Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Motion in a Plane
Notes

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Scalars Vs. Vectors

Criteria Scalar Vector

A scalar is a quantity with A vector is a quantity with

Definition
magnitude only. magnitude and direction.

Direction No Yes

A number (magnitude) and A number (magnitude),

Specified by
a unit direction and a unit

quantity’s symbol in bold

Represented by quantity’s symbol
or an arrow sign above

Example mass, temperature velocity, acceleration

Position and Displacement Vectors

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Position Vector: Position vector of an object at time t is the position of the object relative to
the origin. It is represented by a straight line between the origin and the position at time t.

Displacement Vector: Displacement vector of an object between two points is the straight
line between the two points irrespective of the path followed. The path length is always equal
or greater than the displacement.

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Free and Localized Vectors

A free vector(or non-localized vector) is a vector of which only the magnitude and direction
are specified, not the position or line of action. Displacing it parallel to itself leaves it
unchanged.

A localized vector is a vector where line of action and position are as important as
magnitude and direction. These vectors change with change in position and direction.

Equality of Vectors

Two vectors are said to be equal only when they have same direction and magnitude.For
example, two cars travelling with same speed in same direction. If they are travelling in
opposite directions with same speed, then the vectors are unequal.

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Multiplication of Vectors with real numbers

Magnitude of Direction of
Multiplication Original
vector after vector after
Factor vector
multiplication multiplication

Same as that of
λ (>0) A λA
A

Opposite to that
-λ (<0) A λA
of A

None. The
initial and final
λ (=0) A 0 (null vector)
positions
coincide.

Addition and Subtraction of Vectors – Triangle Method

The method of adding vectors graphically is by arranging them so that head of first is
touching the tail of second vector and making a triangle by joining the open sides. This
method is called head-to-tail method or triangle method of vector addition

• Vector addition is:

o Commutative: A + B = B + A
o Associative: (A + B) + C = A + (B+ C)
• Adding two vectors with equal magnitudes and opposite directions results in null
vector.
o Null Vector: A + (-A) = 0

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

• Subtraction is adding a negative vector(opposite direction) to a positive vector.

o A – B = A + (-B)

Addition of Vectors – Parallelogram Method

The method of adding vectors by parallelogram method is by:

• Touching the tail of the two vectors

• Complete a parallelogram by drawing lines from the heads of the two vectors.
• Vector resulting from the origin to the point of intersection of above lines gives the
addition.

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Resolution of Vectors

A vector can be expressed in terms of other vectors in the same plane. If there are 3 vectors
A, a andb, then A can be expressed as sum of a and b after multiplying them with some real
numbers.

A can be resolved into two component vectors λa and μb. Hence, A = λa + μb. Here λ and μ
are real numbers.

Unit Vectors

A unit vector is a vector of unit magnitude and a particular direction.

• They specify only direction. They do not have any dimension and unit.
• In a rectangular coordinate system, the x, y and z axes are represented by unit vectors,
î,ĵ andk̂
• These unit vectors are perpendicular to each other.
• |î| = |ĵ | = |k̂| = 1

In a 2-dimensional plane, a vector thus can be expressed as:

1. A = Ax î +Ay ĵ where, Ax = A cosθ and Ay = A sinθ

2. A =

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Analytical Method of Vector Addition

Subtraction of the
Vectors Sum of the vectors
vectors

R=A+B R=A-B
A = Ax î +Ay ĵand
R = Rx î +Ry ĵwhere R = Rx î +Ry ĵwhere
B = Bx î +By ĵ
Rx = Ax + BxandRy = Rx = Ax - BxandRy = Ay
Ay + By - By

R=A+B
R=A-B
A = Ax î +Ay ĵ+Azk̂
R = Rx î +Ry
R = Rx î +Ry
ĵ+Rzk̂where
B = Bx î +By ĵ+Bzk̂ ĵ+Rzk̂where
Rx = Ax + BxandRy =
Rx = Ax - BxandRy = Ay
Ay + By andRz = Az +
- By andRz = Az - Bz
Bz

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Quantities related to motion of an object in a plane

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Quantity Value Value in component form

DisplacementΔr
r’ - r îΔx + ĵΔy
(Change in position)

Average Velocityv̅
vxî + vy ĵ
Δr/Δt
(ratio of displacement and
vx= Δx/Δt, vy= Δy/Δt
corresponding time interval)

Instantaneous velocityv
vxî + vy ĵ
(limiting value of average dr/dt
velocity as the time interval vx= dx/dt, vy= dy/dt
approached zero)

Magnitude of v

Direction of v, θ

(direction of velocity at any

tan-1(vy/vx)
point on the path is tangential
to the path at that point and is
in the direction of motion)

Average Accelerationa̅
ax î + ay ĵ
Δv/Δt
(change in velocity divided by
ax= Δvx/Δt, ay= Δvy/Δt
the time interval)

Instantaneous accelerationa ax î + ay ĵ

(limiting value of the average dv/dt ax= dvx/dt, ay= dvy/dt

acceleration as the time
interval approaches zero) ax= d2x/dt2, ay= d2y/dt2

Motion in a plane with constant acceleration

Motion in a plane (two dimensions) can be treated as two separate simultaneous one-
dimensional motions with constant acceleration along two perpendicular directions. X and Y
directions are hence independent of each other.

If v0 being the velocity at time 0, the displacement can be written as:

x = x0 + v0xt+ ½ axt2 and y = y0 + v0yt+ ½ ayt2

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Motion of an object in a plane with constant acceleration

Velocity in terms of
Velocity Displacement
components

vx = v0x + axt r = r0+ v0t+ ½ at2

v = v0+ at
vy = v0y + ayt

Relative velocity in two dimensions

The concept of relative velocity in a plane is similar to the concept of relative velocity in a
straight line.

Projectile Motion

An object that becomes airborne after it is thrown or projected is called projectile. Example,
football, javelin throw, etc.

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

• Projectile motion comprises of two parts – horizontal motion of no acceleration and

vertical motion of constant acceleration due to gravity.
• Projectile motion is in the form of a parabola, y = ax + bx2.
• Projectile motion is usually calculated by neglecting air resistance to simplify
calculations.

Quantity Value

vx = v0 cosθ0
Components of velocity at time t
vy = v0 sinθ0–gt

x = (v0 cosθ0)t
Position at time t
y = (v0 sinθ0)t – ½ gt2

Equation of path of projectile motion y = (tan θ0)x – gx2/2(v0 cosθ0)2

Time of maximum height tm = v0 sinθ0 /g

Time of flight 2 tm = 2 (v0 sinθ0 /g)

Maximum height of projectile hm = (v0 sinθ0)2/2g

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Horizontal range of projectile R = v02 sin 2θ0/g

Maximum horizontal range (θ0=45°) Rm = v02/g

Uniform circular motion

When an object follows a circular path at a constant speed, the motion is called uniform
circular motion.

• Velocity at any point is along the tangent at that point in the direction of motion.
• Average velocity between two points is always perpendicular to Average
displacement. Also, average acceleration is perpendicular to average displacement.
• For an infinitely small time interval, Δtà 0, the average acceleration becomes
instantaneous acceleration which means that in uniform circular motion the
acceleration of an object is always directed towards the center. This is called
centripetal acceleration.

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

Quantity Values

ac = v2/R, R – radius of the circle

Centripetal Acceleration ac = ω2R, ω – angular speed

ac = 4π2ν2R, ν – frequency

Angular Distance Δθ = ω Δt

Speed v = Rω

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Class 11 Physics | Motion in a Plane | Notes

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