MODULE 3: Kinematics: Motion in Two-Dimensions

I. INTRODUCTION

Motion is all around us. Every day, we see objects that are moving like people walking, clock ticking,
birds flying in the sky, turning blades of a fan and many more. Even the blood in your veins is actually in
motion. We also notice that the objects move in different ways. Some in curve paths, others in straight-line
path. Some in one-dimension, others in two-dimension.

Consider the following questions for you to keep in track. What is motion? How do you describe the
motion of a running man? What if the Earth suddenly loses gravity? Are you ready to fall? Have you ever
experienced riding a roller coaster or Ferris wheel? Do you remember the thrill you experienced when there is
a sudden change in speed? You will find the answers to these questions as we go along with our lessons.

In this module, the focuses of our topics are in relative motion, projectile motion and circular motion.
You will deal with complex movements involving objects that change direction including curved movements or
the motion of object thrown through the air.

This section will provide you with knowledge in kinematics which is often referred to as the ‘”geometry
of motion”. At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe motion using the concept of relative velocities in one-dimension and two-dimensions;
2. Determine the consequences of the independence of vertical and horizontal components of projectile
motion;
3. Calculate range, time of flight, and maximum heights of projectiles;
4. Infer quantities associated with circular motion such as tangential velocity, centripetal acceleration,
tangential acceleration, radius of curvature; and
5. Solve problems involving two-dimensional motion.

II. LESSON

RELATIVE MOTION

Motion does not happen in isolation. To discuss relative motion, we first introduce the concept of
reference frames. When we sat an object has certain velocity, we must state that it has a velocity with respect
to a given reference frame.
SITUATION: If you’re riding on a train moving at 10m/s east, this velocity is measured relative to the ground
(reference frame) on which you are traveling. However if another train passes you(reference frame) at 15m/s
east, your velocity relative to this other train is different from your velocity relative to the ground. Your velocity
relative to the train is 5m/s.

Vba = Vb - Va

(a) Vba = 15m/s – 10m/s

Va =
10m/s East Frame of Vba = 5m/s
reference frame of reference This means that bus
(b) is moving 5m/s
faster than bus (a)
observer
Vb =
(b) 15m/s East

Relative motion is the calculation of the motion of an object with regard to some other moving or
stationary object while Relative velocity is the velocity of a body with respect to another regarded as being at
rest. For example, a person sitting in an airplane is at zero velocity relative to the airplane, but moving at the
same velocity as the airplane with respect to the ground.

PROJECTILE MOTION
Can you recall the recent basketball game you watched or played? How will you describe the
movement of the ball when the player scores the basket? Does it follow a straight path? You will discover as
you study the illustration and perform the activity below.
ACTIVITY # 1
Y

75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
X
RANGE
A ball’s motion released at different angles
Guide questions
1. What did you observe on the motion of the projectile?
2. Compare the motion of the projectile at different angles.
3. At what angle did the projectile reach the maximum height? lowest height? farthest distance?
shortest distance?
4. Using the grid, complete the table below.

Angle Horizontal Component(x) in cm Horizontal Component(Y) in cm

15°
30°
45°
60°
75°

Based from what you’ve discovered, a projectile motion is a two-dimensional motion since it both
involves x and y directions. Gravity acts on projectile motion along entire path so projectile traces a curve
(parabolic) line because at the same time the ball is moving horizontally and vertically under the effect of
gravity. How are you going to compute its time of flight, range and maximum height? Study the given figure
below.

Image of a ball kick through the air

No vertical motion Maximum height – height of object when it
at the top is at the top of its path

Time of flight- the time taken by

the projectile to travel from initial
The vertical Slow down as it point to final point
goes up
motion of
the ball
Initial point Speed up as it
comes down
Horizontal range-horizontal
The acceleration due distance it has travelled from
to gravity is causing initial point to final point final point
the ball to
There is no force in the x-direction so there is no acceleration

