2D - 1

Motion in 2D
Velocity and acceleration are vectors. They can have any direction. When we are considering
motion in the xy plane, these vectors can point anywhere in the plane. A common example of
motion in 2D is...

Projectile motion

Consider a projectile fired from a cannon, with an initial velocity v 0 with a direction of above
the horizontal.

v 0x v 0 cos
vy vo
v 0y v 0 sin
x
vx
Acceleration is a vector, and can have any direction. But in the special case of acceleration due
solely to gravity, the acceleration is always straight down.

y ax = 0
a ay = g

Review of 1D motion:
dv dx
a , v ,
dt dt

From these two equations, we can derive, for the special case a = constant,
(a) v vo a t

(b) x x o v o t (1/ 2) a t 2

(c) v 2 v o 2 2 a (x x o )
vo v
(d) v
2
xo , vo = initial position, initial velocity x, v = position, velocity at time t

1/18/2009 University of Colorado at Boulder

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x
Suppose that a = 0 . In this case v = constant, and v v v0 constant
t
x x0
v0 , v0 t x x0 , x x 0 v0 t
t

If a 0 then x x0 v0 t 1
2at
2

position if a = 0 how much more (a > 0)
or less (a < 0) distance you
go if a 0

End of 1D motion review.

Now, 2D Motion

dv d vx d vy
a ax , ay
dt dt dt

dr dx dy
and v vx , vy
dt dt dt

Special case: a constant ax constant, a y constant

This is exactly like the 1D motion case, except now we have separate equations for x-motion and
y-motion. We can treat the x-motion and y-motion separately:

x x o v ox t 1
ax t2

2
X These are the x- and y-components of the vector
v x vox a x t

equations

r ro v o t 12 a t 2

y y o v oy t 1
2 ay t2
Y v vo a t

v y voy a y t

Example: Horizontal Rifle. A rifle bullet is fired horizontally with vo = 100 m/s from an initial
height of y0 = 2.0 m. Assume no air resistance. How long is the bullet in flight? How far does
the bullet go before it hits the ground?
y
vox = 100 m/s

2m

x
Key idea in all projectile motion problems: treat x- and y-motions separately!

1/18/2009 University of Colorado at Boulder

 2D - 3

The motion along the y-direction (vertical motion) is completely independent of the motion
along the x-direction (horizontal motion).

X: x 0 0 Y: y 0 2m
vox 100 m / s v oy 0
ax 0 ay g 9.8 m / s 2

The time to hit the ground is entirely controlled by the y-motion:

y y o v oy t

1
g t2 0 y0 1
g t2 , y0 1
g t2
2 2 2
0 0

2 y0 2 y0 2 (2)
2 y0 g t 2 , t 2 , t 0.64s
g g 9.8

Now we look at the x-equations to see how far along the x-direction the bullet traveled in 0.64 s.

a x 0 v x constant = v ox 100 m / s

x
x o v ox t 1
2 a x t 2 v ox t 100(0.64) 64 m

0 0

Why vx = constant ? The force of gravity is straight down. There is no sideways force to change
vx (assuming no air resistance).

Another question: What is the speed of the bullet as it falls?

vx constant vo x vo
vy voy ay t gt

0 g

As the bullet travels, its v x remains constant, while |vy | grows larger and larger.
y vox = vo

vx
vy v

vx x

v |vy |

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2
speed = magnitude of velocity = v vx 2 vy2 vox 2 gt

The speed is a minimum at t = 0 when vy = 0 (the moment when the bullet leaves the gun). The
speed is maximum when vy is maximum, just before the bullet reaches the ground. Dont forget
that we are assuming no air resistance. For a real rifle fired in real air, the bullets speed is
usually maximum when leaving the barrel, and then air resistance slows the bullet down as it
travels.

