MECHANICS

Lecture notes for Phys 111

Dr. Vitaly A. Shneidman

Department of Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102
(Dated: September 20, 2023)

Abstract
These notes are intended as an addition to the lectures given in class. They are NOT designed
to replace the actual lectures. Some of the notes will contain less information then in the actual
lecture, and some will have extra info. Not all formulas which will be needed for exams are
contained in these notes. Also, these notes will NOT contain any up to date organizational or
administrative information (changes in schedule, assignments, etc.) but only physics. If you notice
any typos - let me know at [email protected]. For convenience, I will keep all notes in a single file -
each time you can print out only the added part. A few other things:
Graphics: Some of the graphics is deliberately unfinished, so that we have what to do in class.
Advanced topics: these will not be represented on the exams. Read them only if you are really
interested in the material.

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Contents

I. Introduction 2
A. Physics and other sciences 2
B. Point mass 2
C. Units 2
1. Standard units 2
2. Conversion of units 3
3. Significant figures 4

II. Vectors 6
A. System of coordinates 7
B. Operations with vectors 8
1. Single vector 8
2. Two vectors: addition 9
3. Two vectors: dot product - need for ”work” 11
4. Two vectors: vector product - need for ”torque” 13
C. Preview. Forces as vectors. 16

III. 1-dimensional motion 17

A. v = const 17
B. Variable velocity 19
1. Average and instantaneous velocities. Geometric and analytical meaning. 20
2. Displacement from velocity 21
3. Acceleration 22
4. a = const 23
C. Free fall 26

IV. Projectile motion 29

A. Introduction: Object dropped from a plane 29
B. General 31
C. Examples 32

V. 2D motion 34

0
 A. Introduction: Derivatives of a vector 34
B. General 35
C. ~a = const 36
D. ~a = ~g = 0î − 9.8ĵ (projectile motion) 37
E. Uniform circular motion 38
1. Preliminaries 38
2. Acceleration 39
3. An alternative derivation 40

VI. Newton’s Laws 41

A. Force 41
1. Units 41
2. Vector nature 41
3. Examples of forces: gravity, normal and tension. Static equilibrium. 43
B. The 3 Laws of motion (Newton) 46
C. Dynamics: Examples 47

VII. Newton’s Laws: applications to friction and to circular motion 55

A. Force of friction 55
1. Example: block on inclined plane 56
B. Centripetal force 61
1. Example of Satellite. ”Centripetal force” is force of gravity 62
2. Turning car/friction/incline 63
3. Advanced: Conic pendulum 64
4. ”Barrel-of-fun” 65
5. ”Loop-of-death” 66

VIII. Work 67
A. Scalar (dot) product in 3D 67
B. Units 68
C. Definitions 68
D. 1D motion and examples 71

1
 IX. Kinetic energy 73
A. Definition and units 73
B. Relation to work 73
1. Constant force 73
2. Variable force 76
C. Power 77

X. Potential energy 78
A. Some remarkable forces with path-independent work 78
B. Relation to force 79

XI. Conservation of energy 79

A. Conservative plus non-conservative forces 84
B. Advanced: Typical potential energy curves 87
C. (Advanced) ”Forces of inertia” 89
D. Advanced: Fictitious ”centrifugal energy” 91
E. Advanced: Mathematical meaning of energy conservation 92

XII. Momentum 93
A. Definition 93
B. 2nd Law in terms of momentum (Single particle) 93
C. Conservation of momentum in a closed system 95

XIII. Collisions 96
A. Inelastic 96
1. Perfectly inelastic 96
2. Explosion 98
B. Elastic 99
1. Advanced: 2D elastic collision of two identical masses 100
2. Advanced: 1D collision, m 6= M 100

XIV. Center of mass (CM) 102

A. Definition 102
B. Relation to total momentum 103

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 C. 2nd Law for CM 103
D. Advanced: Energy and CM 104

XV. Kinematics of rotation 105

A. Radian measure of an angle 105
B. Angular velocity 106
C. Connection with linear velocity and centripetal acceleration 106
D. Angular acceleration 106
E. Connection with tangential acceleration 107
F. Rotation with α = const 107

XVI. Kinetic Energy of Rotation and Rotational Inertia 109

A. The formula K = 1/2 Iω 2 109
B. Rotational Inertia: Examples 110
1. Collection of point masses 110
2. Hoop 111
3. Rod 112
4. Disk 112
5. Advanced: Solid and hollow spheres 113
C. Parallel axis theorem 115
1. Distributed bodies plus point masses 116
D. Conservation of energy, including rotation 117
E. ”Bucket falling into a well” 118
1. Advanced: Atwood machine 119

XVII. Torque 121

A. Definition 121
B. 2nd Law for rotation 123
C. Application of τ = Iα. Examples. 123
1. Revolving door 124
2. Rotating rod 125
3. Rod with a point mass m at the end. 125
4. ”Bucket falling into a well” revisited. 126

