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Chapter 3
Motion in a Plane
Scalars and Vectors
A scalar quantity has only magnitude and no direction. It is specified
completely by a single number, along with the proper unit.
Eg. distance ,mass , temperature, time .

A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction and obeys the
triangle law of addition or the parallelogram law of addition. A vector is
specified by giving its magnitude by a number and its direction.
Eg.displacement, velocity, acceleration and force.

Representation of a Vector
A vector is representedby a bold letter say A or an arrow by an arrow
placed over a letter, say Ā .
The magnitude of a vector is called its absolute value, indicated by
|Ā|=A

Graphically a vector is represented by a line segment with an arrow head.

Q Q is the head of the vector
Ā P is the tail of the vector

The length of line segment gives the magnitude of the vector and arrow
mark gives its direction.
Position and Displacement Vectors

Let P and P′ be the positions of the object at time t and t′ , respectively .

OP is the position vector of the object at time t. OP = r.
OP’ is the position vector of the object at time t’. OP’= r’
If the object moves from P to P′ , the vector PP′ is called the displacement
vector.
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Displacement vector is the straight line joining the initial and final
positions and does not depend on the actual path undertaken by the object
between the two positions.

Equality of Vectors
Two vectors A and B are said to be equal if, and only if, they have the
same magnitude and the same direction.
(a) Two equal vectors A and B.

(b) Two vectors A ′ and B ′ are unequal eventhough they are of same
length

Multiplication of Vectors by Real Numbers

▪ Multiplying a vector Ā with a positive number λ gives a vector whose
magnitude is changed by the factor λ but direction is the same as that
of Ā
λxĀ =λĀ, if λ > 0

For example, if Ā is multiplied by 2, the resultant vector 2 Ā is in

the same direction as Ā and has a magnitude twice of | Ā |

▪ Multiplying a vector Ā by a negative number λ gives a vector λ Ā

whose direction is opposite to the direction of Ā and whose
magnitude is
–λ times | Ā |.
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For example, multiplying a given vector A by negative numbers, say
–1 and –1.5, gives vectors as

Null vector or a Zero vector

A Null vector or a Zero vector is a vector having zero magnitude and is
represented by O or Ō . The result of adding two equal and opposite
vectors will be a Zero vector
Eg: When a body returns to its initial position its displacement will be a
zero vector.

The main properties of Ō are :

Ā+Ō=Ā
λŌ=Ō
ŌĀ=Ō
Unit vectors
A unit vector is a vector of unit magnitude and points in a particular
direction.
It has no dimension and unit. It is used to specify a direction only.
If we multiply a unit vector, say n by a scalar, the result is a vector.

In general, a vector A can be written as

Ā =|𝐴̅|𝐴̂
̅
̂= 𝐀
𝐀 ̅|
|𝑨
where  is the unit vector along Ā

Unit vectors along the x-, y- and z-axes of a rectangular coordinate system
are denoted by î , ĵ and k̂ , respectively.

Since these are unit vectors, we have | î | = | ̂J | = | k̂ | = 1

These unit vectors are perpendicular to each other and are called
orthogonal unit vectors
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Resolution of a vector
We can now resolve a vector A in terms of component vectors that lie along
unit vectors î and ĵ .

Addition and Subtraction of Vectors — Graphical Method

Triangle law of vector addition
If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by the two sides
of a triangle taken in order ,then their resultant is given by the third side of
the triangle taken in reverse order.

This graphical method is called the head-to-tail method.

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If we find the resultant of B + A , the same vector R is obtained.
▪ Thus, vector addition is commutative:
A+B=B+A
▪ The addition of vectors also obeys the associative law
(A + B) + C = A + (B + C)

Subtraction of vectors
Subtraction of vectors can be defined in terms of addition of vectors. We
define the difference of two vectors A and B as the sum of two vectors
A and –B :
A – B = A + (–B)

Parallelogram law of vector addition

If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by the
adjacent sides of a parallelogram ,then their resultant is given by the
diagonal of the parallelogram.