Example: A projectile is fired on an airless world with initial speed vo at an angle above the
horizontal. What is the minimum speed of the projectile? Answer: vox = vo cos .

ax 0 vx constant = vox vo cos

Proof:
ay g vy voy gt
y ( vy = 0 )
vy
vox
vox
voy

vox x
Here, the speed is minimum at the top of the trajectory, where vy = 0.

Review of acceleration:

dv dv v v2 v1
1D: a 2D: a
dt dt t t

v v2 v1 means v2 v1 v
v1 v

v is the vector you add to v1 to get v 2 .
v2

The direction of a is the same as the direction of v

(since a v positive number ( 1/ t )
V1
V1
V2 V
V2

x
The direction of the acceleration of gravity is the direction of V: straight down!

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 2D - 5

"Shoot the Monkey" Experiment:

A hunter aims a rifle at a monkey hanging in a tree. The rifle fires at the same instant that the
monkey lets go and drops. Does the bullet hit the poor monkey? Answer: Yes!

First, consider the situation with no gravity :

If no gravity, the bullet goes in a straight
y line, and the monkey does not fall. So the
monkey is hit.

The height of the bullet (with ay = 0) is

y y0 v0y t v0 sin t

x 0

Now, turn on gravity. The height of the bullet is now: y y0 v0y t 1

2 g t2 .

y
(1/2)g t2

With gravity on, the bullet falls below the straight-line path by a distance (1/2)g t2 , which is
exactly the same distance that the monkey falls. So the monkey falls into the path of the bullet.
Poor monkey!

Circular Motion and Acceleration

Circular motion: consider an object moving in a circle of

radius r, with constant speed v.
r
T = period = time for 1 complete revolution, 1 cycle
v

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 2D - 6

distance 2 r
speed v v
time T

An object moving in a circle is accelerating, because its velocity is changing -- changing

direction. Recall the definition of acceleration:

dv v v2 v1
a , velocity v can change is two ways:
dt t t

Magnitude can change or v

v1 v
direction can change:
v2
v2 v1

For circular motion with constant speed, we will show that

v2
1) the magnitude of the acceleration is a a
r

2) the direction of the acceleration is always towards the center of

motion. This is centripetal acceleration. "centripetal" = "toward center" r
Notice that the direction of acceleration vector is always changing, a v
therefore this is not a case of constant acceleration (so we cannot use a
the "constant acceleration formulas")
v
Is claim (1) sensible?
m2
2
v2 ms s2 m
Check units: a Yep.
r m m s2

Think: to get a big a, we must have a rapidly changing velocity. Here, we need to rapidly change
the direction of vector v need to get around circle quickly need either large speed v or a
small radius r. a = v2 / r makes sense. (Proof is given below.)

Is claim (2) sensible? Observe that vector v is toward center of circle.

v2 v1
Direction of a = direction toward which
velocity is changing
v1
v
v2

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 2D - 7

Example: acceleration on a merry-go-round. Radius r = 5 m , period T = 3 s

2 r 2 (5)
v 10.5 m/s
T 3
r
v v2 10.5
2 1g
a a = 22 m/s 2 2.3 g's !
r 5 9.8 m / s 2

A human can withstand an acceleration of about 5 g's for a few minutes or ~10 g's for a few
seconds without losing consciousness.

Proof of a = v2 / r for circular motion with constant speed

The proof involves geometry (similar triangles). It is

mathematically simple, but subtle.

Consider the motion of a particle on a circle of radius r with v2

r2
constant speed v. And consider the position of the particle at two
times separately by a short time interval t. (In the end we will
r1 v1
take the limit as t 0.) We can draw a vector diagrams

representing r1 r r2 and v1 v v2 :
v
r2
r=v t
r1 v2 v1

Notice that these are similar triangles (same angles, same length ratios). Also, note that

r1 r2 r and v1 v2 v.

v r v t
Because the triangles are similar, we can write . A little algebra gives
v r r
v v v v2
. Finally, we take the limit t 0 and get acceleration a .
t r r

1/18/2009 University of Colorado at Boulder