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 5. Advanced: Atwood machine revisited. 127
6. Rolling down incline revisited. 128
D. Torque as a vector 130

XVIII. Angular momentum L 131

A. Single point mass 131
B. System of particles 131
C. Rotating symmetric solid 132
1. Angular velocity as a vector 132
~
D. 2nd Law for rotation in terms of L 132

XIX. Conservation of angular momentum 133

A. Examples 133
1. Free particle 133
2. Student on a rotating platform 134
3. Chewing gum on a disk 135
4. Advanced: Measuring speed of a bullet 136
5. Rotating star (white dwarf) 137

XX. Equilibrium 139

A. General conditions of equilibrium 139
B. Center of gravity 139
C. Examples 139
1. Seesaw 140
2. Beams 141
3. Ladder against a wall 144
4. Stability of an excavator with load 145
5. Loading a barge 146

XXI. Fluids 147

A. hydrostatics 147
1. Density 147
2. Pressure 148

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 3. Archimedes principle 150
B. Hydrodynamics 152
1. Continuity equation and the Bernoulli principle 152

XXII. Gravitation 154

A. Solar system 154
B. Kepler’s Laws 154
1. Intro: Ellipse, etc. 154
2. 1st law 155
3. 2nd law 155
4. 3rd law 156
C. The Law of Gravitation 157
1. Force 157
2. Gravitational acceleration 158
3. Proof of the 3rd law of Kepler for circular orbits 159
4. Satellite 160
D. Energy 162
1. Escape velocity and Black Holes 162
E. Advanced: Deviations from Kepler’s and Newton’s laws 165

5
 Dr. Vitaly A. Shneidman, Phys 111, Lecture 1

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Physics and other sciences

in class

B. Point mass

The art physics is the art of idealization. One of the central concepts in mechanics is a

”particle” or ”point mass”

i.e. a body the size or structure of which are irrelevant in a given problem. Examples:
electron, planet, etc.

C. Units

1. Standard units

In SI system the basic units are:

m (meter), kg (kilogram) and s (second)

Everything else in mechanics is derived. Examples of derived units (may or may not have a
special name): m/s, m/s2 (no name), kg · m/s2 (Newton), kg · m2 /s2 (Joule), etc.
Major variables, their typical notations and units:
variable units name
speed, v m/s -
acceleration (a or g) m/s2 -
force (F, f, N, T ) N=kg m/s2 Newton
work (W ), energy (K, U, E) J=kg m2 /s2 Joule

2
 2. Conversion of units

Standard path: all units are converted to SI. E.g., length:

1 in = 0.0254 m , 1 ft = 0.3048 m , 1 mi ≃ 1609 m

Examples:
mi 1609 m m
speed: 70 = 70 ≃ 31.3
h 3600 s s
2
area: 3 cm2 = 3 10−2 m = 3 · 10−4 m2

volume: 1 mm3 = 1(10−3 m)3 = 10−9 m3

gram 10−3 kg kg
density: 1 = 1 ≈ 1000 (water)
cm3 (0.01 m)3 m3
gram 10−3 kg kg
218 3 = 218 3
≈ 13.6 · 103 3 (mercury)
in (0.0254 m) m
gram 10−3 kg kg
315 3 = 315 3
≈ 19.2 · 103 3 (gold)
in (0.0254 m) m
Oil is spilling from a pipe at a rate of 0.2 f t3/min. Express this in SI units.

f t3 (0.305 m)3 m3
0.2 = 0.2 · ≃ 9.4 · 10−5
min 60 s s

Non-standard: Convert the previous in L/hour:

1 m3 1000 L L
1 m3 = 1000 L , 1 s = hour ⇒ 9.4 · 10−5 = 9.4 · 10−5 ≈ 340
3600 s hour/3600 hour

Earth is 150 · 106 km from Sun; find speed in km/s if 1 year ≃ 365 days

150 · 106 km
2π ≃ 30 km/s
365 · 24 · 3600 s

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 3. Significant figures

A solid disk has a diameter of 1 cm. Find the circumference.

s = πd = 3.141592654 . . . cm. Wrong!! Why?

Advanced.
The period of small oscillations of a pendulum is independent of its amplitude (Galileo). Use
this to find the dependence of the period T on the length of the pendulum L, gravitational
acceleration g and, possibly, mass M. Namely, look for

T ∼ Lα g β M γ

and find α, β and γ.

m
[T ] = s , [L] = m , [g] = 2 , [M] = kg
s
 m β
s = mα 2 kg γ = kgγ mα+β s−2β
s
s
L
γ = 0 , α = −β , β = −1/2 ⇒ T ∼
g

Advanced. Less trivial example: gravitational waves. What is the speed? Can depend on

g, [m/s2 ] on λ, [m] and on ρ, [kg/m3 ]

v ∼ g α λβ ργ or [m/s] = [m/s2 ]α [m]β [kg/m3]γ

From dimensions,
α = β = 1/2 , γ = 0(!)

