BCNHS-SH

STEM 2023-2024
General Physics 1
GENERAL PHYSICS 1
TWO-DIMENSIONAL KINEMATICS Lecture Notes
Most Essential Learning Competencies
1. Describe motion using the concept of relative velocities in 1D and 2D (STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-20)
2. Deduce the consequences of the independence of vertical and horizontal components of projectile motion (STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-
22)
3. Calculate range, time of flight, and maximum heights of projectiles (STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-23
4. Infer quantities associated with circular motion such as tangential velocity, centripetal acceleration, tangential acceleration, radius
of curvature (STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-25)
5. Solve problems involving two-dimensional motion in contexts such as, but not limited to ledge jumping, movie stunts, basketball,
safe locations during firework displays, and Ferris wheels (STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-26)
1. MOTION IN TWO DIMENSIONS
 Motion in two dimensions can be modelled as two independent motions in each of the two perpendicular
directions associated with the x and y axes. That is, any influence in the y direction does not affect the motion in
the x direction and vice versa.
 Analyzing two-dimensional projectile motion is done by breaking it into two motions: along the horizontal and vertical axes.

2. PROJECTILE
 A projectile is an object upon which the only force acting is gravity. There are a variety of examples of projectiles. An object
dropped from rest is a projectile (provided that the influence of air resistance is negligible). An object that is thrown vertically
upward is also a projectile (provided that the influence of air resistance is negligible). And an object which is thrown upward at
an angle to the horizontal is also a projectile (provided that the influence of air resistance is negligible). A projectile is any object
that once projected or dropped continues in motion by its own inertia and is influenced only by the downward force of gravity.

3. PROJECTILE MOTION
 A curvilinear motion which moves under the sole effect of gravity. Air resistance is neglected just like in free falling motion. The
difference is that for a projectile, the initial velocity called the velocity of projection is not vertical. It is directed either horizontally,
at an angle below the horizontal, or at an angle above the horizontal.
 The path is that of an inverted parabola, symmetric about a vertical line that passes thru the vertex (highest point).

Trajectory - It is the curved path followed by a projectile and is always in the form of an inverted parabola.

Horizontal
Vertical Components
Components
displacement R = x = range y
vx = constant
velocity vy (under free fall)
vix = vfx
m
acceleration ax = 0 ay = g = −9.81
s2
y
At the top of the trajectory, the projectile has zero vertical velocity Vertically, the projectile
(vy = 0), but its vertical acceleration is still g exhibits constant-acceleration
v1
ሬሬሬԦ v2
ሬሬሬሬԦ motion in response to the
v1y v1y earth’s gravitational pull.
v3x Thus, its
α
α vertical velocity
v1x v3y changes by
v3y v3
ሬሬሬሬԦ equal amounts
ay = g during equal
time intervals.
v0
ሬሬሬሬԦ
v0y v0y
α0
v0x x
v0x v1x v2x v3x
Horizontally, the projectile exhibits constant-velocity motion. Its horizontal
acceleration is zero, so it moves equal x-distances in equal time intervals
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General Physics 1
Equations for Projectile Motion
• Vertical Sign convention:
𝐯𝐢𝐲 + 𝐯𝐟𝐲 • y is positive (+) if measured above the starting point. It is negative
𝐘= 𝐭 ( 𝟏) (—) if measured below the starting point.
𝟐
• viy and vfy are positive (+) if directed upward, negative (—) if
directed downward.
𝐯𝐟𝐲 = 𝐯𝐢𝐲 + 𝐠𝐭 (𝟐)
• Time t is always positive (+).
• g is always negative (—).
𝟏 m cm ft
𝐲 = 𝐯𝐢𝐲 𝐭 + 𝐠𝐭 𝟐 (𝟑) (g = −9.8 ss = −980 = −32 s2)
𝟐 s2

𝟏
𝐲 = 𝐯𝐟𝐲 𝐭 − 𝐠𝐭 𝟐 (𝟒)
𝟐

𝟐 𝟐
𝐯𝐟𝐲 = 𝐯𝐢𝐲 + 𝟐𝐠𝐲 (𝟓)

• Horizontal

𝐑 = 𝐱 = 𝐯𝐱 𝐭 (𝟔)
x and y Components of Initial and Final Velocity
𝟐 𝟐
𝐯𝐱 = 𝐯𝐢𝐱 = 𝐯𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝛉 = 𝐯𝐟𝐱 𝐯𝐟 = √𝐯𝐟𝐱 + 𝐯𝐟𝐲
viy θ vfx = vx = vix
vi 𝐯
𝐯𝐢𝐲 = 𝐯𝐢 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉 𝛉 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝐯𝐟𝐲
𝐟𝐱

