Module 3: Motion in Two Dimensions

Until now, you have considered motion that occurs in only one dimension, either horizontally or vertically in a straight line.  But you know that objects can change direction, fly off at an angle, move in curved paths and even travel in circles.  This module will introduce you to the methods of analyzing two dimensional motion for projectiles or objects moving in circular paths.   You will also gain a greater understanding of the gravitational force beyond its role of accelerating objects near the surface of the earth.

Pre-Assessment:

When forces are balanced, objects will travel in a straight line at a constant speed.  

As an introduction to this module, take an imaginary trip to an amusement park and pick three objects (from rides, entertainments, or games) that do not travel in a straight line.  For each object, pick two different points in its motion. For each point, draw a free body diagram and in include an image.  

The free body diagram should identify all the forces acting on the object.  In addition, indicate the directions of the net force acting on the object and  the instantaneous velocity.

Key Vocabulary:

To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.