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 p
v∼ gλ

What is neglected? Depth of the ocean, H. Thus,

p √
vmax ∼ gH ∼ 10 · 4 · 103 ∼ 200 m/s

(the longest and fastest gravitational wave is tsunami). Note that we know very little about
the precise physics, and especially the precise math of the wave, but from dimensional
analysis could get a reasonable estimation.

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II. VECTORS

A vector is characterized by the following three properties:

• has a magnitude

• has direction (Equivalently, has several components in a selected system of coordi-

nates).

• obeys certain addition rules (”Tail-to-Head” or, equivalently ”rule of parallelogram”).

This is in contrast to a scalar, which has only magnitude and which is not changed when a
system of coordinates is rotated.
How do we know which physical quantity is a vector, which is a scalar and which is
neither? From experiment (of course). Examples of scalars are mass, time, kinetic energy.
Examples of vectors are the displacement, velocity and force.

Tail-to-Head addition rule.

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 A. System of coordinates

Unit vectors ~i, ~j

Unit vector and component notations:
Y
4
3
~a = 4î + 3ĵ = (4, 3)
2 
a
1

j
 X
-2 -1 i 1 2 3 4 5
-1
 ~b = î − 2ĵ = (1, −2)
b
-2

p
Length: a = |~a| = 42 + 32 = 5
√
~
p
2 2
b = |b| = 1 + (−2) = 5

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 B. Operations with vectors

1. Single vector

0.5
ay
0.4
a
0.3

0.2

0.1 Θ
ax
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Consider a vector ~a with components ax and ay (let’s talk 2D for a while). The magnitude
(or length) is given by the Pythagorean theorem
q
a ≡ |~a| = a2x + a2y (1)

Note that for a different system of coordinates with axes x′ , y ′ the components ax′ and ay′
can be different, but the length in eq. (1) , obviously, will not change, which just means
that length is a scalar.
Primary example: position vector (note two equivalent forms of notation)

~r = (x, y) = x~i + y~j

(sometimes, î and ĵ is used) with |~i| = |~j| = 1.

Polar coordinates:
p
r= x2 + y 2 , θ = arctan(y/x)

x = r cos θ , y = r sin θ

Note: arctan might require adding 180o - always check with a picture!

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 Example. Find the components of the vector ~r in the figure if its length is r = 2.5 units
and α = 20o.
y

α
x

Solution 1 (from picture). The (x,y) components are ”cut off” by the dashed lines. Thus,
x = −r cos α = −2.5 cos 20o = − . . . (note the minus!) and y = 2.5 sin 20o = . . ..
Solution 2 (from formulas). One has x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ, but θ is the angle with positive
x-direction (double arc in the figure), or θ = 180o − α = 160o . Thus,

x = 2.5 cos 160o = · · · < 0 , y = 2.5 sin 160o > 0

(Check that you get the same numbers!)

Another operation allowed on a single vector is multiplication by a scalar. Note that the
physical dimension (”units”) of the resulting vector can be different from the original, as in
F~ = m~a.

2. Two vectors: addition

For two vectors, ~a and ~b one can define their sum ~c = ~a + ~b with components

cx = ax + bx , cy = ay + by (2)

The magnitude of ~c then follows from eq. (1). Note that physical dimensions of ~a and ~b
must be identical.

Note: for most problems (except rotation!) it is allowed to carry a vector parallel to
itself. Thus, we usually assume that every vector starts at the origin, (0, 0).

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 3

2.5

~
C
1.5

1
~
B

0.5
~
A

-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0.5 1

~ = A+
FIG. 1: Adding two vectors: C ~ B.
~ Note the use of rule of parallelogram (equivalently, tail-to-
~ = (−2, 1), B
head addition rule). Alternatively, vectors can be added by components: A ~ = (1, 2)
~ = (−2 + 1, 1 + 2) = (−1, 3).
and C

~ = −2î + ĵ is followed by B
Example Displacement A ~ = î + 2ĵ. Find magnitude and

direction of the resultant displacement.

~ =A
C ~+B
~ = −î + 3ĵ

p √
C= (−1)2 + 32 = 10 ,
Cx −1
cos θ = = √ = − . . . , θ = . . . > 90o
C 10
~ = (1, 2, 3) and B
Example (3D). For A ~ = (−1, 1, 7) find 3A~ + 4B
~

~ + 4B
3A ~ = (3 · 1 + 4 · (−1), 3 · 2 + 4 · 1, 3 · 3 + 4 · 7) = (−1, 10, 37)

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 3. Two vectors: dot product - need for ”work”


b

θ

a

If ~a and ~b make an angle θ with each other, their scalar (dot) product is defined as

~a · ~b = ab cos (θ)

or in components
~a · ~b = ax bx + ay by (3)

A different system of coordinates can be used, with different individual components but
with the same result. For two orthogonal vectors ~a · ~b = 0. Preview. The main application
of the scalar product is the concept of work ∆W = F~ · ∆~r, with ∆~r being the displacement.
Force which is perpendicular to displacement does not work!

