MOTION IN 2D

Intended Learning Outcomes – after this lecture you will learn:

1. to predict the trajectory of projectile motion
2. displacement, velocity and acceleration in vector notation
3. circular motion and centripetal acceleration
4. relative velocity and the concept of frame of reference

Recall from high school: rectilinear motion with uniform acceleration a

𝑣𝑣 = 𝑣𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
1
𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥0 = 𝑣𝑣0 𝑡𝑡 + 2𝑎𝑎𝑡𝑡 2
𝑣𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑣02 + 2𝑎𝑎(𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥0 )

Projectile
Principle: x and y motions are independent

Red and yellow balls always at the same height

A typical projectile: at the top, 0 = 𝑣𝑣𝑦𝑦 = 𝑣𝑣0 sin 𝛼𝛼0 − 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 y motion with
⇒ 𝑇𝑇 = 𝑣𝑣0 sin 𝛼𝛼0 /𝑔𝑔 uniform
downward
acceleration g,
max. height
= 𝑣𝑣0 sin 𝛼𝛼0 𝑇𝑇
1
− 2𝑔𝑔𝑇𝑇 2
𝑣𝑣02 sin2 𝛼𝛼0
=
2𝑔𝑔

x motion, no acceleration, range = 𝑣𝑣0 cos 𝛼𝛼0 (2𝑇𝑇) = 2𝑣𝑣02 sin 𝛼𝛼0 cos 𝛼𝛼0 /𝑔𝑔

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 1

 1
Trajectory: 𝑥𝑥(𝑡𝑡) = 𝑣𝑣0 cos 𝛼𝛼0 𝑡𝑡, 𝑦𝑦(𝑡𝑡) = 𝑣𝑣0 sin 𝛼𝛼0 𝑡𝑡 − 2 𝑔𝑔𝑡𝑡 2
𝑔𝑔
Eliminate t ⟹ 𝑦𝑦 = (tan 𝛼𝛼0 )𝑥𝑥 − 2𝑣𝑣2 cos2 𝛼𝛼 𝑥𝑥 2
0 0
2
i.e. 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 − 𝑐𝑐𝑥𝑥 a parabola 拋物線

Demonstration: a ball fired at the same instant when the monkey is dropped
Ball always hit the monkey, AMAZING!!
See Example 3.10 for a proof.

Question:
When the ball is at its highest point P, will
the monkey at

(i) point A (higher than P),

(ii) point B (at the same height as
P), or
(iii) C (lower than P)?

Displacement and velocity vectors

Distance and speed – scalars
Displacement and velocity – vectors

�⃗ 𝑑𝑑𝒓𝒓
Δ𝒓𝒓 �⃗
�𝒗𝒗⃗ = lim =
Δ𝑡𝑡→0 Δ𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Note:

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 2

Acceleration vector

�⃗ 𝑑𝑑𝒗𝒗
Δ𝒗𝒗 �⃗
�𝒂𝒂⃗ = lim =
Δ𝑡𝑡→0 Δ𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Resolve into parallel (or tangential) 𝑎𝑎∥ , and perpendicular (or radial) 𝑎𝑎⊥ components

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 3

Special case: uniform circular motion

Speed (NOT velocity) constant

⇒ 𝑎𝑎∥ = 0

�⃗ along radial direction (inward / outward)

⇒ 𝒂𝒂

called centripetal acceleration

Δ𝑠𝑠 |Δ𝐯𝐯�⃗|
Δϕ = =
𝑅𝑅 𝑣𝑣
|Δ𝐯𝐯�⃗| 𝑣𝑣 Δ𝑠𝑠
𝑎𝑎rad = =
Δ𝑡𝑡 𝑅𝑅 Δ𝑡𝑡
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 𝑣𝑣
𝑣𝑣 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
∴ 𝑎𝑎rad =
𝑅𝑅

same Δ𝜙𝜙 ∴ 𝐯𝐯�⃗1 and 𝐯𝐯�⃗2

are ⊥ to OP1 and OP2

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 4

What if 𝑣𝑣 not constant? Non-uniform circular motion
𝑣𝑣 2 �⃗|
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑|𝒗𝒗
𝑎𝑎⊥ = , 𝑎𝑎∥ = =
𝑅𝑅 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Relative velocity – concerning more than one observer

An observer making observation/measurement forms a reference frame
e.g.
Reference Frame A Reference Frame B
1st observer A, 2nd observer B,
standing still on the sitting still inside
platform the train

𝑟𝑟⃗𝑃𝑃/𝐴𝐴 = 𝑟𝑟⃗𝐵𝐵/𝐴𝐴 + 𝑟𝑟⃗𝑃𝑃/𝐵𝐵

⇒ 𝑣𝑣⃗𝑃𝑃/𝐴𝐴 = 𝑣𝑣⃗𝐵𝐵/𝐴𝐴 + 𝑣𝑣⃗𝑃𝑃/𝐵𝐵

velocity of P
velocity of P
measured in velocity of measured in
frame A frame B frame B
measured in

Exercise: work out Examples 3.14 and 3.15

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 5

Clicker Questions
Q2.3
This is the x-t graph of
the motion of a particle.
Of the four points P, Q, R,
and S, the acceleration ax
is greatest (most positive)
at

A. point P. B. point Q. C. point R. D. point S.

E. not enough information in the graph to decide

Q3.1

A bicyclist starts at point P and travels around a triangular path that

takes her through points Q and R before returning to point P. What is
the magnitude of her net displacement for the entire round trip?

P
A. 100 m
B. 200 m
500 m
C. 600 m
400 m D. 1200 m
E. zero

Q R
300 m

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 6

 Q3.3

The motion diagram shows an object moving along a curved path at constant
speed. At which of the points A, C, and E does the object have zero
acceleration?

A. point A only
B. point C only
C. point E only
D. points A and C only
E. points A, C, and E

Q3.10
A projectile is launched at a 30° angle above the horizontal. Ignore air resistance.
The projectile’s acceleration is greatest

A. at a point between the launch point and the high point of the trajectory.
B. at the high point of the trajectory.
C. at a point between the high point of the trajectory and where it hits the ground.
D. misleading question—the acceleration is the same (but nonzero) at all points
along the trajectory
E. misleading question—the acceleration is zero at all points along the trajectory

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 7

 Q3.6

A pendulum swings back and forth, reaching a maximum angle of 45° from the vertical.
Which arrow shows the direction of the pendulum bob’s acceleration at P (the far left
point of the motion)?

A. #1 (up and to the left)

B. #2 (up and to the right)
C. #3 (down and to the right)
#1 45° 45°
D. #4 (straight down) #2
P R
E. #5 (down and to the left)

#5 #3

Q
#4

Q3.11
You drive a race car around a circular track of radius 100 m at a constant speed of
100 km/h. If you then drive the same car around a different circular track of radius
200 m at a constant speed of 200 km/h, your acceleration will be

A. 8 times greater.
B. 4 times greater.
C. twice as great.
D. the same.
E. half as great.

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 8

 Q3.12
The pilot of a light airplane with an airspeed of 200 km/h wants to fly due west.
There is a strong wind of 120 km/h blowing from the north.
If the pilot points the nose of the airplane north of west so that her ground track is
due west, what will be her ground speed?

A. 80 km/h
B. 120 km/h
C. 160 km/h
D. 180 km/h
E. It would impossible to fly due west in this situation.

PHYS1112 (Fall 2013) Lecture 2 Motion in 2D P. 9