MODULE 5
MOTION IN TWO
DIMENSIONS
In this module, we shall
consider the motion of a
body on a curved path,
specifically that of a
projectile and those in
circular motion.
PROJECTILE MOTION
The motion of an object that is given an initial velocity and
then allowed to move under the influence of gravity
PROPERTIES OF A
PROJECTILE
Trajectory – the curved path followed by a projectile.
Time of flight – the total time at which the projectile
stays in the air.
Range – the maximum horizontal displacement covered
by the projectile.
Height – the vertical displacement of the projectile.
TWO TYPES OF PROJECTILE
MOTION
1. Object thrown horizontally from a certain height
H = ½ gt2, t = 2H time of flight
g
R = Vx . t Range
H = ½ gt2 height of projectile
2. Object that is thrown at an angle above the horizontal
The maximum height reached
H= Vo2 sin 2 Ө
2g
Time to reach the maximum height
T= Vy = Vo sin Ө
g g
Total time of flight
T = 2 Vy = 2 Vy sin Ө
g g
Range
R = Vx • T
= Vo cos Ө Vo sin Ө/g, but 2 sinӨ cosӨ = sin 2Ө
R = Vo2 sin 2Ө
g
CIRCULAR MOTION
Whenever a body is in rotational motion, there is
associated with this motion the quantities angular
displacement, angular velocity and angular
acceleration.
If an object moves in circle with a constant speed,
the motion is called uniform circular motion.
Tangential Speed – speed of anything moving along a
circular path, constant for a uniform circular motion.
V = d or 2πR where: R = radius of
t T the circular path
Rotational Speed – number of revolutions or rotations
per unit time. It is sometimes called the frequency.
f = no. of revolutions
no. of seconds
Period – time of one complete revolution; the reciprocal
of the frequency.
T = 1/f = no. of seconds / no. of revolutions
Angular Velocity – time rate of change of displacement
measured in angular units.
ω=Ө
T
Centripetal Acceleration – acceleration that is always directed to the
center of the circular path and perpendicular to the direction of the
velocity.
Ac = V2 In terms of the angular speed, ac = Rω2
R
= 4π2R
T2
Centripetal Force – the force that acts towards the center and keeps the
body in circular motion.
Fc = mV2
R
= mRω2
Example:
Probably the simplest way to see how to apply these constant acceleration equations
is to work through a sample problem. Let's say you're on top of a cliff, which drops
vertically 150 m to a flat valley below. You throw a ball off the cliff, launching it at
8.40 m/s at an angle of 20° above the horizontal.
(a) How long does it take to reach the ground?
(b) How far is it from the base of the cliff to the point of impact?
It's a good idea to be as systematic as possible when it comes to analyzing the
situation. Here's an example of how to organize the information you're given. First,
draw a diagram.
Then set up a table to keep track of everything you know. It's important to pick an
origin, and to choose a coordinate system showing positive directions. In this case,
the origin was chosen to be the base of the cliff, with +x being right and +y being
up. You don't have to choose the origin or the positive directions this way. Pick
others if you'd like, and stick with them (an origin at the top of the cliff, and/or
positive y-direction down would be two possible changes).
Now that everything's neatly organized, think about what can be used to calculate what. You
know plenty of y-information, so we can use that to find the time it takes to reach the ground.
One way to do this (definitely not the only way) is to do it in two steps, first calculating the
final velocity using the equation:
This gives vy2 = 2.8732 + 2 (-9.8) (-150) = 2948.3 m2 / s2 . Taking the square root gives: vy =
+/- 54.30 m/s.
Remember that the square root can be positive or negative. In this case it's negative, because
the y-component of the velocity will be directed down when the ball hits the ground.
Now we can use another equation to solve for time:
So, -54.30 = 2.873 - 9.8 t, which gives t = 5.834 seconds. Rounding off, the ball was in the air
for 5.83 s.
We can use this time for part (b), to get the distance traveled in the x-direction during the
course of its flight. The best equation to use is:
So, from the base of the cliff to the point of impact is 46.0 m