~ = −2î + ĵ, B
Example. See Fig. 1. A ~ = î + 2ĵ

~·B
A ~ = (−2)1 + 1 · 2 = 0

(thus angle is 90o ).

~ and C
Example Find angle between 2 vectors B ~ in Fig. 1.
General:
~a · ~b
cos θ =
ab
√ √ p √
In Fig. 1: B = 12 + 22 = 5 , C = (−1)2 + 32 = 10
(−1) · 1 + 3 · 2 1
cos θ = √ = √ , θ = 45o
5 2 2

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 3D coordinates

Add unit vector ~k in the z-direction.

q
~ = Ax~i + Ay~j + Az~k = (Ax , Ay , Az ) , A = A
A ~ = A2x + A2y + A2z

~·B
A ~ = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz = AB cos θ

A~·B
~
cos θ =
AB
~ = (1, 2, 3), B
Example. A ~ = (1, −1, 0). Find A
~·B~ and the angle between them.

~·B
A ~ = 1 ∗ 1 + 2 ∗ (−1) + 3 ∗ 0 = −1

√ √ p √
A= 12 + 22 + 32 = 14 , B = 12 + (−1)2 + 02 = 2
−1 1
cos θ = √ √ = − √ , θ ≃ 101o
14 2 2 7

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 4. Two vectors: vector product - need for ”torque”

At this point we must proceed to the 3D space. Important here is the correct system of
coordinates, as in Fig. 2. You can rotate the system of coordinates any way you like, but
you cannot reflect it in a mirror (which would switch right and left hands).

FIG. 2: The correct, ”right-hand” systems of coordinates. Checkpoint - curl fingers of the RIGHT
hand from x-direction (~i) to y-direction (~j), then the thumb should point into the z-direction (~k).

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FIG. 3: Example of a cross product ~c = ~a × ~b. Direction: perpendicular to it both ~a and ~b (’right
hand rule’). Magnitude - as indicated.

If ~a and ~b make an angle α ≤ 180o with each other, their vector (cross) product ~c = ~a × ~b
has a magnitude c = ab sin(α). The direction is defined as perpendicular to both ~a and ~b
using the following rule: curl the fingers of the right hand from ~a to ~b in the shortest direction
(i.e., the angle must be smaller than 180o ). Then the thumb points in the ~c direction. Check
with Fig. 3. Changing the order changes the sign, ~b × ~a = −~a × ~b. In particular, ~a × ~a = ~0.
More generally, the cross product is zero for any two parallel vectors.
Suppose now a system of coordinates is introduced with unit vectors î, ĵ and k̂ pointing
in the x, y and z directions, respectively. First of all, if î, ĵ, k̂ are written ”in a ring”, the
cross product of any two of them equals the third one in clockwise direction, i.e.

î × ĵ = k̂ , ĵ × k̂ = î , k̂ × î = ĵ

, etc.

14
 Ring Diagram:

i

  
i x j =k
  
j xk = i
  
kx i = j
  
 i xk =- j , etc. 
k j

Example. Fig. 1:
~ = −2î + ĵ , B
A ~ = î + 2ĵ

~ ×B
A ~ = (−2î + ĵ) × (î + 2ĵ) = (−2) · 2î × ĵ + ĵ × î =

= −4k̂ − k̂ = −5k̂
~×B
(Note: in Fig. 1 k̂ goes out of the page; the cross product A ~ goes into the page, as
indicated by ”-”.)
More generally, the cross product is now expressed as a 3-by-3 determinant

î ĵ k̂
ay az ax az ax ay
~a × ~b = ax ay az = î − ĵ + k̂ (4)
by bz bx bz bx by
bx by bz
The two-by-two determinants can be easily expanded. In practice, there will be many zeros,
so calculations are not too hard.
Preview. Vector product is most relevant to rotation.
Example. See Fig. 1.
~ ×B
A ~ = k̂((−2)2 − 1 · 1) = −5k̂

15
 C. Preview. Forces as vectors.

Besides displacement ~r, and velocity ~v , forces represent another example of a vector. Note
that they are measured in different units, N (newtons), i.e. each component of the force
Fx , Fy , Fz is measured in N. How do we know that force is a vector? From experiments
on static equilibrium which demonstrate that forces indeed add up following the standard
vector addition rule of parallelogram (or, that they add up by components, which is the
same thing).
Consider your Lab experiment

The force table (left) and its schematic representation (right)

 
In equilibrium: F~1 + F~2 + F~3 = 0 , ⇒ F~3 = − F~1 + F~2

In the example: F1 = 0.9 N , θ1 = 180o ; F2 = 0.75 N , θ2 = 315o = −45o ⇒

F1x = 0.9 cos(180o) = −0.9 , F1y = 0.9 sin(180o) = 0

F2x = 0.75 cos(−45o ) = 0.53 , F2y = 0.75 sin(−45o ) = −0.53

F3x = −(F1x + F2x ) = 0.37 , F3y = −(F1y + F2y ) = 0.53

F3y 0.53
θ3 = tan−1 = tan−1 ≃ 55o
F3x 0.37
(check with picture that this is about correct; the angle 55o + 180o = 235o has the same
tan). Similarly, the magnitude
√
F3 = .372 + .532 = 0.646 (N)