Example
Rain is falling vertically with a speed of 35 m s –1 . Winds starts blowing
after sometime with a speed of 12 m s –1 in east to west direction. In which
direction
should a boy waiting at a bus stop hold his umbrella ?
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Vector Addition – Analytical Method

Consider two vectors A and B in x-y plane

From the geometry of the figure,

OS 2 = ON 2 + SN 2
but ON = OP + PN
= A + B cos θ
SN = B sin θ
OS 2 = (A + B cos θ ) 2 + (B sin θ ) 2
R 2 = A 2 +2AB cos θ + B 2 cos 2θ +B 2sin2 θ
R 2 = A 2 + B 2 + 2AB cos θ
𝐑 = √𝐀2 + 𝐁 2 + 2𝐀𝐁𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛉
This Equation gives the magnitude of the resultant of vectors A and B.
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From figure,

These Equations gives the direction of the resultant of vectors A and B.

Example
A motorboat is racing towards north at 25 km/h and the water current
in that region is 10 km/h in the direction of 60° east of south. Find the
resultant velocity of the boat

Motion in a Plane
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Position Vector
The position vector r of a particle P at time t
r = xî +y ĵ
The position vector r of a particle P at time t’
r’ = x’î +y’ ĵ
Displacement vector
Δr = r’ -r
Δr =( x’î +y’ ĵ ) - (xî +y ĵ )
Δr = ( x’- x) î + (y’ - y ) ĵ
Δr = Δx î + Δy ĵ

Velocity vector
Δ𝐫
v=
Δ𝐭
v = Δx î + Δy ĵ
Δt
v = Δx î + Δy ĵ
Δt Δt
v = vx î + v y ĵ
Instantaneous velocity
𝐝𝐫
v=
𝐝𝐭
v = vx î + vy ĵ where

Acceleration
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a = ax î + a y ĵ

Instantaneous Acceleration
𝐝𝐯
a=
𝐝𝐭
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Projectile Motion

▪ An object that is in flight after being thrown or projected is called a

projectile.
▪ The path (trajectory)of a projectile is a parabola.
▪ The components of initial velocity u are u cos θ along horizontal
direction and u sin θ along vertical direction.
▪ The x-component of velocity(u cos θ ) remains constant throughout
the motion and hence there is no acceleration in horizontal
direction,i.e., ax = 0
▪ The y- component of velocity (u sin θ ) changes throughout the
motion. At the point of maximum height, u sin θ = 0. There is
acceleration in vertical direction, ay = – g

Equation of path of a projectile

Displacement of the projectile after a time t
x= ucosθ t
x
t =ucosθ
1
y= u sinθ t − 2 g t 2
x 1 x 2
y= u sinθ (ucosθ) − 2 g (ucosθ)
g
y= tanθ x − 2 u2 cos2 θ
x2
This equation is of the form y = a x + b x 2 , in which a and b are constants.
This is the equation of a parabola, i.e. the path of the projectile is a
parabola .
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Time of Flight of a projectile (T)

The total time T during which the projectile is in flight is called Time of
Flight, T.

Consider the motion in vertical direction,

s = ut +½ at2
s=0,
u = u sin θ ,
a =-g ,
t=T
0 = u sin θ T - ½ gT2
u sin θ T = ½ gT2
𝟐 𝐮 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉
T=
𝐠
Horizontal range of a projectile (R)
The horizontal distance travelled by a projectile during its time of flight is
called the horizontal range, R.
Horizontal range = Horizontal component of velocity x Time of flight
𝟐 𝐮 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉
R = u cos θ x 𝒈
𝒖𝟐 𝐱 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛉 cos θ
R= 𝑔
𝐮𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝛉
R=
𝐠
R is maximum when sin2θ is maximum, i.e., when θ = 45 0 .
𝐮𝟐
Rmax =
𝐠
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Show that for a given velocity of projection range will be same for angles 𝜽
and ( 90-𝜽 )
𝐮𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝛉
For angle θ, R=
𝐠
𝐮𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐(𝟗𝟎−𝛉)
For angle (90 -θ), R=
𝐠
𝐮𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 (𝟏𝟖𝟎− 𝟐𝛉)
R=
𝐠
sin (180 - 2θ) =sin 2θ
𝐮𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝛉
R=
𝐠
for given velocity of projection range will be same for angles 𝜽 and ( 90-𝜽 )
Maximum height of a projectile (H)
It is the maximum height reached by the projectile.
Consider the motion in vertical direction to the highest point
v2 – u2 = 2as
u = u sin θ,
v=0,
a = -g ,
s=H
0 - u2 sin 2θ = -2 g H
𝐮𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝛉
H=
𝟐𝐠

