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Revise: Motion in a Plane

Resolving and combining two-dimensional vectors, projectile motion, and the period, acceleration and force of circular motion.

Resolving Vectors into Components

vₓ = v cosθ, vy = v sinθ splits any angled vector into components.

20 m/s at 30°: vₓ ≈ 17.3 m/s, vy = 10 m/s.

Projectile Motion: Independence of Horizontal and Vertical Motion

Horizontal velocity stays constant; vertical velocity accelerates due to gravity.

A ball rolling off a table follows a curved (parabolic) path.

Horizontal Range

R = u²sin2θ/g; range is maximised at a 45° launch angle.

40 m/s at 45° gives R ≈ 163.3 m.

Centripetal Acceleration

a = v²/r, always directed toward the centre — constant speed still means acceleration.

15 m/s around a 50 m curve gives a = 4.5 m/s².

Centripetal Force

F = mv²/r; a real force (tension, friction, gravity) must supply it — nothing pushes outward.

Earth's gravity supplies the centripetal force keeping satellites in orbit.