16
 Dr. Vitaly A. Shneidman, Phys 111, Lecture

III. 1-DIMENSIONAL MOTION

Position x(t)
Displacement:
∆x = x (t2 ) − x (t1 )

Distance:
D ≥ |∆x| ≥ 0

Velocity:
∆x
v= , ∆t = t2 − t1
∆t
with a small ∆t (later, we distinguish between average velocity with a finite ∆t and instan-
taneous with ∆t → 0).
Speed:
D
s= ≥ |v| ≥ 0
∆t

A. v = const

See fig. 4
x
v
5
2.5
2 4

1.5 3
1 2
0.5
1
t
0.5 1 1.5 2
t
-0.5 0.5 1 1.5 2
-1 -1

-1.5 -2

FIG. 4: Velocity (left) and position (right) plots for motion with constant velocity: Positive (red)
or negative (blue). Note that area under the velocity line (positive or negative) corresponds to the
change in position: E.g. (red) 2 × 2 = 4.5 − 0.5, or (blue) 2 × (−1) = −2 − 0.

Displacement

∆x = v ∆t (5)

17
Distance

D = |∆x| , for v=const only (6)

Speed

s = D/∆t = |v| , for v=const only (7)

Example. A motorcycle with VM = 60 m/s is catching up with a car with VC = 40 m/s,

originally D = 200 m ahead. When and where will they meet? Give the graphic solution
(in class).
xM = VM t , xC = VC t + D , and xM = xC - they meet
D 200
VM t = VC t + D , thus, t = = = 10 s
VM − VC 60 − 40
Above is the meeting time (note ”relativity” - in a reference frame moving with VM the
motorcycle is stationary, while the car approaches it with speed of VM − VC ). The meeting
point - the distance from the original position of the motorcycle - is

VM
x = VM t = D = 600 m
VM − VC

Graphically, the solution is intersection in t, x plane.

18
 B. Variable velocity

Example (trap!): A hiker goes from A to B with S1 = 2 km/h and returns with S2 =

4 km/h. Find Sav .

S1 = 2 km/h; , S2 = 4 km/h . Sav − ?

D = 2AB , t1 = AB/S1 , t2 = AB/S2

D 2AB 2S1S2
Sav = = = 6= 3 km/h
t1 + t2 AB/S1 + AB/S2 S1 + S2

19
 1. Average and instantaneous velocities. Geometric and analytical meaning.

x
25

20

15

10

t
1 2 3 4 5 6

FIG. 5: A sample position vs. time plot (blue curve), and determination of the average velocities
- slopes (positive or negative) of straight solid lines. Slope of dashed line (which is tangent to x(t)
curve) is the instantaneouus velocity at t = 2 .

(t), (t)

(t)
(t)

FIG. 6: Example. Instantaneous velocity as the slope of x(t). Points indicate instances with
v(t) = 0.

20
 ∆x dx
Average velocity: vav = , Instantaneous: v = lim vav = (8)
∆t ∆t→0 dt

D
Distance: D ≥ |∆x| , Average speed: sav = ≥ |vav | (9)
∆t

dD
Instantaneous speed: s = = |v| (10)
dt

2. Displacement from velocity

v v
1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

t t
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

FIG. 7: Determination of displacement for a variable v(t). During the ith small interval of duration
∆t the velocity is replaced by a constant vi shown by a horizontal red segment. Corresponding
P
displacement is ∆xi ≈ vi · ∆t (the red rectangular box). The total displacement ∆x = ∆xi is
then approximated by the area under the v(t) curve.

Z t
Displacement: ∆x(t) = ”area” under the v(t) curve = v (t′ ) dt′ (11)
t1

21
 3. Acceleration

∆v
average: aav = (12)
∆t

dv d2 x
instantaneous: a = lim aav = = 2 (13)
∆t→0 dt dt
Geometric meaning: a - slope of v(t). If a(t) is known, ∆v is the ”area” under the a(t)
curve.
Example: Given (t in seconds, x in meters)

t4 t3
x(t) = − + + t2 − t + 1
4 3

Find: a) vav between t1 = 1 s and t2 = 3 s; b) v(t) , a(t)

x(t2 ) − x(t1 ) −17/4 − 13/12 8

vav = = =−
t2 − t1 3−1 3

b) from
d n
t = ntn−1 : v(t) = −t3 + t2 + 2t − 1 , a(t) = −3t2 + 2t + 2
dt
Example. A particle is moving according to x = 20t2 (with x in meters, t in seconds.
When t = 2 s (a) find a and (b) find v

dx dv m
v(t) = = 40t , a = = 40 2
dt dt s
m m
v(t = 2) = 80 , a = 40 2
s s

22
 4. a = const

v(t)
x(t)
4

3
v 0
2 a>
v0
t 1

t
1 2
a<
-1 0
-2

FIG. 8: Velocity (left) and position (right) plots for motion with constant acceleration: Positive
(red) or negative (blue). Again, area under the velocity line (positive or negative) corresponds to
the change in position. E.g. (red) (2.5 + 0.5) × 2/2 = 4 − 1 or (blue) (−2) × 2/2 = −2 − 0.

