PHYSICS FOR

ENGINEERS
3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS
Position Vector, r
The position of an object with respect to the origin in a two-
dimensional space is given by 𝑟.
Ԧ
𝑟Ԧ = 𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦𝑗Ƹ
𝑦 𝑦
𝑟= 𝑥2 + 𝑦2; 𝜃 = tan−1
𝑥 𝑟Ԧ

(0,0) 𝑥

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Velocity and Acceleration
From the position vector, velocity and acceleration can be derived.
𝑑 𝑟Ԧ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝑣Ԧ = = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ = 𝑣𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑣𝑦 𝑗Ƹ
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑣𝑦
𝑣= 𝑣𝑥2 + 𝑣𝑦2 ; 𝜃= tan −1
𝑣𝑥
𝑑 𝑣Ԧ 𝑑𝑣𝑥 𝑑𝑣𝑦
𝑎Ԧ = = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗 Ƹ = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖 Ƹ + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗 Ƹ
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑎𝑦
𝑎= 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑎𝑦2 ; 𝜃= tan−1
𝑎𝑥

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.1
The coordinate of a particle is given by
𝑥 = 1.00 m/s2 t 2 + (2.00 m)
𝑦 = 2.00 m/s3 𝑡 3 + 3.00 m/s2 𝑡 2
Find the (a) displacement from initial position, (b) velocity, and
(c) acceleration of the particle at 𝑡 = 2.00 s.

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.1
Given: 𝑥 = 1.00 m/s2 t 2 + 2.00 m
𝑦 = 2.00 m/s3 𝑡 3 + 3.00 m/s2 𝑡 2
𝑡 = 2.00 s
a. Displacement at 𝑡 = 2.00 s from initial position
𝑥 2 =1 2 2+2=6
𝑦 2 = 2 2 3 + 3 22 = 28
𝑥 0 = 2; 𝑦 0 = 0
𝑟Ԧ = 𝑟2 − 𝑟1 = 6𝑖Ƹ + 28𝑗Ƹ − 2𝑖Ƹ = 4𝑖Ƹ + 28𝑗Ƹ
𝑟 = 42 + 282 = 28.3 m
−1
28
𝜃 = tan = 81.87°
4

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.1
Given: 𝑥 = 1.00 m/s2 t 2 + 2.00 m
𝑦 = 2.00 m/s3 𝑡 3 + 3.00 m/s2 𝑡 2
𝑡 = 2.00 s
b. Velocity at 𝑡 = 2.00 s
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝑣𝑥 = = 2𝑡; 𝑣𝑦 = = 2 3𝑡 2 + 3 2𝑡 = 6𝑡 2 + 6𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑣𝑥 2 = 2 2 = 4; 𝑣𝑦 2 = 6 2 2 + 6 2 = 36
𝑣Ԧ = 4𝑖Ƹ + 36𝑗Ƹ
𝑣= 42 + 362 = 36.2 m/s
−1
36
𝜃 = tan = 83.66° (this is the direction of the motion)
4
3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS
Example 3.1
Given: 𝑥 = 1.00 m/s 2 t 2 + 2.00 m
𝑦 = 2.00 m/s 3 𝑡 3 + 3.00 m/s 2 𝑡 2
𝑡 = 2.00 s
c. Acceleration at 𝑡 = 2.00 s
𝑣𝑥 = 2𝑡; 𝑣𝑦 = 6𝑡 2 + 6𝑡
𝑑𝑣𝑥 𝑑𝑣𝑦
𝑎𝑥 = = 2; 𝑎𝑦 = = 12𝑡 + 6
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑎𝑥 2 = 2; 𝑎𝑦 2 = 12 2 + 6
𝑎Ԧ = 2𝑖Ƹ + 30𝑗Ƹ
𝑎= 22 + 302 = 30.1 m/s 2
−1
30
𝜃 = tan = 86.19°
2

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Projectile Motion
Any body that is given an initial velocity and then follows a path
determined by the effect of gravitational acceleration is a projectile.
For projectiles there is no acceleration along the horizontal
direction and it is only accelerated vertically by gravity:
𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔 = −9.81 m/s2
The same basic formula from motion with constant acceleration
applies in projectiles, except that components along x and y are
separated.

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Velocity of a Projectile
Projectiles are thrown at an initial speed (𝑣0 ) and angle (𝜃0 ).
𝑣0,𝑥 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0
𝑣0,𝑦 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0

The velocity of the particle at time 𝑡 is 𝑣0,𝑦

𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0,𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 𝑣0
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0,𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 − 𝑔𝑡 𝜃0
𝑣0,𝑥
𝑣= 𝑣𝑥2 + 𝑣𝑦2

−1
𝑣𝑦
𝜃= tan
𝑣𝑥

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Position of a Projectile
The position of a projectile at time 𝑡 is
1
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣0,𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 𝑡
𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑣=0

1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0,𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2 𝑥𝑚𝑎𝑥
2
1 2
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡
2

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.2
A baseball is hit and leaves the ground at 𝑣0 = 5.00 m/s at an angle
𝜃 = 53.10°. Determine the following:
1. Total time the ball is in the air
2. Time to reach its maximum height
3. Maximum height it reached
4. Maximum distance before it hit the ground

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.2
Given: 𝑣0 = 5.00 m/s, 𝜃0 = 53.10°, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0 (projectile)
1. Total time the ball is in the air
Given/unknown: 𝑦0 = 𝑦 = 0 (it leaves and lands on the ground), 𝑡 = ?
1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0,𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2
2
1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2
2
0 = 0 + 5 sin 53.1° 𝑡 − 0.5 9.81 𝑡 2
𝑡 = 0, 𝑡 = 0.815 s
Since it started from the ground, 𝑡 = 0. But we are looking for the total
time, and this time is the time it lands on the ground.
𝑡 = 0.815 s

