BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

GENERAL PHYSICS
COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT WEEK
1 3 5-7

CHECKLIST
✓ Read course and unit objectives
✓ Read study guide prior to class attendance
✓ Proactively participate in classroom discussions
✓ Participate in weekly discussion board (Google Classroom)
✓ Answer and submit course unit tasks

UNIT EXPECTED OUTCOMES (UEOs)

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:
1. Describe two-dimensional motion in terms of speed, velocity and acceleration.
2. Apply concepts of component vectors to determine the magnitude of vectors in the x and y
plane.
3. Solve problems involving straight line motion with constant acceleration
4. Solve problems involving uniform circular motion in terms of speed, velocity and acceleration
TERMINOLOGIES
Motion Projectile is a body that is given an initial velocity and then follows a path determined
entirely by the effects of gravitational acceleration and air resistance. It is a combination of
horizontal and vertical motions.
 Uniform Circular Motion is a type of motion when a body moves in circular path with constant
speed v, that is the magnitude of the velocity is not changing.
Linear speed (or tangential speed), 𝒗 is the distance travelled by the body in one revolution
along the circular path in a given period of time.

UNIT TASKS
Exercise 3.1 Projectile Motion
Exercise 3.2 Uniform Circular Motion

REFERENCES
Serway and Vuille (2012), College Physics, 9th Edition, Cengage Learning
Serway and Jewett (2014), Physics for Scientist and Engineers, 9th Edition, Brooks / Cole Cengage
Sears and Zemanky (2012), University Physics 12th Edition
Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

3.1 projectile
UNIT 3 PROJECTILE

Motion in two dimensions

OVERVIEW
What determines where a batted baseball land? How do you
describe the motion of a roller coaster car along a curved track
or the flight of a circling hawk? Which hits the ground first: a
baseball that you simply drop or one that you throw
horizontally?
We can’t answer these kinds of
questions using the techniques of
Chapter 2, in which particles moved
only along a straight line. Instead,
we need to extend our descriptions
of motion to two-dimensional
situations. We’ll still use the vector
quantities displacement, velocity, Figure 32. Change in distance
and acceleration, but now these between 2 objects can be observed
when motion takes place within
quantities will no longer lie along them
a single line. We’ll find that several important kinds of motion
take place in two dimensions only—that is, in a plane. We can
describe these motions with two components of position,
velocity, and acceleration.
Figure 33. Projectile
Motion Projectile is a body that is given an initial velocity and
then follows a path determined entirely by the effects of
gravitational acceleration and air resistance. It is a combination
of horizontal and vertical motions. In our discussion, we will
consider the following assumptions:
1. The projectile moves vertically with constant acceleration
due to gravity (g = 9.8 m/s2).
2. The projectile moves horizontally at constant velocity
when the effects of air resistance is negligible.
With these two assumptions, basically a projectile is a two-
dimensional free fall which has a trajectory (a path of a
projectile) of parabola
Depending on the direction of the initial velocity θi, a projectile
may be in different types as shown in figure below.

Specific objectives

At the end of the chapter the student should be able to: Figure 34. Types of Projectile

1. Describe two-dimensional motion in terms of speed, velocity
and acceleration.
2. Apply concepts of component vectors to determine the
magnitude of vectors in the x and y plane.
3. Solve problems involving straight line motion with constant
acceleration
4. Solve problems involving uniform circular motion in terms of
speed, velocity and acceleration
Since projectile motion is a two-dimensional type of motion, it
is convenient to analyze separately its kinematic quantities in
terms of horizontal and vertical components. The position of a
projectile, as a function of time 𝑡 is described by its x- & y-
coordinates (𝑥𝑓 , 𝑦𝑓 ). The initial velocity 𝑣𝑖 should be resolved
into components 𝑣𝑖𝑥 and 𝑣𝑖𝑦 using the initial angle of flight 𝜃𝑖 .
This is usually the preliminary step in order to solve other
quantities such as the position and the final velocity 𝑣𝑓 of a
projectile at any later time 𝑡.
Keep in mind that a projectile moves horizontally at constant
PAGE |1

∆𝑥
velocity, hence the equation (𝑣 = ) is valid while it moves
∆𝑡
vertically with constant acceleration, therefore free fall

Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions

Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

equations can be used. These equations are summarized fired at different angle. It shows that a projectile launched at
below. 45° gives the maximum range. We see that the ranges are the
same for complementary angles like 15° and 75°, and 60°
and 30°.

x- & y-components of initial velocity 𝑣𝑖 SAMPLE PROBLEM:

