AtticusFinch

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

$$a = \frac{dv}{dt}$$

$$a dt = dv$$

$$\int a dt = \int dv$$

$$at = v - v_0$$

$$at + v_0 = \frac{dx}{dt}$$

$$atdt + v_0dt = dx$$

$$\int atdt + \int v_0dt = \int dx$$

$$\Delta x = v_0t + \frac{1}{2}at^2$$

9. Jun 11, 2010

### zgozvrm

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

To simplify, the average of 2 speeds is 1/2 their sum!

10. Jun 11, 2010

### Jokerhelper

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

This is of course true only when dealing with a constant acceleration, or that at least isnt a function of time.

11. Jun 11, 2010

### zgozvrm

Re: Embarassing question-- Displacement equation

Yes, but so is the original question.