3.

0 Motion in Two Dimension

The equations derived in Chapter 2 for motion in one dimension with
constant acceleration can be applied separately to each of the
perpendicular component of two-dimensional motion.
If we let 𝑣𝑜 = 𝑣𝑥𝑜 + 𝑣𝑦𝑜 be the initial velocity, then for the 𝑥 and 𝑦
components of the position

….1

…..2
• Projectile motion
Kinematic equations for simple projectile motion
Because air resistance is neglected, we know that 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔 (as in one-
dimensional free fall) and that 𝑎𝑥 = 0. Furthermore, let us assume that at 𝑡 =
0, the projectile leaves the origin (𝑥0, 𝑦0) with speed 𝑣0, as shown in Figure
below. The vector 𝑣⃗0 makes an angle 𝜃0 with the horizontal.

The components of 𝑣⃗0 are 𝑣0𝑥 and 𝑣0𝑦.

Therefore, the initial 𝑥 and 𝑦 components of velocity 𝑣⃗0 are
𝑣0𝑥 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0
𝑣0𝑦 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0
Substituting 𝑎𝑥 = 0 and 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔 into equation ( 2) above we find that the x
component of the velocity is constant because no horizontal acceleration
exists:
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0x
The 𝑦 component of the velocity varies with time according to
𝑣𝑦 (𝑡) = 𝑣𝑦0 − 𝑔t
Note : 𝑣𝑥 does not depend on 𝑣𝑦 and 𝑣𝑦 does not depend on 𝑣𝑥: The
horizontal and vertical components of projectile motion are independent.

According to equation (1), the displacements 𝑥 and 𝑦 are given by

𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣𝑥0𝑡
𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣𝑦0𝑡 −
2
The notation 𝑥(𝑡) and 𝑦(𝑡) simply emphasizes that 𝑥 and 𝑦 are functions of
time.
The path of a projectile, showing velocity components at different times.
• Most common problems involving projectile motion