𝒗𝒊𝒙 = 𝒗𝒊 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽𝒊 [𝐅𝟐𝟒𝐚] (𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖 , for type II) A motorcycle stunt rider rides off the edge of a cliff. Just at the
𝒗𝒊𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝒊 [𝐅𝟐𝟒𝐛] (𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 0, for type II) edge his velocity is horizontal, with magnitude 9.00 m/s. Find
the motorcyclist’s (a) position and (b) velocity after 0.50 s.
The position of a projectile can be described by its coordinates
𝑥𝑓 and 𝑦𝑓 at later time 𝑡
𝒙𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊𝒙 𝒕 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐚]
𝟏
𝒚𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊𝒚 𝒕 − 𝟐 𝒈𝒕𝟐 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐛]
𝟏
𝒚𝒇 = 𝟐
(𝒗𝒊𝒚 + 𝒗𝒇𝒚 )𝒕 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐜]

x- & y-components of final velocity 𝑣𝑓

𝒗𝒇𝒙 = 𝒗𝒊𝒙 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐚]
𝒗𝒇𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊𝒚 − 𝒈𝒕 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛] (𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 0,at max GIVEN:
height ℎ for type I) 𝑣𝑖 = 9.00 𝑚/𝑠
𝒗𝒇𝒚 = 𝒗𝒇 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝒇 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐜] 𝜃𝑖 = 0°
𝒗𝒇𝒚 𝟐 = 𝒗𝒊𝒚 𝟐 − 𝟐𝒈𝒚𝒇 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐝] 𝑡 = 0.50 𝑠

The magnitude and direction of initial velocity 𝑣𝑖 and final REQUIRED:

velocity 𝑣𝑓 can be computed as follows: a. Horizontal and vertical positions, 𝑥𝑓 and 𝑦𝑓
b. Magnitude and direction of final velocity, 𝑣𝑓 and 𝜃𝑓
𝒗 = √𝒗𝒙 𝟐 + 𝒗𝒚 𝟐 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐚]
𝒗 SOLUTION:
𝜽 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 (𝒗𝒚) [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛]
𝒙 a. Horizontal and vertical positions, 𝑥𝑓 and 𝑦𝑓
For type I projectile, we can measure its range 𝑅 and maximum Our preliminary solution is to find the x- & y-components of 𝑣𝑖 .
height ℎ using the following derived formulas Since this is a type II projectile, therefore:
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 9.00 m/s
𝒗𝒊 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝟐𝜽𝒊 ) 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 0
𝑹= [𝐅𝟐𝟕𝐚]
𝒈
𝟐𝒗𝒊𝒙 𝒗𝒊𝒚 Solving for 𝑥𝑓 and 𝑦𝑓 at time 0.50 s gives,
𝑹= [𝐅𝟐𝟕𝐛]
𝒈 𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐚]
𝒗𝒊 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 (𝜽𝒊 ) 𝑥𝑓 = (9.00 𝑚/𝑠)(0.50 𝑠)
𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒙 = [𝐅𝟐𝟖𝐚]
𝟐𝒈 𝒙𝒇 = 𝟒. 𝟓𝟎 𝒎
𝒗𝒊𝒚 𝟐
𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒙 = [𝐅𝟐𝟖𝐛]
PAGE |2

𝟐𝒈 1
𝑦𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐛]
We see that range 𝑅 of a type I projectile is a function of the 2
sine of initial angle 2𝜃𝑖 . The figure below shows a projectile
Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions
Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

1 REQUIRED:
𝑦𝑓 = − (9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 )(0.50 𝑠)2
2 a. Time of flight, 𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
b. Magnitude and direction of final velocity, 𝑣𝑓 and 𝜃𝑓
𝒚𝒇 = −𝟏. 𝟐𝟑 𝒎 c. distance it traverses before hitting the ground, 𝑥𝑓
(negative indicates that the rider is located below the edge of d. Maximum height, ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑥
the cliff at 0.5 s)
SOLUTION:
b. Magnitude and direction of final velocity, 𝑣𝑓 and 𝜃𝑓 a. Time of flight, 𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 + 𝑡𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 2𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
Solving for the x- & y-components of 𝑣𝑓
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 − 𝑔𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛]
𝑣𝑓𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐚] 𝑚
𝑣𝑓𝑥 = 9.00 𝑚/𝑠 0 = 20 m/s − (9.8 2 )𝑡
𝑠
20 m/s
t=
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 − 𝑔𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛] 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑚 𝑡 = 2.0408 𝑠
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = − (9.8 2 ) (0.5 𝑠)
𝑠 𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 2(2.0408 𝑠)
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = −4.90 𝑚/𝑠 𝒕𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟖𝟏𝟔 𝒔

