Core3 min

Use calculus in kinematics

Position, velocity or acceleration is given as a function of time.

01

Press these keys

nDeriv(fnInt(zero

Step 1 of 3. Press nDeriv(.

02

Walkthrough

  1. 1
    Connect quantities

    v=s′, a=v′; displacement is ∫v dt.

  2. 2
    Find direction changes

    Solve v(t)=0 inside the interval.

  3. 3
    Distance

    Split at direction changes and add |∫v dt| over each interval.

03

Worked example

v(t)=t−2 for 0≤t≤5. Find displacement and distance.

AnswerDisplacement 2.5 units; distance 6.5 units.