Engr.

Cynthia V Plaza
Instructor
Displacement and Velocity Vectors
Learning Objectives: By the end of this topic,
students will be able to:
1. Calculate position vectors in a multidimensional
displacement problem
2. Solve for the displacement in two or three
dimensions
3. Calculate the velocity vector given the position
vector as function of time
4. Calculate the average velocity in multiple
dimensions
Displacement Vector
 Coordinate Systems and Component of a
vector is: ෡
𝒓 𝒕 = 𝒙 𝒕 𝒊Ƹ + 𝐲 𝐭 𝒋Ƹ + 𝒛(𝒕)𝒌
Displacement Vector
 The displacement vector ∆𝒓 = 𝒓(𝒕𝟐 ) − 𝒓(𝒕𝟏 )
Example 1.0 Polar Orbiting Satellite
A satellite is in circular polar orbit around the
Earth at an altitude of 400km-meaning, it passes
directly overhead at the North and South Poles.
What is the magnitude and direction of the
direction of the displacement vector from when
it is directly over the North Pole to when it is at
– 45° latitude?
Example 1.0 Polar Orbiting Satellite
SOLUTION
Example 1.0 Polar Orbiting Satellite
SOLUTION
Example 1.0 Polar Orbiting Satellite
SOLUTION
Example 2.0 Brownian Motion
Brownian motion is a chaotic random motion of
particles suspended in a fluid, resulting from collisions
with the molecules of the fluid. This motion is three-
dimensional. The displacements in numerical order of a
particle undergoing Brownian motion could look like
the following, in micrometers.

What is the total displacement of the particle from the

origin?
Example 2.0 Brownian Motion
Velocity Vector
 Instantaneous Velocity
Velocity Vector
 Instantaneous Velocity can also be written in terms
of the components of 𝒗(t), since:

෡
𝒓 𝒕 = 𝒙 𝒕 𝒊Ƹ + 𝒚 𝒕 𝒋Ƹ + 𝒛(𝒕)𝒌

 Rewriting the equation:

෡
𝒗 𝒕 = 𝒗𝒙 𝒕 𝒊Ƹ + 𝒗𝒚 𝒕 𝒋Ƹ + 𝒗𝒛 (𝒕)𝒌
 Where
Example 3.0 Calculating the Velocity Vector
The position function of a particle is 𝑟Ԧ = 2.0𝑡 2 𝑖 +
2.0 + 3.0𝑡 𝑗 + 5.0𝑡𝑘 𝑚

a. What is the instantaneous velocity and speed at

t = 2.0s?

a. What is the average velocity between 1.0s and

3.0s?
Example 3.0 Calculating the Velocity Vector
SOLUTION
The Independence of Perpendicular Motions
 In the kinematic description of motion, we treat the
horizontal and vertical components of motion separately.
 In many cases, motion in the horizontal direction does not
affect motion in the vertical direction and vice versa.
Acceleration Vector
Learning Objectives: By the end of this topic,
students will be able to:
1. Calculate the acceleration vector given the
velocity function in unit vector notation
2. Describe the motion of a particle with a constant
acceleration in three dimensions
3. Use the one-dimensional motion equations along
the perpendicular axes to solve problem in two
or three dimensions with constant acceleration
4. Express the acceleration in unit vector notation
Acceleration Vector
 Instantaneous Acceleration

 Acceleration in terms of the second derivative of the

position function:
Example 4.0 Finding an Acceleration Vector
A particle has a velocity of 𝒗 𝒕 = 𝟓. 𝟎𝒕𝒊 + 𝒕𝟐 𝒋 − 𝟐. 𝟎𝒕𝟑 𝒌 m/s.
a. What is the acceleration function?
b. What is the acceleration vector at t = 2.0s. Find its
magnitude and direction.
Example 5.0 Finding a Particle Acceleration
A particle has a position function 𝑟Ԧ 𝑡 = 10𝑡 − 𝑡 2 𝑖 +
5𝑡 𝑗 + 5𝑡 𝑘, 𝑚.
a. What is the velocity?
b. What is the acceleration?
Constant Acceleration
 Acceleration vector: 𝒂 = 𝒂𝟎𝒙 𝒊 + 𝒂𝟎𝒚 𝒋
 Kinematic Equations in terms of velocity and position
functions:
Example 6.0 A Skier
From the shown figure, a skier is moving with an
acceleration of 2.1 m/s2 down a slope of 15° at t = 0.
With the origin of the coordinate system at the front of
the lodge, her initial position and velocity are: 𝑟Ԧ 0 =
𝑚
75.0𝑖 − 50.0𝑗 𝑚 and 𝑣(0)
Ԧ = 4.1i − 1.1j .
𝑠

a. What are the x-and-y components of the skier’s

position and velocity as functions of time?
b. What are her position and velocity at t = 10.0s
Example 6.0 A Skier

A skier has an acceleration of 2.1 m/s2 down a slope of 15°. The origin of the
coordinate system is at the ski lodge
Example 6.0 A Skier
SOLUTION

(a) Since acceleration is given, we can solve for its

components: ax = (2.1) cos 15° = 2.0 m/s2
ay = (2.1) sin 15° = - 0.54 m/s2
Using the initial position and velocity function for x:
x(t) = 75.0 + 4.1t + ½ (2.0)t2
vx(t) = 4.1 +(2.0)t
Using the initial position and velocity function for y:
y(t) = - 50.0 + (- 1.1)t + ½ (- 0.54 m/s2)t2
vy(t) = - 1.1 + (- 0.54 m/s2)t
Example 6.0 A Skier
SOLUTION
b) Evaluating equations of motions for x and y as a function
of time for t = 10.0 s.
x(10) = 216 m y(10) = - 88.0 m
vx(10) = 24.1 m/s vy(10) = - 6.5 m/s

Thus, the position and velocity at t = 10.0 s,

𝒓 𝟏𝟎. 𝟎𝒔 = 𝟐𝟏𝟔. 𝟎 𝒊 − 𝟖𝟖. 𝟎 𝒋 𝒎
𝒗 𝟏𝟎. 𝟎𝒔 = 𝟐𝟒. 𝟏𝒊 − 𝟔. 𝟓 𝒋 𝒎/𝒔

The magnitude of the skier at 10.0 s is 25 m/s, which 60

mi/h