Solving for the 𝑣𝑓 and 𝜃𝑓 b. Magnitude and direction of final velocity, 𝑣𝑓 and 𝜃𝑓
2
𝑣𝑓 = √𝑣𝑓𝑥 + 𝑣𝑓𝑦 2 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐚] 𝑣𝑓𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐚]
𝑣𝑓𝑥 = 40 𝑚/𝑠
𝑣𝑓 = √(9.00 m/s)2 + (−4.90 m/s)2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 − 𝑔𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛]
𝒗𝒇 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎/𝒔 𝑚
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 20 𝑚/𝑠 − (9.8 2 )(4.0816 𝑠)
𝑠
𝑣𝑦 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = −20 𝑚/𝑠
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛]
𝑣𝑥
−4.9 𝑚/𝑠 Solving for the 𝑣𝑓 and 𝜃𝑓
𝜃𝑓 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
9.00 m/s
𝜽𝒇 = −𝟐𝟖. 𝟓𝟕° 𝑣𝑓 = √𝑣𝑓𝑥 2 + 𝑣𝑓𝑦 2 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐚]

𝒎
𝑣𝑓 = √(40 m/s)2 + (−20 m/s)2
Hence, 𝒗𝒇 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 , 𝟐𝟖. 𝟓𝟕° 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 + 𝒙 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔. 𝒗𝒇 = 𝟒𝟒. 𝟕𝟐 𝒎/𝒔
𝒔

2. A ball is thrown so that its initial vertical and horizontal 𝑣𝑦

components of velocity are 20 m/s and 40 m/s, respectively. a). 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛]
𝑣𝑥
Estimate the ball’s total time of flight. b). Find the magnitude −20 𝑚/𝑠
and direction of the ball after hitting the ground. c). Find the 𝜃𝑓 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
distance it traverses before hitting the ground. d). Also find the 40 m/s
maximum height reached by the ball. 𝜽𝒇 = −𝟐𝟔. 𝟓𝟕°

𝒎
Hence, 𝒗𝒇 = 𝟒𝟒. 𝟕𝟐 𝒔
, 𝟐𝟔. 𝟓𝟕° 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 + 𝒙 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔.

c. distance it traverses before hitting the ground, 𝑥𝑓

𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐚]
𝑚
𝑥𝑓 = (40 )(4.08 𝑠)
𝑠
𝒙𝒇 = 𝟏𝟔𝟑. 𝟐𝟎 𝒎
GIVEN:
PAGE |3

𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 40 𝑚/𝑠 d. Maximum height, ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑥

𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 20 𝑚/𝑠 𝑣𝑖𝑦 2
ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑥 = [𝐅𝟐𝟖𝐛]
2𝑔
Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions
Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

(20 𝑚/𝑠)2
ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚 c. Final velocity of the ball, 𝑣𝑓
2(9.8 2 )
𝑠 𝑣𝑓𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐚]
𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟒𝟏 𝒎 𝑣𝑓𝑥 = 10.45 m/s
3. A ball thrown horizontally from the top of the building 55 m
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 − 𝑔𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛]
high strikes the ground at a point 35 m from the building. Find 𝑚
the (a) time to reach the ground, (b) initial velocity of the ball, 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 0 − 9.8 2 (3.35)
𝑠
and (c) velocity with which the ball strikes the ground. 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = −32.83 𝑚/𝑠

Solving for the 𝑣𝑓 and 𝜃𝑓

𝑣𝑓 = √𝑣𝑓𝑥 2 + 𝑣𝑓𝑦 2 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐚]

