Chapter 4

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

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

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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.
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 the direction is the
same as that of Ā

λxĀ =λĀ, if λ > 0

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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 |.
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

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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= |A| Â

Â= Ā
|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

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 .

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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 , their resultant is given by the third side of
the triangle.

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

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

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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

SN is normal to OP and PM is normal to OS.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNP , cos θ = PN / PS sin θ = SN /PS
cos θ = PN / B sin θ = SN / B
PN = B cos θ SN = B sin θ
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

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Motion in a Plane

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 + vy ĵ
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Instantaneous velocity

v =𝐝𝐫𝐝𝐭

v = vx î + vy ĵ where

Accelaration

a = a x î + ay ĵ
Instantaneous Accelaration

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Relative Velocity in Two Dimensions
Two objects A and B are moving with velocities v A and v B . Then,
velocity of object A relative to that of B is :
v AB = v A – v B
and similarly, the velocity of object B relative to that of A is :
v BA = v B – v A
Therefore, v AB = – v BA

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Since the woman is riding a bicycle, the velocity of rain as
experienced by her is the velocity of rain relative to the velocity of
the bicycle she is riding.
v rb = v r – v b

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Projectile Motion
An object that is in flight after being thrown or projected is called a
projectile.

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 only the y- component(u sin θ )
changes. At the point of maximum height, v y = 0.
Acceleration a x = 0 and a y = – g

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Equation of path of a projectile
Displacement of the projectile after a time t
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 − x2
2 u2 cos2 θ

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 .
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
T= 2 u sin θ
g
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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

R = u cos θ x 2 u sin θ
g
R = u2 2 sin θ cos θ
g
R = u2 sin 2θ
g

R is maximum when sin2θ is maximum, i.e., when θ = 45 0 .

Rmax = u2
g

Show that for a given velocity of projection range will be same for angles 𝜽
and ( 90-𝜽 )
For angle θ R = u2 sin 2θ
g
For angle (90 -θ) R = u2 sin 2 (90 -θ)
g
R = u2 sin (180 - 2θ)
g
Since sin (180 - 2θ) =sin 2θ
R = u2 sin 2θ
g
for a given velocity of projection range will be same for angles 𝜽 and ( 90-𝜽 )

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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
H = u2 sin 2θ
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.

(a) H = u2 sin 2θ
2g

H = 282 sin2 30
2 x 9.8

H = 10 m

(b) T = 2 u sin θ
g

T = 2x 28 sin30
9.8

T = 2.9 s

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(c) R = u2 sin 2θ
g

R = 282 sin60
9.8
R = 69 m

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 revolution made in one second is called its
frequency
υ= 1
T
unit - hertz (Hz)

Angular velocity (ω )
angular velocity is the time rate of change of angular displacement

ω= Δθ
Δt
In the limit Δt tends to zero
ω= dθ
dt
Unit is rad/s
During the time period T ,the angular displacement is 2π radian
2𝛑
ω= or ω = 2𝛑 υ
𝑻

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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
From figure angle = arc
radius
Δθ= Δr
r

Δr=r Δθ

Linear velocity v = Δr
Δt
v= r Δθ
Δt
But ω = Δ θ
Δt
v=rω
Angular Acceleration
The rate of change of angular velocity is called angular acceleration.
α =dω
dt
But ω = dθ
dt

α = d2θ
dt 2

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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 ′
Δ v = Δr
v r

Δ v = v Δr
r

Δ v = v Δr
Δt r Δt

a=v xv
r

a = v2
r
If R is the radius of circular path,then centripetal acceleration .
ac = v2
R
centripetal acceleration can also be expressed as
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 v=Rω v=Rω
R = v/ω

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 ?

(a) The angular speed ω is given by

ω = 2π/T = 2π × 7/100 = 0.44 rad/s
The linear speed v is :
v =ω R = 0.44 s -1 × 12 cm = 5.3 cm 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 s –1 ) 2 (12 cm) = 2.3 cm s -2

Seema Elizabeth
MARM Govt HSS Santhipuram

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