Chapter 4
Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
Position and Displacement
The position of an object
is described by its
position vector
The displacement of the
object is defined as the
change in its position
Average Velocity and Instantaneous
Velocity
Average velocity
Instantaneous velocity
(or velocity) is in the
limit of t0
Instantaneous Velocity and Speed
The direction of the instantaneous velocity
vector at any point in a particle’
s path is
along a line tangent to the path at that point
and in the direction of motion.
The magnitude of the instantaneous velocity
vector is the speed.
The speed is a scalar quantity.
Average Acceleration and
Instantaneous Acceleration
Average acceleration
Instantaneous acceleration (or acceleration)
Kinematic Equations, Component
Equations
Constant acceleration a
vf = vi + at becomes
vxf = vxi + axt and
vyf = vyi + ayt
rf = ri + vi t + ½ at2 becomes
xf = xi + vxi t + ½ axt2 and
yf = yi + vyi t + ½ ayt2
Projectile Motion
A particle moves in a vertical plane with some
initial velocity v0 but its acceleration is always
the free-fall acceleration g, which is downward.
Such a particle is called a projectile and its
motion is called projectile motion.
Projectile Motion Analyzed
Reference frame chosen (see next page)
y is vertical with upward positive
Acceleration components
ay = -g and ax = 0
Initial velocity components
vxi = vi cos q and vyi = vi sin q
Verifying the Parabolic Trajectory
The projectile’
s path is the trajectory.
Displacements:
x = vxi t = (vi cosi)t
y = vyi t + ½ay t2 = (vi sini )t - ½ gt2
Combining the equations gives:
g 2
y
tan i x 2 x
2vi cos i
2
This is in the form of y = ax –bx2 which is
the standard form of a parabola.
Uniform Circular Motion
Uniform circular motion occurs when an
object moves in a circular path with a constant
speed.
An acceleration exists since the direction of the
motion is changing.
This change in velocity is related to an
acceleration.
The velocity vector is always tangent to the
path of the object.
Centripetal Acceleration and Period
The centripetal acceleration
is always perpendicular to the
path of the motion and points
toward the center of the circle
of motion.
The period is the time required
for one complete revolution
Proof of and centripetal acceleration
Relative Motion in One Dimension
Frame B moves at a constant
velocity of VBA with respect
to frame A.
Relative Motion in Two and Three
Dimensions
Summary
With known r (t ) x(t )iˆ y (t ) ˆ
j z (t )k ,̂
dr (t ) dx(t ) ˆ dy (t ) ˆ dz (t ) ˆ dv (t )
v (t ) i j k and a (t )
dt dt dt dt dt
With known a (t ), v (t0 ), and r (t0 ),
t
a x (t )dt
t
v (t ) v (t0 ) a (t )dt vx (t0 ) iˆ
t0 t0
v y (t0 )
t
a y (t )dt
ˆ
j
t 0
v z (t 0 )
t
a z (t )dt
kˆ
t0
t
r (t ) r (t 0 ) v (t )dt
t0