𝑣𝑓 = √(10.45 m/s)2 + (−32.83 m/s)2

𝒗𝒇 = 𝟑𝟒. 𝟒𝟓 𝒎/𝒔

𝑣𝑦
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛]
𝑣𝑥
−32.83 𝑚/𝑠
GIVEN: 𝜃𝑓 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
10.45 m/s
𝑦𝑓 = −55 𝑚 𝜽𝒇 = −𝟕𝟐. 𝟑𝟒°
𝑥𝑓 = 35 𝑚
𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 0 𝒎
Hence, 𝒗𝒇 = 𝟑𝟒. 𝟒𝟓 , 𝟕𝟐. 𝟑𝟒° 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 + 𝒙 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔.
𝒔
𝜃𝑖 = 0
4. A golf ball was hit and projected at an angle of 600 with the
REQUIRED: horizontal. If the initial velocity of the ball was 50 m/s
a. Time to reach the ground, 𝑡 (neglecting air friction), the calculate the following:
b. Initial velocity of the ball, 𝑣𝑖
c. Final velocity of the ball, 𝑣𝑓 a) Time the golf ball was in the air,
b) Horizontal distance the ball travelled
SOLUTION: c) Maximum height the ball reached.
a. Time to reach the ground, 𝑡
1
𝑦𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐛]
2
1 𝑚
−55 𝑚 = (0)𝑡 − (9.8 2 )𝑡 2
2 𝑠
2
−55 𝑚
𝑡 =
1 𝑚
− 2 (9.8 2 )
𝑠
√𝑡 2 = √11.22 GIVEN:
𝐭 = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟓 𝐬 𝑣𝑖 = 50 𝑚/𝑠
𝜃𝑖 = 60°
b. Initial velocity of the ball, 𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖
𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐚] SOLUTION:
35 𝑚 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 (3.35 𝑠) a. Time the golf ball was in the air, 𝑡
35 𝑚
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖 cos 𝜃𝑖 [𝐅𝟐𝟒𝐚]
PAGE |4

𝑣𝑖𝑥 =
3.35 𝑠 m
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 10.45 𝑚/𝑠 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = (50 s ) cos(60°)
𝒗𝒊 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟒𝟓 𝒎/𝒔 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 25 m/s
Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions
Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 sin 𝜃𝑖 [𝐅𝟐𝟒𝐛]

m
𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 50 sin(60°)
s
𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 43.30 𝑚/𝑠

𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 + 𝑡𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 2𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒

𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 − 𝑔𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟔𝐛]
𝑚
0 = 43.30 m/s − (9.8 2 )𝑡
𝑠
43.30 m/s
t=
9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑡 = 4.4184 𝑠
𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 2(4.4184 𝑠)
𝒕𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 = 𝟖. 𝟖𝟑𝟔𝟖 𝒔

b. Horizontal distance the ball travelled

𝑥𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 𝑡 [𝐅𝟐𝟓𝐚]
𝑚
𝑥𝑓 = (25 )(8.8368 𝑠)
𝑠
𝒙𝒇 = 𝟐𝟐𝟎. 𝟗𝟐 𝒎

c. Maximum height the ball reached.

𝑣𝑖𝑦 2
ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑥 = [𝐅𝟐𝟖𝐛]
2𝑔
(43.30 𝑚/𝑠)2
ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2(9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 )
𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟗𝟓. 𝟔𝟔 𝒎

PAGE |5

Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions

Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

Exercise 3.1 projectile motion

Name of Student: __________________________________

Course and Section: ________________________________
Student Number: ___________________________________
Name of Instructor: _________________________________
Submission Date: __________________________________
Due Date: _________________________________________

Direction: Answer the following projectile motion problems 2. A place kicker kicks a football with a velocity of 20.0 m/s and
using the formula given by the previous examples. Write your at an angle of 53 degrees. (a) How long is the ball in the air?
solutions neatly and highlight your answers. (b) How far away does it land? (c) How high does it travel?

1. A batter hits a baseball so that it leaves the bat with an initial

velocity of 37.0 m/s at an initial angle 53.1°. Ignoring air
resistance, (a) Find the position of the ball, and its velocity after
2.0 sec; (b) Find the time when the ball reaches the highest
point of flight, and find its height; (c) Find the horizontal range,
that is, the horizontal distance from the starting point to the
point at which the ball hits the ground.

PAGE |6

Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions

Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

Centripetal acceleration (or radial acceleration) 𝒂𝒄 is the

3.2. uniform circular motion instantaneous acceleration that compels a body to move
around a circular path. The word “centripetal” means “seeking
UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION the center”. Therefore, the direction of centripetal acceleration
is always towards the center of rotation.
Another two-dimensional motion that we are going to consider 𝒗𝟐
is uniform circular motion. A car moving of circular track with 𝒂𝒄 = [𝐅𝟑𝟎𝐚]
𝒓
constant radius at constant speed, a communicating satellite If we substitute
2𝜋𝑟
to 𝑣, then
orbiting the earth and a skater in a circle with constant speed 𝑇
are some examples of this type of motion. 𝟒𝝅𝟐 𝒓
𝒂𝒄 = [𝐅𝟑𝟎𝐛]
𝑻𝟐
Uniform Circular Motion is a type of motion when a body
moves in circular path with constant speed 𝒗, that is the Where:
magnitude of the velocity is not changing. However, for a body 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑚/𝑠 2 )
to turn around the circular path the direction of this velocity is
continuously changing. This change in direction corresponds to SAMPLE PROBLEMS
acceleration called centripetal acceleration 𝒂𝒄 that compels
the body from straight line motion into circular motion. In next 1. In a carnival ride, the passengers travel at constant speed in
section, we will discuss the kinematic quantities and equations a circular path of radius 5.0 m. They make one complete
for this type of motion. revolution in 4.0 s. (a) What is the linear speed of this ride? (b)
What is their acceleration?

