Chapter 3 Kinematics in 2-D

Vector Components ***(IMPORTANT SECTION)***

Any arbitrary vector can be expressed as the sum of 2
separate perpendicular vectors.
Eg. y A = Ax + Ay
A
Ay
θ
x
Ax

Q1) The vector C = 45m, 22o N of E. Break this vector into 2

components vectors, Cx directed east, and Cy directed north.
Q2) As part of your cardio workout you run up a hill at 3.0 m/s.
The horizontal component of your velocity is 2.5 m/s.
a) What is the angle of the hill?
b) What is the vertical component of your velocity?
Note: You don’t have to break a vector into horizontal and
vertical components. eg. A block on a wedge with the
force of gravity pulling straight down.

Fx
y F F = Fx + Fy
x
Fy

You will see this a lot in the next chapters.

Addition of Vectors Using Components *(IMPORTANT)*
The most convenient way of adding (or subtracting) vectors
together is by adding the components (most accurate way, and
don’t need a ruler or protractor).
Recipe
1) Decide which way you want your x and y axes (usually
x=horizontal, y=vertical, but this is not always the optimal
choice (cf. previous example).
2) Break each vector into their ‘x’ and ‘y’ components.
3) Add (or subtract when appropriate) all the ‘x’ components.
This sum is the ‘x’ component of the resultant vector, Rx.
4) Likewise for the ‘y’ components.
5) The magnitude of the resultant vector can be found with
Pythagoras’ theorem: |R| = √(Rx2 + Ry2).
6) The direction of the resultant vector can be found using:
tan(θ) = Ry R Ry
θ
Rx
R
Q1) A jogger runs 100m 20o E of N, then 300m 30o S of W. What
is the final displacement of the jogger (magnitude and
direction)?
Subtraction of Vectors

Q1) For the vectors A and B below, use the graphical method
to depict the resultant vector R when R = A + B and then
when R = A - B.
y y

A
B
x x

Q2) Which combination of the vectors shown

has the largest magnitude?
B
A. A + B + C
B. B + A - C A C
C. A - B + C
D. C - A - C
2-D Motion
We can now consider 2-D motion.
Because motions in the ‘x’ and ‘y’ directions (and ‘z’ direction
for 3-D motion) are independent of one another, can use the 1-D
kinematic equations to figure out the motion in each direction
separately.
Eg. The engine of a boat is capable of giving the boat a speed of
4.0 m/s. The boat heads straight north across an 1800m river.
However, the current in the river also gives the boat a velocity
of 2.0 m/s to the east. How far to the east from its original
position will the boat travel after crossing the river?
Soln: y (N)
Vy = 4.0 m/s
1800m
vx = 2.0 m/s

x (E)

In the ‘x’ direction: Δx = vx Δt (know vx, but don’t know Δt)

In the ‘y’ direction: Δy = vy Δt
Know Δy and vy  can solve for Δt.
Δt = Δy / vy = 1800 / 4 = 450 s
Hence, Δx = vx Δt = 2 (450) = 900 m
Q1) A Harrier “jump-jet” can travel forwards like a plane, but can
also hover and move vertically. A Harrier starting from
rest accelerates upwards at 2 m/s/s for 10 seconds, then
accelerates at 8 m/s/s at 30o from the horizontal for 5
seconds. What is the displacement of the Harrier after 15
seconds?

U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication

Specialist John Lill/Released, CC BY 2.0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_4oD-BltCY
Projectile Motion
One of the most common applications of the 2-D kinematic
equations is projectile motion.
For projectile motion, ay = -9.8 m/s/s  vy changes
ax = 0  vx = constant.
A basketball player lobs a ball towards the net.
a) Determine the algebraic sign of the ball's x velocity
the instant after it leaves the player's hands.
b) Determine the algebraic sign of the ball's y velocity
the instant after it leaves the player's hands.
c) Determine the algebraic sign of the ball's x velocity
at the ball's maximum height.
d) Determine the algebraic sign of the ball's y velocity
at the ball's maximum height.

A: positive
B: negative
C: zero
 A stuffed aardvark and a stuffed brontosaurus are released
simultaneously from a ladder; the aardvark is dropped straight
down and the brontosaurus is thrown horizontally.

a) Which lands first?

b) Which has the greatest speed at the moment of impact?

A: the aardvark
B: the brontosaurus
C: both/at the same time
 Your car is following behind a jeep on the road, matching its
speed. Suddenly, the spare tire on the back of the jeep falls off.
Assuming you always maintain constant velocity, and
assuming no air resistance, will the tire hit your car before it
hits the ground?

A: Yes
B: It depends on how closely you are following behind
C: It depends on the height the tire was dropped from
D: It depends on how closely you are following behind
and on the height the tire was dropped from
E: No
Example: A mountain climber attempts to jump a
crevasse. The opposite side of the
crevasse is 2.75 m lower and is 4.1m away
in the horizontal direction. The climber jumps
the crevasse with a horizontal speed of 5m/s. John Spooner, CC BY 2.0

vi = 5m/s

2.75m

4.1m

a) Will the mountain climber successfully cross the

crevasse?
b) What is the minimum horizontal speed the climber
needs to cross the crevasse?
c) Assuming the minimum horizontal speed in part b),
how long is the climber in the air?
Soln: a) Will the climber make it? vi = 5m/s

Consider the motion in the ‘y’

direction first. Find the time for 2.75m

the climber to drop 2.75m.