θ vfy vf
vix
Cases

1. Projectile launched HORIZONTALLY

vi = vix
θ at inital is zero

vi = vix = vx = vfx
y viy = 0
vfx
y is negative
vf
x=R vfy

2. Projectile launched at AN ANGLE BELOW the horizontal

vix

θ
vi vix = vx = vfx = vi cos θ
viy
viy is negative
y
viy = −vi sin θ
vfx
y is negative
x=R vfy vf
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General Physics 1
3. Projectile launched at AN ANGLE ABOVE the horizontal

vix = vx = vfx = vi cos θ

viy vy approches zero as it reaches ymax
vi
ymax
the magnitudes of vi and vf are equal
θ vfx
vix viy is positive

viy = vi sin θ
x=R vf
vfy
y is positive

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
m
1. A ball is thrown horizontally with a velocity of 30 from a window 40 m above ground level. Solve for (a) the time it
s
takes to travel to the ground, (b) the velocity 2 seconds after being thrown, (c) the horizontal displacement or range.
Given: Solution:

a. The time it takes to travel to the ground

vi = 30
m Use equation (3) to solve for time t since vi, y, and g are
s
given, but viy is zero since vi is horizontal (no vertical
component).
1
y = viy t + gt 2
2
1 m
−40 m = 0 + (−9.8 2 ) t 2
y = -40 m 2 s
t = 2.8571 s

b. The velocity 2 secs after being thrown

To solve for the velocity after 2 s, we need to get first the horizontal and vertical components of that
velocity.

v = √vx2 + vy2

For the horizontal component, velocity is constant

m
vx = vix = vfx = 30
s
For the vertical component, use equation (2) since t and g are given. viy is zero since vi is horizontal (no
vertical component).
m m
vy = viy + gt = 0 + (−9.8 2 ) (2 s) = −19.6
s s
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Therefore, after 2 seconds,

m 2 m 2 m
v = √(30 ) + (−19.6 ) = 35.8352
s s s

c. The horizontal displacement or range

Use equation (6) with t as the time to travel to the ground

m
R = vx t = (30 ) (2.8571 s) = 85.7130 m
s
2. An airplane was diving at an angle of 30° below the horizontal when it dropped a bomb from a height of 1000
meters. The bomb hits the ground 5 secs later. (a) What was the velocity of the airplane? (b) With what
velocity did the bomb hit the ground?

Given: Solution:

a. The velocity of the airplane

30°
The velocity of the airplane (v) is the same as the
vi
initial velocity of the bomb (vi) which is dropped from the
v = vi plane at an angle of 30° below the horizontal. To solve for v i of
the plane, use equation (3) since y, t, and g are given. Also use
the correct sign convention.
y = 1000 m
t=5s
1 1 m
y = viy t + gt 2 → −1000 m = (−vi sin 30°)(5 s) + (−9.8 2) (5 s)2
2 2 s

vf m
vi = 351
s
b. The final velocity of the bomb before hitting the ground

2 2
vf = √vfx + vfy

m m
But vix = vfx = vx = vi cos θ = (351 ) (cos 30°) = 303.9749
s s

Use equation (2) to solve for vfy.

m m
vfy = viy + gt = − (351 ) (sin 30°) + (−9.8 2 ) (5 s)
s s
m
vfy = −224.5
s

m 2 m 2 m
vf = √(303.9749 2 ) + (−224.5 ) = 377.8902
s s s
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General Physics 1
m
3. A cannonball is fired with a velocity of 40 , 30° above the horizontal from the top of a cliff 50 meters high.
s
(a) How much time will it take to travel to ground level if it takes 2.5 seconds for it to reach the level of its
starting point? (b) What is the highest point reached measured from the ground level? (c) What is the range
of the cannonball? (d) With what velocity will the cannonball strike the ground and at what angle from the
horizontal?
m
Given: vi = 40
s

y1 t
30°

y2 = 50 m

θ
vf

R
Solution:

a. Time t the cannonball will take to travel to the ground level

Use equation (3) to solve for t since y2, viy, and g are given.
1
y = viy t + gt 2
2
m 1 m
−50 m = (40 ) (sin 30°)t + (−9.8 2 ) t 2
s 2 s
t = 5.8314 s

b. The highest point measured from ground level

The height reached by the cannonball measured from the ground (y T) is the sum of y1 and y2
as shown in the diagram. To solve for the value of y 1, use equation (5). At the highest point, vy is equal
to zero.
2 2 2
vfy = viy + 2gy → vy2 = viy + 2gy1

m 2 m
0 = [(40 ) (sin 30°)] + 2 (−9.8 2 ) y1
s s
y1 = 20.4082 m

yT = y1 + y2 = 20.4082 m + 50 m = 70.4082 m

b. The range of the cannonball

Use equation (6) to get the range.

m
R = vx t = (40 ) (cos 30°)(5.8314 s) = 202.0056 m
s
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c. The velocity (with direction) of the cannonball when it strikes the ground

2 2
vf = √vfx + vfy

m m
vfx = vix = vi cos 30° = (40 ) (cos 30°) = 34. 6410
s s
To solve for vfy, use equation (5).

2 2 2
vfy = viy + 2gy → vfy = √viy + 2gy2

m 2 m m
vfy = √[(40 ) (sin 30°)] + 2 (−9.8 2 ) (−50 m) = −37.1484
s s s

2 2
m 2 m 2 m
vf = √vfx + vfy = √(34.6410 ) + (−37.1484 ) = 50.7937
s s s

To solve for the angle of the velocity from the horizontal, use the equation
m
vfy −37.1484
θ= tan−1 = tan−1 s
vfx m = −47.0004° ≈ −47°
34.6410
s
θ = 47° below the horizontal

References:
Torio, V.A.G. (2018). Conceptual Science and Beyond | General Physics 1. Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc.
Taño, R.J. (2022). Module 2 – Motion. Learner’s Module for Phys101: Mechanics and Thermodynamics for DMMSU

Lifted from the notes of:

Alvin Noel D. Gayados

Compiled by:
Vilzky