MODULE 3 – Kinematics in 2- Dimensions
(An introduction)
March 02, 2023
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this section, you will be able to;
Observe that motion in two dimensions consist of horizontal and vertical components.
Understand the independence of horizontal and vertical vectors in two- dimensional
motion.
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The straight-line path that a helicopter might fly is blocked to you as a pedestrian, and so you are
forced to take a two-dimensional path, such as the one shown. You walk 14 blocks in all, 9 east
followed by 5 north. What is the straight-line distance?
The straight-line path that a helicopter might fly is blocked to you as a pedestrian, and so you are
forced to take a two-dimensional path, such as the one shown. You walk 14 blocks in all, 9 east
followed by 5 north. What is the straight-line distance?
An old adage states that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The two legs of
the trip and the straight-line path form a right triangle, and so the Pythagorean
theorem, a2 + b2 = c2, can be used to find the straight-line distance
C=¿ √ (9 blocks)2 + (5 blocks)2
C = √ 81 + 25
C = 10.3 blocks
Note that in this example, the vectors that we are adding are perpendicular to each other and thus
form a right triangle. This means that we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the
magnitude of the total displacement.
GRAPHICAL ADDITION OF VECTORS
Figure (a) shows that the sum of vectors A +B +C equals the resultant vector R. Figure (b) illustrates
the same vectors are positioned to be geometrically added. The tail of vector B is added to the
head of vector A, and the tail of vector C is added to the head of vector B. The vector sum R
extends from the tail of vector A to the head of vector C.
A B
A A B
B
C C C
R
(a) (b) (c)
GRAPHICAL SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS
To graphically subtract vector B from Vector A, first reverse the direction of B. Thus, producing –B,
then add A and –B. the resultant goes from the tail of A to the head of –B.
-B
A A
-B R A
B
(a) (b) (c)
COMPONENT OF A VECTOR.
Ax = A cos Ø A = √ Ax2 + Ay2
Ay
A Ay Ay = A sin Ø Ø = Arc tan
Ax
Ø
Ax
Example. Three people pull ropes attached to a trailer hitch on the bumper of a car stuck in the
mud. Calculate the resultant of the three forces.
Solution;
Rx = F1x + F2x + F3x
F1 = - F1 Cos 30ᴼ – F2 Cos 0ᴼ – F3 Cos 53ᴼ
F2 = - 180 Cos 30ᴼ – 520 Cos 0ᴼ – 380 Cos 53ᴼ
= - 905 N
F3
Ry = F1y + F2y + F3y
F1 = 180 N = F1 Sin 30ᴼ + F2 Sin 0ᴼ - F3 53ᴼ
F2 = 520 N = 180 Sin 30ᴼ + 520 Sin 0ᴼ – 380 Sin 53ᴼ
F3 = 380 N = - 213 N
R = √ (Fx)2 + (Fy)2 Solving for angle Ø
213 N
R = √ (-905)2 + (-213)2 Tan Ø =
905 N
R = 930 N Ø = 13.24ᴼ
this is all for now,
THANK YOU AND STAY SAFE …..
Engr. GEORGE P. ALONZO
Professional Electrical Engineer