Notations: Start from t = 0, thus ∆t = t; v(0) ≡ v0 .

∆v = at , v = v0 + at (14)

Displacement - area of the trapezoid in fig. 8 (can be negative!):

v0 + v
∆x = t = v0t + at2 /2 (15)
2

A useful alternative: use t = (v − v0 ) /a:

v0 + v v − v0 v 2 − v02
∆x = = (16)
2 a 2a
(A more elegant derivation follows from conservation of energy,... later)

23
 SUMMARY: if

a = const , (17)

v = v0 + at (18)
1
x = x0 + v0t + at2 (19)
2
v0 + v v − v02
2
x − x0 = t= (20)
2 2a

Example. A motorcycle accelerates from rest for t = 2.0 s traveling x = 20 m during that
time. Find acceleration a. Solution:. Select an equation which has no v(t) (and v0 = 0 since
’from rest’ and x0 = 0 for convenience)

1 2x 2 · 20
x = at2 ⇒ a = 2 = = 10 m/s2
2 t 2.02

Example. A car accelerates from v0 = 5 m/s to v = 35 m/s with a = 3 m/s2 . (a) How
far will it go? (b) How long will it take? Solution:. (a) time is not given, thus select the
only formula which has no t:

v 2 − v02 352 − 52
x= = = ...
2a 2×3

(b) select a formula with no x

t = (v − v0 ) /a = . . .

Example. After the driver hits the brakes, the car skids for 10 s a distance 100 m before
it stops. (a) Find the initial speed v0 ; (b) find the deceleration. Solution:. (a) acceleration
not given or asked for, thus use

v0 + v
x= t with v = 0 ⇒
2
2x 2 × 100 v − v0 v0
v0 = = = 20 m/s , and a = = − = . . . (b)
t 10 t t

24
 Example: meeting problems (car VC = 40 m/s, aC = 0 and motorcycle VM = 0, aM =
2 m/s2 )

1
XC = VC t , XM = aM t2
2
1 1
VC t = aM t2 , t = 2VC /aM = 40 s , Xmeet = t · VC = 1600 m = aM t2
2 2

25
 C. Free fall

Reminder:

if a = const then (21)

v = v0 + at (22)
1
x = x0 + v0t + at2 (23)
2
v0 + v v − v02
2
x − x0 = t= (24)
2 2a
Free fall:
a → −g , x → y , x0 → y0 (or, H)

26
 a = −g = −9.8 m/s2 (25)

v = v0 − gt (26)
1
y = y0 + v0 t − gt2 (27)
2
v0 − v 2
2
y − y0 = (28)
2g

Example: max height:

v = 0 , ymax − y0 = v02 /2g (29)

Example: the Tower of Piza (v0 = 0 , y0 = H ≃ 55 m). Find t, v upon impact.

s
2H
0 = H + 0t − gt2 /2 , t =
g
p
0 − H = −v 2 /2g , v = 2gH

What if v0 = 10 m/s ? (use g ≈ 10 m/s2 )

1
0 = H + v0 t − gt2 , 0 = 55 + 10t − 5t2
2
√ √
t2 − 2t − 11 = 0, t = 1 ± 12 + 11 = 1 + 12 = . . .

(only positive root!)

v02 − v 2 2
0−H = , v = v02 + 2gH
2g
q √
v = v02 + 2gH ≈ 102 + 2 ∗ 10 ∗ 55 = . . .

If v0 = −10 m/s
0 = 55 − 10t − 5t2
√ √
t2 + 2t − 11 = 0, t = −1 ± 12 + 11 = −1 + 12 = . . .
p
v= v02 + 2gH (same: sign of v0 does not matter!)

27
 Other examples - ignore air friction

A shell is fired vertically up with v0 = 200 m/s. Find hmax .

v02 − v 2
y − y0 = , y − y0 = hmax , v = 0 @ max ⇒
2g

v02 2002
hmax = = ≈ 2 · 103 m
2g 2 ∗ 9.8
A package is dropped from a helicopter moving upward at v0 = 20 m/s. If it takes t = 15 s
before the package strikes the ground, (A) how high above the ground was the package when
it was released if air resistance is negligible? (B) How long is the path?