4.1m
viy=0, ay=-9.8m/s , Δy=-2.75m
2

0
Δy = viy * Δt + ½ ay* (Δt)2

 Δt = √(2 Δy/ay) = √(2(-2.75)/(-9.8)) = 0.75s

How far in the horizontal direction has the climber gone
in this time? 0 since ax = 0 Climber will
not make it! 4.1m
Δx = vix * Δt + ½ ax* (Δt) 2
2.75m

= 5(0.75) = 3.75m
3.75m
Soln: b) What vi does the climber need to
make it across?
2.75m

In order to make it, climber would

need to travel 4.1m in the ‘x’ direction 4.1m
in 0.75s.
Δx = vix Δt  vix = Δx/Δt = 4.1 / 0.75 = 5.47m/s.

c) Assuming vi in part b), how long is the climber in the

air?
Time = 0.75s (calculated from part a)).

This is the time to travel 2.75m in the vertical

direction….while simultaneously traveling 4.1m in the
horizontal direction.
Q1) A golfer sends a ball over a 3m high tree that is 14m away.
The velocity of the ball when struck is 13.5m/s, at an angle
of 54o from the horizontal.

a) What is the maximum height of the ball?

b) What is the total time-of-flight of the ball (assume the ball
lands at the same elevation at which it started).
c) What is the range of the ball? (how far horizontally does
it travel)?
d) What is the final velocity of the ball?
e) How high was the ball when it passed over the tree?
Q2) The archerfish can squirt water at insects to
knock them into the water (to eat them).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8oV4RBYR9U
An archerfish wants to hit a beetle on a R.Wampers ,CC BY-SA 2.0

branch 3cm above the water. It squirts

water with a velocity of 2.3 m/s, and wants
the stream of water to hit the beetle in a
horizontal direction.
h
vi
θ

a) What is the appropriate launch angle (θ)?

b) How much time does the beetle have to react?
c) What is the horizontal distance of the fish from the
beetle (marked as ‘d’)?
Symmetries in Projectile Motion
Just as in freely falling bodies there are symmetries in projectile
motion. Will illustrate this with examples.

Eg 1) v3 θ3 θ4 v4
Velocity Up=Velocity Down
v2 θ2 θ5 v5 (only reversed)
v1 θ1 θ6 v6 So |v1| = |v6|, θ1 = θ6
|v2| = |v5|, θ2 = θ5
|v3| = |v4|, θ3 = θ4
Eg 2) vi2 θ
Two objects are thrown with
P
vi1
identical initial speeds, vi1, vi2,
θ
but one is thrown at an angle θ
above the horizontal, and one is
vf2
thrown at an angle θ below the
vf1
horizontal.

How do the final velocities of objects 1 and 2 compare?

A: vf1 > vf2.
B: vf1 < vf2.
C: vf1 = vf2.

When object 2 reaches point ‘P’ its velocity will equal

vi1. Hence, from that point onwards it will have exactly
the same trajectory as object 1, and will land with the
same velocity.
Eg 3) y Imagine a projectile launched
with an initial speed vi, but at
various angles. Which angle will
θ2
give the largest range?
θ3
x
θ1

Answer….can show θ = 45o will give the largest range.

Also, range at angle 45 + n
= range at angle 45 – n.
Eg. If n=15, this says range for θ = 45 + 15 = 60o
= range for θ = 45 – 15 = 30o.
Eg 3) Additional question…..
Which projectile is in the air the longest?
Soln: vfy = viy + ay* Δt
At max height, vfy = 0
 time from max height to ground =
Δt = -viy/ay = (-visinθ)/(-9.8) = visinθ/9.8
Total time of flight = 2Δt = 2 visinθ/9.8
For this to be maximized, sinθ must be maximized
 want the largest θ ( assuming θ < 90o )
So, for large θ time of flight is large, but range short
due to small vix

for small θ vix is large, but range is short

due to short time of flight

for θ =45o v ix and time of flight are intermediate,

and range is maximized
 A cantaloupe is fired from a small cannon aimed at an
angle of 30o above the horizontal. It lands in a grocery bag.
A second cantaloupe is fired from the same cannon but now
the cannon is tilted at an angle of 60o above the horizontal.
The grocery bag is not moved. Where will the second
cantaloupe land? Assume no air resistance.
A. Beyond the grocery bag.
B. Into the into the grocery bag
C. In front of the grocery bag.

Which cantaloupe spends more time in the air, the one fired
from 30o or the one fired from 60o?
A: The one fired from 30o
B: The one fired from 60o
C: They both spend the same time in the air.
 y

A B

Two bricks are thrown in the air and follow the trajectories
shown above. Which brick spends more time in the air?
A. The brick with trajectory ‘A’
B. The brick with trajectory ‘B’
C. They both spend the same time in the air
Homework Problems for Chapter 3
Pages 95 - 98
# 7, 9, 11, 15, 31, 33, 45, 57a), 63, 65