Example
A cricket ball is thrown at a speed of 28 m s –1 in a direction 30° above the
horizontal. Calculate (a) the maximum height, (b) the time taken by the
ball to return to the same level, and (c) the distance from the thrower to
the point where the ball returns to the same level.
u2 sin2 θ
(a) H =
2g
282 sin2 30
H= = 10 m
2 x 9.8
2 u sin θ
(b) T =
g
2x9.8 sin 30
T= = 2.9 s
9.8
u2 sin 2θ
(c) R =
g
282 sin 60
R= = 69 m
9.8
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Uniform Circular Motion

When an object follows a circular path at a constant speed, the motion of
the object is called uniform circular motion. The word “uniform” refers to
the speed, which is uniform (constant) throughout the motion.

Period
The time taken by an object to make one revolution is known as its time
period T
Frequency
The number of revolutions made in one second is called its frequency.
𝟏
υ=
𝑻
unit - hertz (Hz)
Angular velocity (ω )
angular velocity is the time rate of change of angular displacement
𝚫𝛉
ω=
𝚫𝒕

In the limit Δt tends to zero

𝐝𝛉
ω=
𝒅𝒕
Unit is rad/s
During the time period T ,the angular displacement is 2π radian
2𝛑
ω= or ω = 2𝛑 υ
𝑻

Relation connecting angular velocity and linear velocity

As the object moves from P to P′ in time Δt . Δθ is called angular

displacement and Δ r is the linear diplacement
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arc
angle =
radius
Δr
Δθ=
r
Δr=r Δθ
Δr Δθ
=r
Δ𝑡 Δ𝑡
v=rω
Angular Acceleration
The rate of change of angular velocity is called angular acceleration.
d𝛚
α =
dt
dθ
But ω =
𝑑𝑡
d dθ
α= ( 𝑑𝑡 )
dt

𝐝𝟐 𝛉
α= 𝐝𝐭
Centripetal acceleration
A body in uniform circular motion experiences an acceleration , which is
directed towards the centre along its radius .This is s called centripetal
acceleration .

Let r and r′ be the position vectors and v and v′ the velocities of the object
when it is at point P and P ′
Δv Δr
=
v r
vΔr
Δv=
r
Δv vΔr
=
Δt r Δt
v
a= xv
r
v2
a= r
If R is the radius of circular path, then centripetal acceleration .
𝐯𝟐
ac =
𝐑
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Centripetal acceleration can also be expressed as

v=Rω v=Rω
𝐯𝟐
ac = R = v/ω
𝐑
v2
ac =
R
ac = R2 ω2 ac = v 2
R (v/ ω)
a c = ω 2R ac = v ω

Example
An insect trapped in a circular groove of radius 12 cm moves along the
groove steadily and completes 7 revolutions in 100 s.

(a) What is the angular speed, and the linear speed of the motion?
(b) Is the acceleration vector a constant vector ? What is its magnitude ?
100
Period, T= s
7

(a) The angular speed ω is given by

2π 2π 2π x7
ω= = 100 = =0.44 rad/s
𝑇 100
7

The linear speed , v =ω R = 0.44 × 0.12 = 5.3 x 10 -2 m s -1

(b) The direction of velocity v is along the tangent to the circle at every
point. The acceleration is directed towards the centre of the circle. Since
this direction changes continuously, acceleration here is not a constant
vector.
a = ω 2 R = (0.44 ) 2 x0.12 = 2.3x10 -2 m s -2

Seema Elizabeth
HSST Physics
MARM Govt HSS Santhipuram
Thrissur