1 1 1
(A) 0 = y0 + v0 t − gt2 , y0 = gt2 − v0 t = ∗ 9.8 ∗ 152 − 20 ∗ 15 = . . .
2 2 2
v02
(B) D = y0 + 2 × hmax = y0 + 2 = ...
2g
Link to ”hammer-vs-feather” :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDp1tiUsZw8

28
 Dr. Vitaly A. Shneidman, Phys 111, Lecture

IV. PROJECTILE MOTION

A. Introduction: Object dropped from a plane

Given: y0 = H = 100 m and ~v0 = V î, with V = 200 m/s (horizontal). Find: (a) horizontal
distance L to hit the ground, (b) the speed v upon impact and the angle and (c) position
of the object relative to the plain. Solution:
Vertical motion (horizontal velocity does not matter!):
1
y(0) = H , v(0) = 0 ⇒ y(t) = H − gt2
2
Time to fall, y(t) = 0
p
t= 2H/g

(a) From x-direction

p p
L = Vt = V 2H/g = 200 2 · 100/9.8 = . . .

(b) Speed upon impact. From y-direction

2
v0y − vy2
y − y0 = ⇒ vy2 = 2gH
2g
(could use vy = −gt with calculated t). From x-direction

vx = const = V ⇒ v 2 = vx2 + vy2 = V 2 + 2gH = 2002 + 2 ∗ 9.8 ∗ 100 = . . .

(the last formula is also valid for non-horizontal launch with V replaced by v0 , the full initial
speed).

29
 Angle of impact with horizontal:
p
tan θ = vy /vx = − 2gH/V

(c) since vx = const = V the object is right under the plane (!)
Another example: vertical toy cannon on a moving cart.

FIG. 9: The ball lands back into the cannon for any constant velocity of the cart (Galileo’s
relativity!). The maximum hight and the time of flight depend only on vertical velocity but not
on the horizontal motion.

30
 B. General

x-axis horizontal, y-axis vertical (up): ax = 0 , ay = −g (30)

vx = v0,x = const , vy = v0,y − gt with v0,x = v0 cos θ , v0,y = v0 sin θ (31)

1
Displacement: x = x0 + v0,x t , y = y0 + v0,y t − gt2 (32)
2

2
v0y − vy2
Also, y − y0 =
2g

Y
3 
v
ymax
2

v 
g 
1  v

g g
X
2 4
-1
xmax 6 8 10

2
v0,y v0,xv0,y
Max elevation: ymax − y0 = , xmax = (33)
2g g
Range:
v0 cos θ v0 sin θ
R = 2xmax = 2
g

v02
R= sin (2θ) (34)
g
Note maximum for θ = 45o .

31
 Trajectory: (use x0 = y0 = 0). Exclude time, t = x/v0,x . Then

v0,y 1 x2 g
y=x − g 2 = x tan θ − 2 2
x2 (35)
v0,x 2 v0,x 2v0 cos θ
This is a parabola - see Fig. 10.
y
5

x
2 4 6 8 10

FIG. 10: Projectile motion for different values of the initial angle θ with a fixed value of initial
speed v0 (close to 10 m/s). Maximum range is achieved for θ = 45o .

C. Examples

Problem. A daredevil on a motorcycle wants to jump across an L=15m - wide river

starting from a horizontal cliff which is H=10m high. What should be his initial speed V ?
s
1 2 2H
y = H + 0t − gt ⇒ t = = ...
2 g

L
L = Vt ⇒ V = = ...
t

32
 Problem. A coastguard cannon is placed on a cliff y0 = 60 m above the sea level. Three
shells are fired at angles θ = 0 and θ = ±30o with horizontal, each with an initial speed
v0 = 80 m/s. Find the following:

1. the horizontal distance x from the cliff to the point where each projectile hits the water

2. the speed upon impact

Solution: θ = 0 exactly as for the plane, V = v0 : First find t, time to hit the water (from
vertical motion only!):
r
1 2y0
y = y0 + 0t − gt2 , y = 0 ⇒ t = = . . . , horizontal motion: x = v0 t = . . .
2 g

(b) - horizontal component of the velocity vx = V , vertical component vy = −gt = . . .

q m
v = vx2 + vy2 = . . . ≈ 87.2
s

m m
θ = +30o : vx = v0 cos θ ≈ 69.3 , v0y = v0 sin θ = 40
s s
Note y = 0 at the end. Find time from vertical motion only (use here g ≈ 10 m/s2 )

1
0 = y0 +v0y t− gt2 ⇒ 0 = 60+40t−5t2 or t2 −8t−12 = 0 with t ≈ 9.3 s (the positive root)
2

Horizontal distance: x = vx t = . . .

m
q
Speed upon impact: v = vx2 + (v0,y − gt)2 ≈ 87.2
s

Angle θ does not affect the final speed.

θ = −30o - same, but v0,y = −40 ms and 0 = 60 − 40t − 5t2 with t ≈ 1.3 s.

