1.

2 -- 2 D Acceleration Lesson Examples

1. To reverse the direction of a vector quantity, make the sign on the vector negative AND flip
the vector direction.

e.g. 10 m[E] = -10m[W] where an [E] vector is equivalent to a -[W] vector

Practice 1:
Consider vectorB: The ⃗ 𝑖𝑠:
negative of 𝐵

2. The expression A – B is algebraically equivalent to A + (-B)

Practice 2:
Consider 2 vectors,

⃗ is algebraically equivalent to 𝐴 +(- 𝐵

If 𝐴 − 𝐵 ⃗ ), use a vector addition diagram to solve for 𝐴 − 𝐵
⃗:

Practice 3:

Flip the vector ⃗:

to draw -𝐵

⃗ :
Practice 4: Draw the vector addition diagram to solve for 𝐴 − 𝐵
 1.2 - 2 D Acceleration 2019
Solving for ∆𝒗
⃗ in 2D with vector addition

To solve for ∆𝑣:

Practice 5: Solve for ∆𝑣

Practice 6: Solve for ∆𝑣

2
 1.2 - 2 D Acceleration 2019
To solve ∆𝒗
⃗ algebraically, solve by components:

1. Resolve 𝑣1 and 𝑣2 into x- and y- components

2. Find ∆𝑣x and ∆𝑣y Note: You are solving for a ‘change’,
NOT a ‘sum’, therefore you must
subtract the initial vector from the
final vector, not add.

3. Solve magnitude of ∆𝑣 with Pythagorean theorem

4. Solve direction of ∆𝑣 with inverse tangent

Practice 7: A car turns from a road into a parking lot and into an available parking space. The
car’s initial velocity is 4.0 m/s [E 45.0° N]. The car’s velocity just before the driver decreases
speed is 4.0 m/s [E 10.0° N]. The turn takes 3.0 s. Calculate the average acceleration of the car
during the turn. (8.0x10-1m/s2 [E63°S])

Practice 8: A ball on a pool table hits

the rail at an angle of 25° moving 8.2
m/s. It is in contact with the rail for 3.2
ms and then bounces off the rail at the
opposite angle and same speed. Solve
for the average acceleration of the ball
for the interval. (2.2x103 m/s2 [N])

Practice 9: A speed boat travels at 6.4

m/s [W35°N]. It accelerates at 2.2 m/s2 [S] for 4.0s. Solve for the final velocity of the boat.
(7.3m/s [W44°S])