Kinematics 2D

PHYSICS

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Kinematics 2D
When an object moves in two dimensional coordinate then the study of motion of the
object is called kinematics in 2D or motion in a plane.
For example: Study of a projectile motion, circular motion
In this chapter we will basically use the vectors to describe the motion of the particle in a
plane.

Position vector and Displacement

 The position vector of a particle located in a plane is given by:

r = x î + y ĵ
 The magnitude of the position is given by:
r= x2 + y2

Where x denote the X-coordinate and y denote the

Y-coordinate of the point P.
Let a particle moves from point r = (x 1ˆi + y 1ˆj) to point
r = (x 2ˆi + y 2ˆj) then the displacement of the particle is
given by:

Displacement  r  = r - r  = (x ˆi + y ĵ)

Here Δ x = x2 – x1 and Δ y = y2 – y1

Velocity
The rate of change of displacement is called velocity.
The net displacement divided by the time taken is called average velocity.

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The average velocity of the particle is given by:

The rate of change of displacement at a particular time is called instantaneous velocity.

The instantaneous velocity is given by:

The magnitude of the velocity in a plane is given by:

The direction of the velocity is given by:

Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity is called acceleration.
The change in velocity divided by total time taken is called average acceleration of the
particle.
The average acceleration of the particle is given by:

The rate of change of displacement at a particular time is called instantaneous

acceleration.
The instantaneous acceleration is given by:

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The magnitude of the acceleration in a plane is given by:

The direction of the acceleration is given by:

Q. The position of a particle is given by r = t 2 ˆi + 2 t 3ˆj where t is time. Find the

velocity and acceleration of particle at time t = 1 second.

A. Given that:

The velocity of the particle is given by:

At time t = 1 sec,

The acceleration of the particle is given by:

At time t = 1 sec

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Points to Remember
The direction of velocity of any object at any point on the path is tangential to the path
at that point and is in the direction of motion.

Motion in a Plane with constant

Acceleration
Let an object be moving with constant acceleration a and initial velocity is u.
Here, and

Then the velocity of the particle after time t is given by:

Using equation of motion in X and Y – direction separately.
We have, V = u + a t

Also,

As evident from above, the motion in x and y are independent of each other and can be
dealt with independently.

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Common Mistake
Here, as x and y are perpendicular directions to each other, hence we can consider the
motion in these two directions as independent of each other. If two directions are not
perpendicular to each other, then we have to resolve their components in perpendicular
directions first and then apply the equations above.

Projectile Motion
When a particle is projected in air at an angle with horizontal then the particle follows a
special path in the air under the action of gravity is called projectile motion.
Here particle is projected with initial velocity u at an angle θ.
Note: Sign convention:
1) The point of projection of projectile is taken as origin.
2) The distance or velocity in right side of the origin is taken as u
positive and in left side of the origin is taken as negative.
3) The distance or velocity above the origin is taken as positive
and in downward direction is taken as negative.

 The path followed by the particle is a parabola which is shown above.

 The particle moves in air under the action of gravity (g), which is the acceleration in
the vertical direction.
 There is no acceleration in horizontal direction.
Here there are two components of velocity:
1) Along X-direction or horizontal direction
2) Along Y-direction or vertical direction
 Initial velocity in X-direction (ux) = u Cosθ
 Initial velocity in Y-direction (uy) = u Sinθ
 Acceleration in X-direction (ax) = 0

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 So velocity in X-direction will remain constant throughout the motion of the

projectile. Thus the final velocity in X-direction at any time (Vx) = ux = u Cosθ
 Acceleration in Y-direction (ay) = - g (Because the acceleration due to gravity
always acts in downward direction)

Use equations of motion in X and Y direction separately.

After time t the velocity in Y-direction is given by:

At any time the angle between X-component of velocity and Y-component of velocity is
given by:

Time of maximum height

The time taken to reach the particle at top point/maximum height is called time of
maximum height.
At maximum height, the Y-component of velocity will be zero.

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Maximum height
The maximum displacement of the particle in Y-direction is called maximum height. It is
denoted as H.
Displacement in Y –direction in maximum height time is equal to maximum height
attained by the projectile.

Time of flight
The total time duration in which the particle remains in air is called time of flight.
Time of flight is equal to two times the time of maximum height. It is denoted by T.