Projectile Motion

Example:
1. A bullet fired from gun mounted at an angle of 30°. If the muzzle velocity is 400m/s, calculate the following:
a. Vertical velocity component d. Time of flight
b. Horizontal velocity component e. Horizontal Range
c. Maximum height reach
 Given:
θ = 30° Vi = 400m/s
Solution:

d. Total time of flight, tT

2V ᵧ
a. Vertical velocity component tT = g
Vy = Vi Sinθ
2(200 m/s )
= (400 m/s) (Sin 30°) =
9.8 m/s ² (Gravity)
= (400 m/s) (0.500)
400 m/ s
= 200 m/s = 9.8 m/s ²

= 40.82 s

b. Horizontal Velocity component e. Horizontal Range , R

Vx = Vi Cosθ V ² sin2 θ
R=
= (400 m/s) (Cos 30°) g
= (400 m/s) (0.866) = (400 m/ s) ² ¿ ¿
= 346.4m/s 1600 m ²/ s ²(0.866)
=
c. Maximum Height, Vymax 9.8 m/s ²
V ᵧ2 138560 m ²/ s ²
Vymax = =
2g 9.8 m/ s ²
(200 m/s)² = 14 138.78 m
= 2
2(9.8 m/s )

40 000 m ²/s ²
= 2
19.6 m/ s
= 2 040.82 m

CIRCULAR MOTION

ACTIVITY # 2 DECODE ME
DIRECTION: To decode the terms, write the letter of the alphabet that comes after each letter. The underlined
letter should not be replaced. A clue is given under each scrambled letters. Write your answer on the provided
blank.

1. C H Q B T K A Q LOSHNM
- Movement of an object along a circular path
Answer: ________________________________
2. S A M F D N S H A K ABCDLDQASHOM
- Changes in the magnitude of velocity but not in direction
Answer: ________________________________

3. B E M S Q H O D S A K A B B D K E Q A S H M
- Acceleration that causes the object to move along a circular path
Answer: ________________________________

4. T A M F D M S H A K UDKO BHSY
- The velocity measured at any point tangent to a turning wheel
Answer: ________________________________

5. Q N S A S H N M A K L N S I N M
- It occurs when the same object moves along an axis in a circular path
Answer: ________________________________

Circular motion is a movement of object along the circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path. It
can be uniform, with constant angular rate of rotation and constant speed, or non-uniform with a changing
rate of rotation. In circular motion, the distance between the body and a fixed point on the surface remains the
same. Example of circular motion is a car turning through a curve in a race track.

1
Period, T is the time required for an object to make one(1) complete revolution. The formula is T = or T =
f
2π
v
1
Frequency, f the number of revolutions completed by an object in a given time with formula f =
T

Centripetal acceleration, ac is a property of the motion of a body traversing a circular path. The equation used
v²
to computed is: ac =
r

Centripetal force Fc is the force that acts on the body in a circular path and is directed toward the center
around which the body is moving. It can be computed using Fc = m ac

Tangential velocity, Vt is the linear period of any object moving along a circular path. It can be computed
2 πr
using Vt =
T
Tangential acceleration, at is the measure of how quickly a tangential velocity changes. To compute
v²
tangential acceleration, the formula for centripetal acceleration will be used. at =
r

Radius of curvature is the reciprocal of the curvature. For a curve, it equals the radius of the circular arc
which best approximate the curve at that point.

EXAMPLE:
A little boy is playing foot jump. The ball is in his foot is in uniform circular motion and makes 10
revolutions in 5 seconds.

a. What is its period?

b. If the length of the string that holds the ball is 0.6 meter,
what is its tangential velocity?

c. If the ball has a mass of 6 grams, how much force

is acting the ball to keep it in uniform circular motion?

d. What is the centripetal acceleration of the ball?

Solution:
 1 c. Centripetal force
a. Period T =
f This means that every mv ²
0.5 seconds the string Fc =
1 r
goes back to its
= 10 m
original position where (0.006 kg)(7.54 )²
5s it started = s This means that
5s 0.6 m 0.56 Newton is
=1·( ) the force acted
10 m² upon the ball to
(0.006 kg)(56.85 )
= 0.5 s = s² keep it moving
0.6 m in circular
motion
56.85 m ²
(0.006 kg)( )
= s²
0.6 m
(0.341 kg·m²)
= s²
0.6 m
0.341 kg·m² 1
= ·
s² 0.6 m
= 0.56 kg·m/s² or 0.56 Newton
b. Tangential velocity d. Centripetal acceleration
2 πr v²
vT = This means that ac =
T r
the string rotates at
2 πr 7.54 m/s 7.54 m
= ( )² This means that the
T = s ball accelerates at
2(3.1416)(0.6 m) 0.6 m 94.75 m/s²
=
0.5 s 56.85 m²
( )
= s²
3.77 m
= 0.6 m
0.5 s
56.85 m² 1
= 7.54 m/s =( )· ( )
s² 0.6 m
= 94.75 m/s²

PRACTICE EXERCISE # 1

RELATIVE MOTION
Solve the given problem. Show the solution.

