3.1 How do physicists explain motion in two dimensions?
In this area of study, students use Newton’s laws of motion to analyse linear motion, circular motion and projectile motion. Newton’s laws of motion give important insights into a range of motion both on Earth and beyond through the investigations of objects on land and in orbit. They explore the motion of objects under the influence of a gravitational field on the surface of Earth, close to Earth and above Earth. They explore the relationships between force, energy and mass.
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the student should be able to investigate motion and related energy transformations experimentally, and analyse motion using Newton’s laws of motion in one and two dimensions.
Simulations
- Projectile motion oPhysics
- Exploring projectile motion concepts oPhysics
- Projectile Motion: Tranquilize the monkey game oPhysics
- Conical pendulum oPhysics
- Conical pendulum 3D oPhysics
- Conservation of Mechanical Energy: Mass on a vertical spring oPhysics
- Momentum & Energy: Elastic and inelastic collisions oPhysics
- Momentum & Energy: Explosive “collision” Momentum (ophysics.com)
Colin’s Notes
OLD RESOURCES/ARCHIVE: Review of year 11 Physics motion
A large proportion of the motion topic relates to what students learnt about during unit 2. Revise these concepts by reading chapter 5 and 7 of your textbook and answering all questions from the following sections: 5.1, 5.7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4.
Motion revision key formulae from year 11
Summary of momentum, work and energy.
To extend your understanding of concepts, read about the following:
Unsure about vectors? Try these questions. Check the answers after you have attempted them:
Projectile motion
The only force acting on a projectile is its WEIGHT (assuming there is no air resistance). The force is always downwards causing a PARABOLIC path.
The vertical component of projectile motion accelerates with the acceleration due to gravity, 9.8 ms-2 downwards.
The horizontal component of the motion is uniform since there are no forces acting in this direction.
Treat the horizontal and vertical components independently.
Below are some links to show the components of a projectile in simple animations:
Animation of the components of a projectile
Path followed by a package dropped from a plane
The maximum range of a projectile
Circular motion
Circular motion in a horizontal plane:
Circular motion in the vertical plane:
Look at the following information for background on circular motion: Circular motion
Luna Park Excursion
Measurements for rides- front page.