Range of the projectile

The total displacement of the particle is X-direction is called range of the projectile.
It is denoted as R.

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The range of the projectile will be maximum when the value of Sin 2θ will be maximum.
So at 2θ = 90° the range of the projectile will be maximum.
Thus at the Angle of projection (θ) = 45°, the range of the projectile will be maximum.

Equation of path of a projectile/Equation of trajectory

The path followed by a projectile is parabolic path. The equation of this path followed
by a projectile is called equation of trajectory.
The equation of trajectory is given by:

Here y is displacement in Y- direction, x is displacement in X-direction, u is initial

velocity of projectile, g is acceleration due to gravity and θ is angle of projection

Q. A stone is projected at an angle of 30° with horizontal with an initial velocity of

20 m/s. Find the time of flight, maximum height and the range of the projectile.
Also write the equation of trajectory.

A. Given that:
Angle of projection (θ) = 30°
Initial velocity (u) = 20 m/s

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Points to Remember
For a projectile motion,
 The acceleration due to gravity always act in downward direction. So the velocity of
the particle will change in vertical (Y-direction) direction.
 There is no acceleration of the particle in X-direction. So the velocity of the particle
will remain constant in horizontal direction.
 The y- component of velocity of the particle is zero at maximum height.

Uniform Circular Motion

When an object moves on a circular path at a constant speed then the motion of the
object is called uniform circular motion.

 Let the linear speed of the uniform

circular motion is v and radius of the
path is r.
 Here C is center of the circle.
 If particle rotated by a complete
circular path, then the distance
travelled = 2 π r

 The time taken to complete one complete circular path is called time period of a
circular motion. It is denoted by T.

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Angular Displacement

 The angle through which a point or line has been

rotated in a specified sense in a time duration is called
angular displacement.
 The SI unit of angular displacement is radian.
 It is generally denoted by θ.
 Here the particle moves from point P to P1 on a circular
path by a distance s and rotated by an angle θ.
So angular displacement = θ

Angular Velocity
 The rate of change of angular displacement is
called angular velocity.
 It is a vector quantity.
 It is denoted by ω.
 The SI unit of angular velocity is rad/sec.

The relation between angular velocity and linear velocity is given by:
V=ωr
where V is linear velocity and r is radius of the circular path

Frequency (f) = ν = 1/T = ω/2π

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Angular Acceleration
 The rate of change of angular velocity is called angular acceleration.
 It is denoted by α.
 It is a vector quantity.
 The SI unit of angular acceleration is rad/s2.

The relation between angular acceleration and linear acceleration is given by:

A=αr
, where a is linear acceleration.

There are two types of acceleration in circular motion of the particle:

1) Centripetal acceleration
2) Tangential acceleration

Points to Remember
In a uniform circular motion, the speed of the particle remains constant always, so the
tangential acceleration is zero. Only centripetal acceleration is there.

Centripetal acceleration
 The acceleration which is responsible for changing the path of
the particle in a circular motion and it is towards the center of
the circular path is called centripetal acceleration.
 It is denoted by ac.

 It is directed towards the center as shown in the diagram

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Tangential acceleration
 The rate of change of speed of the particle moving on a circular path is called
tangential acceleration.
 It is denoted by at.

 It is responsible for change in speed of the particle.

 As in the uniform circular motion the speed of the particle is constant. So the
tangential acceleration is zero. Only centripetal acceleration is there in this motion.

Net Acceleration in Circular Motion

Net acceleration (a) in a circular motion is

given by:

The angle between net acceleration and

centripetal acceleration is given by:

Points to Remember
In a circular motion,
 the centripetal acceleration is responsible for the circular path of the motion, and
 the tangential acceleration is responsible for the change in speed of the motion.

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Q. A particle performing a uniform circular motion on a circular path of radius 2 m

with a velocity of 10 m/s. Find the angular velocity and centripetal acceleration
of the particle.

A. Given that:
Radius of path (r) = 2 m
Velocity (V) = 10 m/s
Angular velocity (ω) = V/r = 10/2 = 5 rad/sec

Definition
Frequency: The reciprocal of time period is called frequency. It is denoted by
ν (nu) or f.

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