Linear speed (or tangential speed), 𝒗 is the distance

travelled by the body in one revolution along the circular path
GIVEN:
in a given period of time T. This is also the magnitude of
𝑟 = 5.0 𝑚
instantaneous velocity of the body provided that the motion
𝑇 = 4.0 𝑠
remains uniform. For this reason, we use the letter 𝑣 instead of
𝑆 for the linear speed.
REQUIRED:
a. Linear speed, 𝑣
The distance travelled by an object to complete one revolution
b. Centripetal acceleration, 𝑎𝑐
along a circular path with radius 𝑟 is equal to the
circumference of that circle, 2𝜋𝑟 and the time it takes to make
SOLUTION:
one revolution is called the period 𝑇, hence linear speed 𝑣 is
a. Linear speed, 𝑣
expressed as: 2𝜋𝑟
𝑣= [𝐅𝟐𝟗]
𝟐𝝅𝒓 𝑇
𝒗= [𝐅𝟐𝟗] 2𝜋(5.0 𝑚)
𝑻 𝑣=
4.0 𝑠
𝒗 = 𝟕. 𝟖𝟓 𝒎/𝒔
Where:
𝑟 − 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 (𝑚)
PAGE |7

𝑇 − 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 (𝑠) b. Centripetal acceleration, 𝑎𝑐

𝑣 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 (𝑚/𝑠) 4𝜋 2 𝑟
𝑎𝑐 = 2 [𝐅𝟑𝟎]
𝑇
Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions
Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

4𝜋 2 (5.0 𝑚)
𝑎𝑐 =
(4.0 𝑠)2
𝒂𝒄 = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟑 𝒎/𝒔𝟐

Maybe you are thinking what causes dizziness when you are
on any carnival ride. One easy way is to compare the
centripetal force 𝑎𝑐 to value of gravitational acceleration
(𝑔 = 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 ). Since our answer (12.3 𝑚/𝑠 2 ) is greater
that 𝑔, therefore we can presume that this ride is a dizzy one!

2. A racecar moves at a constant speed on a 300 m radius

circular track. If the linear speed of the car is 25 m/s, how
much time is needed to make one complete revolution? What
is the car’s acceleration?

GIVEN:
𝑟 = 300 𝑚
𝑣 = 25 𝑚/𝑠

REQUIRED:
a. Time for one revolution, 𝑇
b. Centripetal acceleration, 𝑎𝑐

SOLUTION:
a. Time for one revolution, 𝑇
2𝜋𝑟
𝑣= [𝐅𝟐𝟗]
𝑇
2𝜋(300 𝑚)
25 𝑚/𝑠 =
𝑇
2𝜋(10 𝑚)
𝑇=
5 𝑚/𝑠

𝑻 = 𝟕𝟓. 𝟒𝟎 𝒔

b. Centripetal acceleration, 𝑎𝑐
4𝜋 2 𝑟
𝑎𝑐 = 2 [𝐅𝟑𝟎]
𝑇
4𝜋 2 (300 𝑚)
𝑎𝑐 =
PAGE |8

(75.40 𝑠)2
𝒂𝒄 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟖 𝒎/𝒔𝟐

Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions

Module in General Physics
Revision no. 00
Effectivity date: August 2020

2. A Ferris wheel with radius 14.0 m is turning about a

Exercise 3.2 uniform circular motion horizontal axis through its center. The linear speed of a
passenger on the rim is constant and equal to 8.0 m/s. (a)
Name of Student: __________________________________ What is the passenger’s centripetal acceleration? (b) How
much time does it take to make ten complete revolutions?
Course and Section: ________________________________
Student Number: ___________________________________
Name of Instructor: _________________________________
Submission Date: __________________________________
Due Date: _________________________________________

Direction: Answer the following uniform circular motion

problems using the formula given by the previous examples.
Write your solutions neatly and highlight your answers.

1. What is the centripetal acceleration of a car following a

curve of radius 500 m at a speed of 25.0 m/s?

PAGE |9

Unit 3: Motion in Two Dimensions