If you’re riding on a bus moving at 25 m/s east, this velocity is measured relative to the ground on
which you are traveling. If another bus passes you at 38 m/s east,
1. Find your velocity relative to the other train. 2. Find your velocity relative to the ground.
PRACTICE EXERCISE # 2

PROJECTILE MOTION
1. A cannon is fired with muzzle velocity of 150 m/s at an angle elevation = 45°. Calculate the maximum height
reach.

PRACTICE EXERCISE # 3

CIRCULAR MOTION
Solve the given problem. Show the solution.
A 2 kg ball on a string is rotated about a circle of radius 10 m. The maximum tension allowed in the
string is 50 N. What is the maximum speed of the ball?

III. INSIGHTS
In this lesson;

I learned that ________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________.
I realized that ________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

IV. WRITTEN ACTIVITY

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on the provided blank.

_______1. The movement of a body around a circular path is called ___________________.

A. Relative motion C. Circular motion
B. Projectile motion D. Motion
_______2. Which of the following is not an example of projectile motion?
A. flipping a coin
B. throwing a ball
C. the motion of billiard ball on billiard table
D. spinning a ball on a string

_______3. What kind of force is exerted in order to cause something to move in circular path?
A. Gravitational force C. Centrifugal force
B. Centripetal force D. Inertial force

_______4. For a particle moving in a uniform circular motion, the speed should be ________________.
A. increasing C. remain constant
B. decreasing D. zero

_______5. The path taken by a projectile motion is known as _____________________.

A. dynamic C. parabolic
B. dimensional D. periodic

_______6. An athlete running 200 m along the straight track is an example of __________ motion.
A. Circular C. Relative
 B. Projectile D. Rectilinear

_______7. An airplane is travelling at 200 miles per hour going east, and the wind is pushing back west,
moving at 35 miles per hour. What is the velocity of the airplane relative to the ground?
A. 165 miles/hour east C. 165 miles/hour west
B. 235 miles/hour east D. 235 miles/hour west

_______8. Which is referred to as a particle moving with respect to fixed frame of reference?
A. Relative velocity C. Relative motion
B. Motion D. Velocity

_______9. In the absence of air resistance, what is the angle at which a ball thrown will do the farthest range?
A. 15° B. 30° C. 45° D. 60°

_______10. An object moves around a circular path at a constant speed and makes 5 complete revolutions in
20s. What is the period of the rotation?
A. 4s B. 5s C. 10s D. 20s

V. PERFORMANCE TASKS

DIRECTION: Analyze the situation and answer the given question.

You ride a spinning merry-go-round and hold tightly to the bar. The spinning causes a force on
your body that point inward toward the center of the merry-go-round. Describe the path of your body if you
release your grip.
KEY TO CORRECTION
Lesson
Activity 1
1. It follows a parabolic path.
2. The motion of projectile at different angles follows a parabolic path but differs in height and distance
reached.
3. The maximum height is at 75°, lowest height is at 15°, farthest distance is at 45° and shortest distance is at
75° and 15°.
4.

Angle Horizontal Component(x) in cm Horizontal Component(Y) in cm

15° 4.0 cm 0.4 cm
30° 6.5 cm 1.10 cm
45° 8.5 cm 2.20 cm
60° 6.5 cm 3.0 cm
75° 4.0 cm 4.0 cm

Activity 2
1. Circular motion
2. Tangential acceleration
3. Centripetal acceleration
4. Tangential velocity
5. Rotational motion

Practice Exercise 1

1. 13 m/s East
2. 25 m/s East

Practice Exercise 2

1. 574.02 m

Practice Exercise 3

1. 15.8 m/s