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.2
Given: 𝑣0 = 5.00 m/s, 𝜃0 = 53.10°, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0 (projectile)
2. Time to reach its maximum height
Given/unknown: 𝑣𝑦 = 0 (it temporarily stops along 𝑦 at maximum
height), 𝑡 = ?
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0,𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 − 𝑔𝑡
0 = 5 sin 53.1° − 9.81𝑡
𝑡 = 0.408 s

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.2
Given: 𝑣0 = 5.00 m/s, 𝜃0 = 53.10°, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0 (projectile)
3. Maximum height it reached
Given/unknown: 𝑦0 = 0 it leaves the ground , 𝑣𝑦 = 0 (it temporarily
stops along 𝑦 at maximum height), 𝑦 = ?
2
𝑣𝑦2 − 𝑣0,𝑦 = 2𝑎𝑦 𝑦 − 𝑦0
𝑣𝑦2 − 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 2 = −2𝑔 𝑦 − 𝑦0
0 − 5 sin 53.1° 2 = −2 9.81 𝑦 − 0
𝑦 = 0.815 m

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.2
Given: 𝑣0 = 5.00 m/s, 𝜃0 = 53.10°, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0 (projectile)
4. Maximum distance before it hit the ground
Given/unknown: 𝑦0 = 𝑦 = 0 (it leaves and lands on the ground)
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = ?
From (1), we found out that the total flight time before it hit the ground is
𝑡 = 0.815172944 s. Note: Do not use the rounded off value.
1
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣0,𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 𝑡
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 5 cos 53.1° 0.815172944
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 2.45 m

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.3
A stone rolls off from a roof that slopes downward with an angle of
40.00° with a horizontal. It leaves the end of the roof with a speed of
8.00 m/s. If the roof is at the vertical distance of 10.00 meters from
the end of the roof, how many seconds will it take the stone to fall
on the ground?

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.3
Given/unknown: 𝜃0 = −40.00° (negative since it slides down),
𝑣0 = 8.00 m/s, 𝑦0 = 10.00 m, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0
𝑦 = 0 (it falls on the ground), t = ?
1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0,𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2
2
1 2
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡
2
0 = 10 + 8 sin −40° 𝑡 − 0.5 9.81 𝑡 2
𝑡 = −2.05 s, 𝑡 = 0.997 s
𝑡 = 0.997 s

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.4
An arrow is projected at an angle of 60.00° above the horizontal
with an initial velocity 𝑣0 from top of the 100.0-meter tall building.
The projectile hits the ground after 5.00 seconds.
1. What is the initial velocity of the projectile?
2. What is the maximum height relative to the ground will the projectile
go?
3. At what angle will it hit the ground?
4. At what horizontal distance from the base of the building will the
projectile fall?

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.4
Given: 𝜃0 = 60.00°, 𝑦0 = 100.0 m, 𝑦 = 0, 𝑡 = 5.00 s, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0
1. What is the initial velocity of the projectile?
Given/unknown: 𝑣0 = ?
Since we are given 𝑦, 𝑎𝑦 , 𝑡 we can use equation 2.
1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0,𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2
2
1 2
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡
2 2
0 = 100 + 𝑣0 sin 60° 5 − 0.5 9.81 5
𝑣0 = 5.23 m/s

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.4
Given: 𝜃0 = 60.00°, 𝑦0 = 100.0 m, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0
2. What is the maximum height relative to the ground will the
projectile go?
Given/unknown: 𝑣𝑦 = 0 it temporarily stops along 𝑦 at maximum height
𝑦 =?
From (1), we found out that the initial velocity is 𝑣0 = 5.225019936 m/s.
2
𝑣𝑦2 − 𝑣0,𝑦 = 2𝑎𝑦 𝑦 − 𝑦0
𝑣𝑦2 − 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 2 = −2𝑔 𝑦 − 𝑦0
0 − 5.225019936 sin 60° 2 = −2 9.81 𝑦 − 100
𝑦 = 101.0 m

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.4
Given: 𝜃0 = 60.00°, 𝑦0 = 100.0 m, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0
3. At what angle will it hit the ground?
Given/unknown: 𝑦 = 0, 𝑣 = ? , 𝜃 = ? (the angle it would hit the ground is the angle of its velocity
when it hits the ground)
From (1), we found out that the initial velocity is 𝑣0 = 5.225019936 m/s.
2
𝑣𝑦2 − 𝑣0,𝑦 = 2𝑎𝑦 𝑦 − 𝑦0
𝑣𝑦2 − 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 2 = −2𝑔 𝑦 − 𝑦0
𝑣𝑦2 − 5.225019936 sin 60° 2 = −2(9.81)(0 − 100)
𝑣𝑦 = −44.525 m/s, (on its way down)
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0,𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃 = 5.225019936 cos 60°
𝑣𝑥 = 2.612509968 m/s
𝑣
−1 𝑦 −1
−44.525
𝜃 = tan = tan = −86.64°
𝑣𝑥 2.612509968
It would hit the ground with an angle of elevation of 86.64° from the ground.

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Example 3.4
Given: 𝜃0 = 60.00°, 𝑦0 = 100.0 m, 𝑦 = 0, 𝑡 = 5.00 s𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, 𝑎𝑥 = 0
4. At what horizontal distance from the base of the building will
the projectile fall?
Given/unknown: 𝑥 − 𝑥0 = ?
From (1), we found out that the initial velocity is 𝑣0 = 5.225019936 m/s.
1
𝑥 = 𝑥0 + 𝑣0,𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 𝑡
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 5.225019936 cos 60° 5
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 13.1 m

3A-MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS