AP Physics Chapter 3

Motion in Two Dimensions

Chapter 3: Motion in Two Dimensions
3.1 Components of Motion
3.2 Vector Addition and Subtraction
3.3 Relative Velocity
3.4 Projectile Motion
 Learning Objectives for Chapter 3
• Students should be able to add, subtract, and resolve displacement and velocity
vectors so they can:
1. Determine components of a vector along two specified, mutually
perpendicular axes. (x and y)
2. Determine the net displacement of a particle or the location of a
particle relative to another.
3. Determine the change in velocity of a particle or the velocity of one
particle relative to another.

• Students should understand the motion of projectiles in a uniform gravitational field

so they can: (freefall)
1. Write down expressions for the horizontal and vertical components of
velocity and position as functions of time, and sketch or identify graphs of these
components.
X: zero acceleration, constant velocity; y: constant acceleration downward
 3.1 Components of Motion N
W E
Vectors are drawn as arrows on the coordinate plane.
- the length of the arrow corresponds to the magnitude S
- the vector points to its direction

Vector A has a magnitude of 3 meters 90 y

and a direction of 60°above the positive ° A
x-axis. 3.0 m 3.0 m
B

Vector B has a magnitude of 3 meters

and a direction of β° above the negative β 60°
x-axis. 180° x 0°

1.5 m
Vector C has a magnitude of 1.5 meters C
and a direction of 270°.
270°
 3.1 Components of Motion
• To analyze motion, a vector can be broken down into x- and y- components.
y
Given a vector v with a magnitude of a
directed an angle Ө above the horizontal
5 units
y- component

vx = a cos Ө

vy = a sin Ө

Ө = 53°
x
example: Find the components of v if its
x- component
magnitude is 5 units and Ө = 53°.

vx = a cos Ө = 5 cos 53° = 3 units

Note: The magnitude
of the vector v is vy = a sin Ө = 5 sin 53° = 4 units

v = √ v x 2 + vy 2 Why?
3.1 Components of Motion

• Kinematics problems in two-dimensions can be solved by:

• resolving the displacement, velocity, and acceleration vectors into their

respective components.

• using the three constant acceleration equations separately for the x and y
directions.

• using the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of your resultant vector.

• using an inverse trig function to find the angle of your resultant vector
3.1 Components of Motion
Example 1: A boat travels with a speed of 5.0 m/s in a straight path on a still lake.
Suddenly, a steady wind pushes the boat perpendicularly to its straight line path with a
speed of 3.0 m/s for 5.0 s. Relative to its position just when the wind started to blow,
where is the boat at the end of this time?

Solution: List givens for x and y directions separately.

x-direction y-direction Unknowns: x and y

vo = 5.0 m/s vo = 3.0 m/s
a=0 a=0

Common to both: t = 5.0 s

Analysis: Both motions are motion with constant velocity. Choose the straight path of the
boat as the x axis and the direction of the wind as the y axis.
wind
Sketch:
y
d

boat Ө x
x-direction y-direction Unknowns: x and y
vo = 5.0 m/s vo = 3.0 m/s
a=0 a=0 wind
xo = 0 yo = 0 y
d
Common to both: t = 5.0 s Ө x
boat

x-component: (use equation 2) x = vot + ½ at2 = (5.0 m/s)(5.0 s) + 0 = 25 m

y-component: (use equation 2) y = vot + ½ at2 = (3.0 m/s)(5.0 s) + 0 = 15 m

Now, d = √ x2 + y2 = √ (25 m)2 + (15 m)2 = 29 m

And Ө = tan-1 y = 15m = 31°

x 25 m
3.2 Vector Addition and Subtraction

vector addition – combining vector quantities by using one of several techniques

• geometric methods (triangle, parallelogram, polygon)
• vector components and the analytical component method

vector subtraction – a special case of vector addition

• A - B = A + (-B)
• subtracting a vector is the same as adding a negative vector

resultant – the overall effect of combining vectors; the vector sum

Example: Add vectors A + B + C = R

Solution: Use tip-to-tail method
3.2 Vector Addition and Subtraction
• Analytical (Trigonometry) Method
•When vectors make a right triangle with each other,
• use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of your resultant
vector.
• use the inverse trig function to find the angle of your resultant vector.

A = side adjacent to angle Ө

O = side opposite to angle Ө SOH – CAH - TOA
H = hypotenuse of triangle

H sin Ө = O cos Ө = A tan Ө = O

O H H A
Ө
Ө = sin-1 O Ө = cos-1 A Ө = tan-1 O
A
H H A
3.2 Vector Addition and Subtraction
Example: Eric leaves the base camp and hikes 11 km, north and then
hikes 11 km east. Determine Eric's resulting displacement and
express in the magnitude-angle form.

Solution:

Magnitude of
displacement = 16 km
3.2 Vector Addition and Subtraction
3.2 Vector Addition and Subtraction
 Please Do Now

In two minutes, write as many

examples of vectors that you
can..
3.2 Vector Addition and Subtraction
Analytical Component Method
1. Resolve the vectors to be added into their x and y components. Include
directional signs (plus or minus) in the components.

2. Add, algebraically, all the x- components together and all the y- components
together to get the x and y components of the resultant vector.

3. Express the resulting vector using

a) The component form using unit vectors , e.g. A = Ax x + Ay y or

b) In the magnitude-angle form, e.g., A = √Ax2 + Ay2, Ө = tan-1 Ay

Ax
unit vector – has a magnitude of one and no units. It indicates a vector’s
direction only. 11 km, E

ex: R = (11 km) x + (11 km) y

R
11 km, N
 Please Do Now

In 1 minute, write as many examples of

vetors that you can.
 WS 3.A
Vector Components
3.3 Relative Velocity

•“Everything is relative…”

•Physical phenomena can be observed from different frames of reference.

ex: The velocity of a ball tossed by a passenger in a moving car will be
measured differently by a passenger on the car than by an observer
on Earth.

•Your reference is the origin, or zero point, of your coordinate system.

•Any velocity we measure is relative.

ex: The velocity of a moving car is measured relative to the ground.
ex: The revolving motion of the Earth around the Sun is relative to the
Sun.
ex: moving sidewalk in an airport

•Relative velocity can be determined with vector addition or subtraction.

•Standard symbols are used to represent relative velocity.

ex: vcg (where c stands for car and g stand for ground) means the
velocity of a car relative to the ground.
 3.3 Relative Velocity
• When velocities are along a straight line in the same or opposite direction and all
have the same reference, we can find relative velocities by vector subtraction.
vAB = vA – vB
vAB = - vBA
vAC = vAB + vBC

Mythbusters Example:

b = ball, t = truck, g = ground

velocity of truck relative to ground is vtg

velocity of ball relative to truck is vbt
What is the velocity of the ball with respect to the ground? vbg = ?

vbg = vbt + vtg = 30 – 30 = 0 m/s

3.3 Relative Velocity

Example: A student walks on a treadmill moving at 4.0 m/s and remains at the
same place in the gym.
a)What is the student’s velocity relative to the gym floor?
zero

b) What is the student’s speed relative to the treadmill?

s = student, t = treadmill, and g = ground

Unknown: vst Knowns: vsg = 0, vtg = -4.0 m/s.

vsg = vst + vtg → vst = vsg – vtg = 0 – (- 4.0 m/s) = 4.0 m/s

c) What is the treadmill’s speed relative to the student?

vts =- vst = - 4.0 m/s
3.3 Relative Velocity
Practice Problem 1: A train travels at 60 m/s to the east with respect to the
ground. A businessman on the train runs at 5 m/s to the west with respect to
the train.

Find the velocity of the man with respect to the ground.

t = train m = man g = ground

vtg =

vmt =

vmg = vmt + vtg

3.3 Relative Velocity
Practice Problem 2: An airplane flies at 250 m/s to the east with respect to the
air. The air is moving at 15 m/s to the east with respect to the ground.

Find the velocity of the airplane with respect to the ground.

p = plane a = air g = ground

vpa =

vag =

vpg = vpa + vag

3.3 Relative Velocity
Practice Problem 3: An airplane flies at 250 m/s to the east with respect to the
air. The air is moving at 35 m/s to the north with respect to the ground.

Find the velocity of the air with respect to the ground.

p = plane a = air g = ground

vpa =
vag =

vpg = vpa + vag

 WS 3.B
Relative Velocity
3.4 Projectile Motion
3.4 Projectile Motion
x- component of initial y- component of initial
velocity vxo = vo cos Ө velocity vyo = vo sin Ө
Example: A package is dropped from an airplane traveling with a constant
horizontal speed of 120 m/s at an altitude of 500 m. What is the horizontal distance
the package travels before hitting the ground (range)?

Solution:
y vo = vxo
Given: horizontal motion vertical motion x
vxo = 120 m/s vyo = 0
500 m
y = -500 m
Find: range range

Since the range is given by x = vxo t , we have to find the time of flight t first.
From the vertical motion, we use y = vyot + ½ ayt2

So, -500 m = 0 + ½ (-9.80 m/s2) t2, solving, t = 10.1 s

Therefore, x = (120 m/s)(10.1 s) = 1.21 x 103 m = 1.21 km

Hint: The quantities such as initial velocities and displacements have to be treated
independently. For example, the initial horizontal velocity is 120 m/s and the initial
vertical velocity is zero. The 120 m/s can only be used in the horizontal motion and
the 0 m/s can only be used in the vertical motion. A common mistake is to mix up
these quantities or not treat them as independent.
 Example: A golfer hits a golf ball with a velocity of 35 m/s at an angle of 25°
above the horizontal. If the point where the ball is hit and the point where the
ball lands are at the same level,
a) how long is the ball in the air?
b) what is the range of the ball?
y

Solution: vo
Given: horizontal motion vertical motion vyo
vox = vo cos Ө voy = vo sin Ө Ө x
vxo range
= (35 m/s) cos 25° = (35 m/s) sin 25°
= 31.7 m/s = 14.8 m/s

Find: a) t b) x

a)On landing, y = 0; and from y = voyt + ½ at2, we have

0 = (14.8 m/s)t + 1/2(-9.80 m/s2) t2. Solve using the quadratic equation: t = 0 or 3.02 s.

The landing position is the second root, so the flight time is t = 3.0 s.
 Example: A golfer hits a golf ball with a velocity of 35 m/s at an angle of 25°
above the horizontal. If the point where the ball is hit and the point where the
ball lands are at the same level,
a) how long is the ball in the air?
b) what is the range of the ball?
y

Solution: vo
Given: horizontal motion vertical motion vyo
vxo = vo cos Ө vyo = vo sin Ө Ө x
vxo range
= (35 m/s) cos 25° = (35 m/s) sin 25°
= 31.7 m/s = 14.8 m/s

a)Solution which avoids using the quadratic equation:

Find the time to the peak at the half way point (when vy = 0) and then
double that time. Use kinematics equation #1:
vy = voy + at, so we have
0 = 14.8 m/s + (-9.80 m/s2) t
t= 3.0 s.

b) x = vxot = (31.7 m/s)(3.02 s) = 96 m

Check for Understanding:
vy = vyo + at ; vy = 0 at peak.

x = vxo t