Physics for Engineers

Motion in Two Dimension

Position, Velocity, and Acceleration of Vector
Position by its position vector r, drawn from the origin of some coordinate system to the
location of the particle in the xy plane, as shown.

At time ti , the particle is at point A, described by position vector ��. At some later time tf, it is at
point B, described by position vector �� . The path followed by the particle from A to B is not
necessarily a straight line. As the particle moves from A to B in the time interval ∆� = �� − �� ,
its position vector changes from �� to �� . The displacement of the particle is the difference
between its final position and its initial position. We now define the displacement vector ∆� for
a particle such as the one in Figure above as being the difference between its final position vector
and its initial position vector:
Position: ∆� = �� − ��
∆�
Average velocity: ���� = ∆�

��
Instantaneous velocity: � = ��

Speed: � = �
∆� ��−��
Average acceleration: ���� = ∆�
=
��−��

Two-Dimension Motion with Constant Acceleration

The position vector for a particle moving in the xy plane can be written as,

� = �� + ��
and the velocity of the particle is,
 �� �� ��
�= = �+ � = �� � + �� �
�� �� ��

�� = ��� + �� � � + ��� + �� � � = ��� � + ��� � + �� � + �� � �

�� = �� + �� (1)

1 1
�� = �� + ��� � +�� �2 � + �� + ���� + �� �2 �
2 2
1
�� = �� � + �� � + ��� � + ��� � � + � � + �� � �2
2 �
�
�� = �� + �� � + ���
�

Law of Motion
Sir Isaac Newton, published these laws in 1687.
 Newton’s First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)
“An object in motion will remain in motion, and an object at rest will remain at
rest, unless acted upon by a force.”
- More mass means more inertia.
�1 �1
=
�2 �2
 Newton’s Second Law of Motion (Law of Acceleration)
“The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it
and inversely proportional to its mass”
�
� ∝
�

� = ma
Components:
�� = ��� �� = ��� �� = ���

Example: A jockey puck having a mass of 0.30 kg slide on the frictionless horizontal surface of
an ice rink. Two hockey sticks strike the puck simultaneously, exerting the forces on the puck
shown in the Figure. The force �1 has a magnitude of 5 N, and is directed at � = 20° below the x
axis. The force �2 has a magnitude of 8 N and its direction is ∅ = 60° above the x axis.
Determine both the magnitude and the direction of the puck’s acceleration.

Solution:
Fx = F1 cos θ + F2 cos ∅
Fy = F1 sin θ + F2 sin ∅

Fx F1 cos θ+ F2 cos ∅ (5N) cos −20° +(8N) cos (60°)

�� = �
= = 0.3 ��
= 28.9949 �/�2
�

Fy F1 sin θ+ F2 sin ∅ (5N) sin −20° +(8N) sin (60°)

�� = �
= = 0.3 ��
= 17.3937 �/�2
�

�= �� 2 + �� 2 = 28.9949 2 + 17.3937 2 = ��. ���� �/��

�� 17.3937
� = ���−1 ��
= ���−1 28.9949
= ��. ���°

 Newton’s Third Law of Motion

“For every action, there’s an equal but opposite reaction”
- Example is the weight and the normal force. A normal force is always
perpendicular to the surface where the object is on.
- Another example is firing a gun