General Physics I

Chapter 4

Sharif University of Technology

Mehr 1397 (Winter Semester 2018-2019)

M. Reza Rahimi Tabar

 Chapter 4
Motion in Two and Three
Dimensions
ü  4.01 Draw two-dimensional and three-dimensional
position vectors for a particle, indicating the
components along the axes of a coordinate system.

ü  4.02 On a coordinate system, determine the

direction and magnitude of a particle’s position
vector from its components, and vice versa.

ü  4.03 Apply the relationship between a particle’s

displacement vector and its initial and final position
vectors.
4-2 Position and Displacement
 Motion in Two Dimensions
—  Using + or – signs is not always sufficient to fully
describe motion in more than one dimension
—  Vectors can be used to more fully describe motion

—  Still interested in displacement, velocity, and

acceleration
 Displacement
—  The position of an
object is described
by its position vector,
r
—  The displacement of
the object is defined
as the change in its
position

~r = r~f r~i
 Velocity
—  The average velocity is the ratio of the
displacement to the time interval for the
displacement 
Δr
v=
Δt

—  The instantaneous velocity is the limit of the

average velocity as Δt approaches zero
—  The direction of the instantaneous velocity is
along a line that is tangent to the path of the
particle and in the direction of motion
 
 Δr d r
v = lim =
Δt→0 Δt dt
Velocity
Example
Example
 4-4 Acceleration
—  The average acceleration is defined as the rate at
which the velocity changes 
Δv
a=
Δt
—  The instantaneous acceleration is the limit of the
average acceleration as Δt approaches zero

 Δv
a = lim
Δt→0 Δt
 Ways an Object Might Accelerate

 Δv
a = lim
Δt→0 Δt

ü The magnitude of the velocity (the speed) can

change

ü The direction of the velocity can change

Even though the magnitude is constant

ü Both the magnitude and the direction can change

Example
 4-4 Projectile Motion
—  An object may move in both the x and y
directions simultaneously (i.e. in two
dimensions)
—  The form of two dimensional motion we will
deal with is called projectile motion
—  We may:
—  ignore air friction
—  ignore the rotation of the earth

—  With these assumptions, an object in projectile

motion will follow a parabolic path
 Notes on Projectile Motion:
—  once released, only gravity pulls on the
object, just like in up-and-down motion

—  since gravity pulls on the object

downwards:

ü  vertical acceleration downwards

ü  NO acceleration in horizontal direction
 Demonstration
—  http://physics.wfu.edu/demolabs/demos/avimov/
bychptr/chptr1_motion.html
 Rules of Projectile Motion
—  Introduce coordinate frame: y is up
—  The x- and y-components of motion can be
treated independently
—  Velocities (incl. initial velocity) can be
broken down into its x- and y-components
—  The x-direction is uniform motion
ax = 0
—  The y-direction is free fall
|ay|= g
 Some Details About the Rules

v xo = v o cos θo = v x = constant

—  x-direction
—  ax = 0
—  x = vxot
—  This is the only operative equation in the x-direction
since there is uniform velocity in that direction
 More Details About the Rules

v yo = v o sin θo

—  y-direction

—  take the positive direction as upward

—  then: free fall problem
—  only then: ay = -g (in general, |ay|= g)
—  uniformly accelerated motion, so the motion
equations all hold
 Velocity of the Projectile
—  The velocity of the projectile at any point of its
motion is the vector sum of its x and y components
at that point

−1
vy
v = v +v
2
x
2
y and θ = tan
vx
 Examples of Projectile
Motion:
—  An object may be
fired horizontally
—  The initial velocity is
all in the x-direction
—  vo = vx and vy = 0

—  All the general rules

of projectile motion
apply
 Non-Symmetrical Projectile
Motion
—  Follow the general
rules for projectile
motion
—  Break the y-direction
into parts
—  up and down
—  symmetrical back to
initial height and then
the rest of the height
 Example problem:
An Alaskan rescue plane drops a package of
emergency rations to a stranded party of
explorers. The plane is traveling horizontally
at 40.0 m/s at a height of 100 m above the
ground.
Where does the package strike the ground
relative to the point at which it was released?

1. Introduce coordinate frame:

Given: Oy: y is directed up
Ox: x is directed right
velocity: v=40.0 m/s
2. Note: vox= v = + 40 m/s
height: h=100 m
voy= 0 m/s
d
1 2 2y
Oy : y = gt , so t =
Find: 2 g
2 (−100 m)
or : t = = 4.51 s
Distance d=? −9.8 m s 2

Ox : x = vx 0t , so x = (40 m s)(4.51s) = 180 m ü 

Example
 Demonstration
—  http://physics.wfu.edu/demolabs/demos/avimov/
bychptr/chptr1_motion.html
Example
Example
Example
Projectile Motion Analyzed
Example
4-5 Uniform Circular Motion
Uniform Circular Motion
Example
Non-uniform circular
motion
4-8 (9) Relative Motion in
One (two) Dimension(s)
4-8 Relative Motion in One
Dimension
Relative Motion in Two
Dimensions
Example:
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Summary