Motion in a Plane Projectile motion corresponds to ay = - g and generally assumes no air resistance (ax = 0). If we choose our coordinate system such that (x(0), y(0)) is the origin, we then have 7 potential unknowns, 4 equations and 35 possible problems for a single projectile. An object constrained to move in a circular path undergoes centripetal acceleration. Since v is always perpendicular to r (and therefore tangent to the circle): and both v and r are constant (assuming uniform circular motion), Δv / v = Δr / r. Dividing by Δt gives (in the infinitesimal limit) acentripetal = v2 / r, whose direction is toward the center of the circle.
If we choose our coordinate system such that (x(0), y(0)) is the origin, we then have 7 potential unknowns, 4 equations and 35 possible problems for a single projectile.
An object constrained to move in a circular path undergoes centripetal acceleration. Since v is always perpendicular to r (and therefore tangent to the circle): and both v and r are constant (assuming uniform circular motion), Δv / v = Δr / r. Dividing by Δt gives (in the infinitesimal limit) acentripetal = v2 / r, whose direction is toward the center of the circle.
and both v and r are constant (assuming uniform circular motion),
Δv / v = Δr / r.
acentripetal = v2 / r,
©2010, Kenneth R. Koehler. All Rights Reserved. This document may be freely reproduced provided that this copyright notice is included. Please send comments or suggestions to the author.
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