33
V. 2D MOTION

A. Introduction: Derivatives of a vector

Reminder from 1D motion:

dx dv
v= , a=
dt dt
Z t2 Z t2
∆v = a(t) dt , ∆x = v(t) dt
t1 t1

For 2D:
~r(t) = (x(t) , y(t)) = x(t)~i + y(t)~j

 
d dx dy dx~ dy ~
~v (t) = ~r = , = i+ j
dt dt dt dt dt

d2 d2 x d2 y d2 x~ d2 y ~
 
~a(t) = 2 ~r = , = i+ 2j
dt dt2 dt2 dt2 dt
and similarly for integrals.

34
 B. General

Position: ~r = ~r(t)
∆~r
Average velocity: ~vav =
∆t
(see Fig. 11).
d~r
Instantaneous velocity: ~v = lim ~vav =
∆t→0 dt
∆~v
Average acceleration: ~aav =
∆t
d~v d2~r
Instantaneous acceleration: ~a = lim ~aav = = 2
∆t→0 dt dt

y
100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

x
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

FIG. 11: Position of a particle ~r(t) (blue line), finite displacement ∆~r (black dashed line) and the
average velocity ~v = ∆~r/∆t (red dashed in the same direction). The instantaneous velocity at a
given point is tangent to the trajectory.

35
 C. ~a = const

∆~v = ~a · ∆t

or with t0 = 0

~v = ~v 0 + ~a · t (36)

Displacement:

1
~r = ~r0 + ~v0 · t + ~a · t2 (37)
2
(The above can be proven either by integration or by writing eq. (36) in components and
using known 1D results).
Example. A particle moves according to

~r(t) = 2t2 î + (3t + 4)ĵ

Find ~v(t) and ~a(t) at t = 2 s

Solution. Consider x(t) = 2t2 and y(t) = 3t + 4 separately

dx dvx
vx = = 4t , ax = =4
dt dt
dy dvy
vy = = 3 , ay = =0
dt dt
at t=2 vx = 8 , ax = 4 , vy = 3 , ay = 0

or ~v (t = 2) = 8î + 3ĵ , ~a = 4î

Example. Describe the x and y motion for ~a = −î + 2ĵ (in m/s2 ) and ~v0 = 10î (in m/s).
At t = 0 the particle is at the origin. Solution

1 1
x(t) = 10t − t2 , y(t) = 2t2
2 2
√
Can eliminate t via (the simpler) y(t) from which we get t = y and

√
x = 10 y − y/2

36
 D. ~a = ~g = 0î − 9.8ĵ (projectile motion)

see previous section

HW examples
A car comes to a bridge during a storm and finds the bridge washed out. The driver
must get to the other side, so he decides to try leaping it with his car. The side the car is on
is H=21.1 m above the river, whereas the opposite side is a mere h=2.4 m above the river.
The river itself is a raging torrent L=61.0 m wide.
s
2(H − h)
t= , vx = L/t = . . .
g
q
vy = 0 − gt , v = vx2 + vy2

0 − vy2 p
or h − H = , vy = − 2g(H − h) , v = . . .
2g

37
 E. Uniform circular motion

1. Preliminaries

Radian measure of an angle:

l = rθ

FIG. 12: Angle of 1 rad ≈ 57.3o . For this angle the length of the circular arc exactly equals the
radius. The full angle, 360o , is 2π radians.

Consider motion around a circle with a constant speed v. The velocity ~v, however,
changes directions so that there is acceleration.

Period of revolution:

T = 2πr/v (38)

with 1/T - ”frequency of revolution”. Angular velocity (in rad/s):

2π v
ω= = (39)
T r

38
 2. Acceleration


v (t)

v (t+ t)


r (t+ t) 
r (t)

Consider counterclockwise rotation with representative position vectors ~r(t) and ~r(t+∆t)
(black) which are symmetric with respect to the vertical. Note that ~v (blue) is always
perpendicular to ~r. Thus, from geometry vectors ~v (t + ∆t) , ~v (t) and ∆~v (dashed blue) form
a triangle which is similar to the one formed by ~r (t + ∆t) , ~r(t) and ∆~r (dashed black). Or,

|∆~v | |∆~r|
=
v r
|∆~v | v |∆~r|
a = lim = lim
∆t→0 ∆t r ∆t→0 ∆t

Or

v2
ac = = ω2r (40)
r

39
 3. An alternative derivation

We can use derivatives with the major relation

d d
sin(ωt) = ω cos(ωt) , cos(ωt) = −ω sin(ωt) , (41)
dt dt
One has
~r(t) = (x, y) = (r cos ωt, r sin ωt)
d~r
~v (t) = = (−rω sin ωt, rω cos ωt)
dt
Note: ~r(t) · ~v (t) = −r 2 ω cos(ωt) sin(ωt) + r 2 ω sin(ωt) cos(ωt) = 0

d~v
= −rω 2 cos ωt, −rω 2 sin ωt = −ω 2~r


~a = (42)
dt
which gives not only magnitude but also the direction of acceleration opposite to ~r, i.e.
towards the center.

FIG. 13: Position (black), velocities (blue) and acceleration (red) vectors for a uniform circular
motion in counter-clockwise direction.

40